| Wendell Gee |
Article Index for Wendell |
Website Links For Wendell |
Information AboutWendell Gee |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT WENDELL GEE | |
| r.e.m. songs | |
| 1985 singles | |
"Wendell Gee" was the third and final Single issued by R.E.M. from their third studio album '' Fables Of The Reconstruction '' in 1985 . It was released in Europe only, in two 7" and two 12" formats. Like all of the previous singles R.E.M. had released, "Wendell Gee" failed to chart on the UK Singles Charts . As an album closer, this slow, folky song serves to uplift the listener at the end of a largely dark record (serving much the same function as Find The River at the close of Automatic For The People ). The chorus line "There wasn't even time to say goodbye to Wendell Gee" gains its inspiration from a small town, Pendergrass, outside Athens , Georgia which the band members used to drive through, and where the proprietor of every store appeared to be surnamed "Gee". Wendell Gee was the proprietor of Wendell Gee's Used Cars. Thus firmly rooting itself lyrically in the South (along with the rest of the album), the rest of the lyrics are at times whimsical, but uplifting never the less. NB Google Maps shows the existence of a Wendall Gee Street in Pendergrass [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=wendall+gee+st+pendergrass+ga&ll=34.163345,-83.676381&spn=0.016974,0.047421 , which may have been named after him. (Confirm?) Instrumentally, the song was almost entirely composed and performed by Mike Mills , with Michael Stipe supplying the lyric and vocal. Peter Buck hated the song when it was initially recorded, claiming it's only redeeming feature was his Banjo solo, and it was only included on the album at the last minute. With Peter's objections being such, the song was very rarely played live, even on the European leg of the Reconstruction tour where it had been released as a single. Peter has since revised his view of the song, saying "I must admit, I was wrong. I don't love it, but I like it." Wendell Gee himself died on November 25, 1995 , aged 69. The B-side "Crazy" was a cover of the Pylon song. R.E.M. were great admirers of the band, and this song would remain a staple of their live set far longer that the song it supported on vinyl. TRACK LISTINGS (7") # 'Wendell Gee' # 'Crazy' (7" Double Pack and 12" - Holland) # 'Wendell Gee' # 'Crazy' # 'Ages of You' # 'Burning Down' (12" - UK) # 'Wendell Gee' # 'Crazy' # ' Driver 8 ' (live, June 27, 1984) |
|
|