REM - Lawrence Opera House 1982 - Vinyl Record

R.E.M. in November 1982, playing Lawrence, Kansas, with one EP to their name and an album still five months away. Chronic Town had come out that summer, they were driving themselves between clubs, and most of the audience would not have heard half of this set before.

That is what makes the recording worth having. "Pilgrimage", "Moral Kiosk", "Catapult", "Sitting Still" and "Radio Free Europe" are all pre-Murmur here, faster and rougher than the versions people learned later, with Stipe's vocals buried the way they were on purpose in those years. "Gardening at Night", "9-9" and "1,000,000" come straight off the EP, and "7 Chinese Brothers" and "Pretty Persuasion" were still finding their shape.

Be straight with yourself about the source: this is a period audience-level recording and it sounds like one. If you want a clean R.E.M. live album, look elsewhere. If you want the band as a working Athens club act in 1982, the set list alone is worth it.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Gardening at Night
2. 9-9
3. Moral Kiosk
4. Pilgrimage
5. Shaking Through
6. 7 Chinese Brothers

Side B
1. Wolves, Lower
2. Romance
3. Sitting Still
4. Pretty Persuasion
5. Catapult
6. 1,000,000
7. Radio Free Europe

This is an unauthorized live recording, often referred to as a "bootleg." If you're not familiar with this type of release, it may not be the right item for you. These recordings may come from radio broadcasts, concert soundboards, audience recordings, or other sources. We do our best to carry well-reviewed titles, but sound quality and source material can vary. Please research the release before purchasing. These are best suited for true fans and collectors looking for rare, hard-to-find performances.