Author Archives: Stuart Batsford

Can it really be a year when I spent a good 12 hours feverishly searching the racks of Rough Trade for the limited edition Big Star box set, in addition to myriad other vinyl delights, which were essential purchases on this most singular occasion?

I have attended, financially supported, and been excited by all of the RSD’s these past three years, and Saturday will be no exception. However, I do find myself asking the question: who is this for? Originally, it seemed to be a day to put a spotlight on those treasured institutions the length and breadth of the country, (and other countries) enabling all those “real” record shops to get some exclusive titles, and make some money on collector’s editions, limited pressings, and the coolest of one off releases.

The day is still a cherished occasion for any record collectors, especially those who value the unbeatable experience of entering into a shop with only a vague notion of what you will be buying. It has to be said though, that the major labels now see it as a marketing opportunity, and as such have missed the point and given us some turgid releases. A repress of Eric Clapton Unplugged anyone?

Read More »

First time I heard R.E.M. was on the recommendation of an American friend. I bought the first EP, and thought it was OK, but when they came over for the first time in late ’83 I was there (the first two UK shows were both in London, at the old Dingwalls and the old Marquee on Wardour Street). They blew me away, I bought ‘Murmur’, and we were off and running.

They came to the UK regularly, and I saw them many times. The highlights were two shows at the Marquee in ’84, the day that ‘Reckoning’ came out, and the following evening; two nights at Hammersmith Palais in ’85 in support of ‘Fables Of The Reconstruction’; Universal Amphitheatre in the summer of ’86; two stunning nights at Hammersmith Odeon (as was) in May 1989; the two ‘Bingo Handjob’ shows at the Borderline in ’91…

To me, their last GREAT record was Life’s Rich Pageant, which I listened to a couple of weeks ago in its entirety, and it stands up. I also have to say that 60% of Automatic For The People is terrific, particularly ‘Find The River’, which is a wonderful, beautifully understated ‘personal quest’ track that gets me where it matters. Personally, I wish they had broken up in ’92, and there wouldn’t have been all those disappointing albums (Monster; New Adventures In Hi-Fi and Up were truly atrocious, in my less than humble opinion).

In memory of the good times, here’s a great clip from late ’84 from their appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test: