[tweetmeme]A new 50-song compilation of early R.E.M. material called Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987 is due out digitally next month, but is completely comprised of tracks previously assembled on 1987′s out-of-print Dead Letter Office, EMI’s early ’90s reissues, a more recent I.R.S. years best-of and various singles the band released during the mid-’80s.
While not yet formally announced, the collection is listed at AllMusic.com as being released by EMI as a digital download on May 19, and while there’s no mention of a physical release, the tracklist — as seen below — is divided up as “Disc 1″ and “Disc 2.” A database of upcoming releases from the Universal Music Group also lists the album as a digital release.
The cover art, seen above, includes images taken from the I.R.S. compilation Eponymous and various singles released released during the ’80s.
The set includes all 15 tracks from Dead Letter Office, plus various covers, B-sides, mixes, alternate takes and live versions, some of which debuted on 2006′s And I Feel Fine… The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987. Also included are R.E.M.’s two contributions to the recently reissued soundtrack of the film “Athens, GA: Inside/Out.”
Tracklist: R.E.M., Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987
Disc 1
1. “Radio Free Europe” [Original Hib-Tone Single]
2. “Sitting Still” [Original Hib-Tone Single]
3. “White Tornado”
4. “Gardening At Night” [Different Vocal Mix]
5. “Gardening At Night” [Acoustic]
6. “All the Right Friends”
7. “Moon River”
8. “Pretty Persuasion”
9. “There She Goes Again”
10. “Tighten Up”
11. “Ages of You” [Live]
12. “We Walk” [Live]
13. “1,000,000″ [Live]
14. “Gardening At Night” [Electric Demo]
15. “Just a Touch”
16. “King of the Road”
17. “Pale Blue Eyes”
18. “Voice of Harold”
19. “Walter’s Theme”
20. “White Tornado”
21. “Windout”
22. “Wind Out”
23. “9-9″ [Live]
24. “Gardening At Night” [Live]
25. “Catapult” [Live]
Disc 2
1. “Ages of You”
2. “Bandwagon”
3. “Burning Down”
4. “Burning Hell”
5. “Crazy”
6. “Driver 8″ [Live]
7. “Bad Day”
8. “Femme Fatale”
9. “Hyena” [Demo]
10. “Mystery To Me” [Demo]
11. “Rotary Ten”
12. “Theme From Two Steps Onward” [Demo]
13. “Tired of Singing Trouble”
14. “Toys In the Attic”
15. “Romance”
16. “Last Date”
17. “Finest Worksong” [Lengthy Club Mix]
18. “Finest Worksong” [Mutual Drum Horn Mix]
19. “Finest Worksong” [Other Mix]
20. “Maps and Legends” [Live]
21. “Disturbance At the Heron House” [Live]
22. “The One I Love” [Live]
23. “Swan Swan H” [Acoustic]
24. “(All I Have To Do is) Dream”
25. “Time After Time Etc.” [Live]
