Athens, GA
July 23, 1981
soundboard (first-generation copy from master reel)
Dream Remaster (thanks, Colin)
A joint venture of this blog and Colin's Dream Remaster site
FLAC
MP3@320
Well, this is a nice way to return, I think.
My source for this recording is someone close to the band and actively involved in music in Athens in the 1980s. It's been digitally transferred from a first-generation analog copy of the master reel, recorded by the sound guy that night. This version is as close to perfect as you can get, absent the master. Colin's excellent remaster brings out the full dynamics of the performance. He received from me a couple of raw, unedited files and created this lovely musical artifact. Big-time kudos to him!
According to Remtimeline, the only other source for this performance is the bootleg "That Beat In Time," first released on CD in 1991. The bootleg is mis-dated, claiming that it came from a performance earlier in 1981, one that did not actually take place on the purported date. Not only is the lineage for the bootleg unknown, it also substitutes a different version of the song "That Beat" (from the band's performance at Tyrone's on 23 Sept. 1981) for the blistering, longer one featured here. It segues directly into "Ska"—also missing from the bootleg. This set represents the first time the 23 July versions of "That Beat" and "Ska" have been placed in general circulation. Will leave the final judgment up to your ears, but to mine, this sounds like a nice upgrade compared to the bootleg version.
Although Remtimeline notes several other songs played on 23 July 1981, our source recording suggests the songs absent here were not recorded from the board that night.
Remaster notes from Colin:
HUGE thanks to Rob for sending this to me, much appreciated. This needed some restoration then gentle remastering. Apparently, this particular recording has NEVER CIRCULATED, at least not beyond an inner circle of R.E.M. fans in & around Athens. My basic artwork included. Enjoy...
"Look To The Days, How Long Can This Last" Dream Remastered March 2025.
Stay tuned. There's more where this came from...
