So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) is an R.E.M. song I keep coming back to and, as attested in part 3 of the excellent The Singular Adventures Of R.E.M. over at The Vinyl Villain in June 2020, it's one of the finest.
I don't think I've seen this 1983 clip of R.E.M. performing the song on The David Letterman Show before. After an awkward introduction-cum-interview with Peter Buck and "I'm sorry, your name again sir?" Mike Mills for a song "too new to be named", Michael Stipe stands up from the drum riser, approaches the mike stand and the magic begins.
Bill Berry, Buck and Mills kick off in perfect synchronisation and Stipe's vocals are right on point. It's a wonderful three minutes of brilliance.
This inevitably got me looking for the original video for the song. These days it's available in high definition but my memories are watching a slightly more fuzzy version in the late Eighties at my friend Stuart's house as part of the Succumbs VHS compilation. Great stuff.
Whilst So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) regularly gets an airing, the prompt for today's post wasn't in fact any of the six studio and live versions of the song by R.E.M. that I have in my collection, but a cover by Grant Lee Phillips from his 2006 album Nineteeneighties. It's a softer, acoustic-driven take and I'm very fond of it. There's no video per se, but YouTuber OubaelPhoumet
has edited clips from Luchino Visconti's 1957 film Le Notti Bianche (White Nights), starring Maria Schell, Marcello Mastroianni and Jean Marais. The latter of course featured on the sleeve of another iconic single some six months before So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) was released in March 1984.
Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The trees will bend, the cities wash away
The city on the river, there is a girl without a dream
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Eastern to Mountain, third party call, the lines are down
The wise man built his words upon the rocks
But I'm not bound to follow suit
The trees will bend, the conversation's dimmed
Go build yourself another home, this choice isn't mine
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The ocean sang, the conversation's dimmed
Go build yourself another dream, this choice isn't mine
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Great minds think alike.
ReplyDeleteOr, arguably in my case, "some lead, whilst others follow"...! I hadn't read your R.E.M. post when I wrote this but a great song/video choice, Martin. Always felt to me like an unloved/underrated gem.
DeleteSuch a good song, may great song. Really transports me back to a time and place too
ReplyDeleteMe too, particularly evocative of a great friendship that's still going strong.
DeleteNay not may
ReplyDeleteMe again, logged in on my phone which always comes up differently. Just noticed elsewhere that by happy coincidence today is also Peter Buck's birthday.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea! What a happy coincidence, given that he's the star/victim of the Letterman interview in the video clip. Happy birthday, Peter!
DeleteJust want to say that the Grant Lee Phillips album you mention is a very fine listen. Not everything works as well as others, but his unique take on so many absolute classics is never less than intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JC. I'm pretty sure I've heard The Psychedelic Furs cover but I don't have it in my collection. It's going quite cheap on Discogs so I am tempted...
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