E-Bow the Letter

"E-Bow the Letter" is the first single from R.E.M.'s tenth studio album New Adventures in Hi-Fi. It was released in August 1996 just weeks before the album's release. During the same month, R.E.M. signed its then record-breaking five-album contract with Warner Bros. Records. Although it peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, the highest any R.E.M. song charted in the United Kingdom until "The Great Beyond" in 2000, the song fared less well in the United States, reaching only number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became R.E.M.'s lowest charting lead single since "Fall on Me" released from Lifes Rich Pageant in 1986, when the band was on a smaller record label, I.R.S. Records.

"E-Bow the Letter"
Single by R.E.M.
from the album New Adventures in Hi-Fi
B-side"Tricycle"
ReleasedAugust 27, 1996 (1996-08-27)
Recorded1996
StudioBad Animals (Seattle)
GenreAlternative rock
Length5:22
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Tongue"
(1995)		 "E-Bow the Letter"
(1996)		 "Bittersweet Me"
(1996)
Patti Smith singles chronology
"Summer Cannibals"
(1996)		 "E-Bow the Letter"
(1996)		 "1959"
(1997)

The song features American singer-songwriter and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith performing backing vocals. Smith was cited as a major influence by band members Michael Stipe and Peter Buck, and she also provided backing vocals for "Blue", the closing track on the band's final studio album Collapse into Now in 2011.

History

The song is about Stipe's friend, the actor and musician River Phoenix. The title refers to the EBow, an electromagnetic field-generating device that induces sustained vibration in an electric guitar string (creating a violin-like effect), and to a "letter never sent" by Michael Stipe. R.E.M. has also played the song live with artists including Thom Yorke singing Patti Smith's vocal part.[1]

Reception

"E-Bow the Letter" was ranked number 21 on NME magazine's list of the "Singles of the Year".[2] In 2003, the song was placed on R.E.M.'s compilation In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003. Pitchfork Media founder and owner Ryan Schreiber described it on the website as "possibly one of the greatest songs ever written."[3]

Track listing

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe, except where noted.

7-inch, cassette, and CD single

  1. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:22
  2. "Tricycle"[4] – 1:58

12-inch and CD maxi-single

  1. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:22
  2. "Tricycle"[4] – 1:58
  3. "Departure" (Rome soundcheck)[5] – 3:33
  4. "Wall of Death"[6] (Richard Thompson) – 3:07

Personnel
Patti Smith—an influence on Peter Buck and Michael Stipe—provided backing vocals to the song.

R.E.M.

Additional personnel

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 23
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 27
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 48
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 6
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[11] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 28
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] 11
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 65
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 32
Norway (VG-lista)[18] 6
Poland (LP3)[19] 6
Scotland (OCC)[20] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 49
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[23] 7
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[24] 2
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[25] 39
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[26] 15

Year-end charts
Chart (1996) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[27] 53
Canada Rock/Altenrative (RPM)[28] 30
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[29] 41

See also

References
  1. Monroe, Jazz (September 27, 2018). "Listen to R.E.M. and Thom Yorke's Version of "E-Bow the Letter" | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  2. "End of Year Lists". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  3. R.E.M.: New Adventures in Hi-Fi: Pitchfork Review
  4. Recorded during soundcheck at the Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, Missouri; September 22, 1995.
  5. Recorded during soundcheck at the Paleur, Rome, Italy; February 22, 1995.
  6. Taken from the Richard Thompson tribute album, Beat the Retreat. Produced by John Keane.
  7. "Australian-charts.com – R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  9. "Ultratop.be – R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9921." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  11. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9925." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 36. September 7, 1996. p. 9. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  13. "R.E.M.: E-Bow the Letter" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. "Offiziellecharts.de – R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  15. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.10. – 23.10. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). October 18, 1996. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – E-Bow the Letter". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. "Charts.nz – R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  18. "Norwegiancharts.com – R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". VG-lista. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  19. "Notowanie nr773" (in Polish). LP3. November 22, 1996. Retrieved February 24, 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  22. "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  23. "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  24. "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  25. "R.E.M. Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  26. "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  27. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  28. "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  29. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
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