E-Bow the Letter

Infobox Single
Name = E-Bow the Letter


Artist = R.E.M.
Album = New Adventures in Hi-Fi
B-side = "Tricycle"
Released = Start date|1996|8|27
Format = CD single, 7", Cassette
Recorded = Bad Animals Studio, 1996
Genre = Rock
Length = 5:22
Label = Warner Bros.
Writer = Bill Berry, Michael Stipe,
Mike Mills, Peter Buck
Producer = Scott Litt & R.E.M.
Last single = "Tongue"
(1995)
This single = "E-Bow
the Letter"
(1996)
Next single = "Bittersweet Me"
(1996)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Patti Smith singles
Type = single
Last single = "Summer Cannibals"
(1996)
This single = "E-Bow
the Letter"
(1996)
Next single = "1959"
(1997)

"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 #4 on the UK Singles Chart, the highest any R.E.M. song charted in the UK until "The Great Beyond" in 2000, the song fared less well in the United States, reaching only #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.

History

Patti Smith sings guest backing vocals on this song. The song's 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. It is believed that the letter in question was written to actor River Phoenix expressing Stipe's concern for his friend's spiraling substance abuse with the letter never being sent due to Phoenix's death; the words 'For River' are visible in the bottom of the rear view mirror that appears on the song's single sleeve. Guitarist Peter Buck can be seen using an EBow in the video for the song at approximately 1:27 to 1:30.

"E-Bow the Letter" was ranked number 21 on "NME" magazine's list of the "Singles of the Year". [cite web |url=http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/S2117.htm |title=End of Year Lists |accessdate=2008-03-04 |publisher=Acclaimed Music] In 2003, song was placed on R.E.M.'s compilation "".

Track listing

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

7", Cassette and CD Single

# "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:22
# "Tricycle"Recorded during soundcheck at the Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, Missouri; September 22, 1995.] – 1:59

12" and CD Maxi single

# "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:22
# "Tricycle" – 1:59
# "Departure" [Recorded during soundcheck at the Paleur, Rome, Italy; February 22, 1995.] – 3:35
# "Wall of Death" [Taken from the Richard Thompson tribute album, "Beat the Retreat". Produced by John Keane.] (Richard Thompson) – 3:07

Personnel

Band
* Michael Stipe – vocals
* Bill Berry – drums, percussion
* Peter Buck – guitar, electric sitar
* Mike Mills – bass, organ, mellotron, moog synthesizer

Additional personnel
*Patti Smith – vocals on "E-Bow the Letter"

Charts

Notes

External links

*
* [http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/rem/e_bow_the_letter/993067/lyrics.jhtml Lyrics]