R.E.M. released this Richard Thompson cover on the tribute album 'Beat the Retreat: Songs by Richard Thompson' in 1994. I will admit that I heard this cover before I ever heard the original, which is surprising because the original comes from his most critically acclaimed album 'Shoot Out the Lights' from 1982, which was a 'Richard and Linda Thompson' release... as a duo with his wife. Some people say it doesn't get close to the original, but if you take away prejudices and emotion, this is a fantastic recording regardless of its origins. R.E.M. had just released 'Automatic For the People' a couple of years earlier and 'Monster' the same year... so they recorded this, possibly, at their peak, and to me, it shows. Brilliant!
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