'' was the third album released by the band
R.E.M. and was released in
1985 . Despite the critical acclaim received by the band after their initial two albums, ''
Murmur '' and ''
Reckoning '', R.E.M. decided to make noticeable changes to their style of music and recording habits, including a change in producer (
Joe Boyd ) and recording location (
London ,
England ). The album's complete title is either '''''Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction...''''' or '''''Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables...''''' as the album cover made you eternally flip by ending both sides with the words "of the." The album is also known colloquially to fans as '''''Fables''''' to spare confusion.
Lyrically, the album explores the mythology of the Southern United States. A celebration of an eccentric individual is the subject of no less than four songs on the album ("Maps and Legends", "Life and How To Live It", "Old Man Kensey", "
Wendell Gee "). "Maps and Legends" is dedicated to the Reverend
Howard Finster , "a man of vision and feeling--a fine example to all." "
Driver 8 " is a song about the scenery surrounding railroad tracks. Trains are a frequent topic of Southern music; they epitomize the freedom and promise of an escape from one's home environment. The source of the title of "
Cant Get There From Here " is a phrase heard when asking directions in a rural area. "
Kohoutek " is about a comet, and is perhaps the first song by R.E.M. about a romantic relationship. "Life and How To Live It", though not referencing him by name, is certainly about Georgia author Brivs Mekis. By the time this album was released, R.E.M. were already well-known and critically acclaimed, and the video for "Cant Get There From Here" was played frequently on
MTV , though it failed to chart as a single.
Recorded during a period of minor internal strife, the band's view of the album has been polarized for years. Former drummer
Bill Berry was quoted in the early 1990's as saying that ''Fables of the Reconstruction'' "sucked", while frontman
Michael Stipe considers it home to some of their more important songs, telling producer Joe Boyd that he had grown to love the album.
The album's liner notes lists a song entitled "When I Was Young" as among the tracklisting, but does not appear on the release. It would, however, be recorded as "I Believe" on ''
Lifes Rich Pageant ''.
Upon its release, ''Fables of the Reconstruction'' reached #28 in the US (going gold in
1991 ) and was their best showing yet in the UK, peaking at #35.
All songs written by
Bill Berry ,
Peter Buck ,
Mike Mills and
Michael Stipe except where noted.
# "Feeling Gravitys Pull" – 4:51
# "Maps and Legends" – 3:10
# "
Driver 8 " – 3:23
# "Life and How To Live It" – 4:06
# "Old Man Kensey" (J. Ayers, Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 4:08
# "
Cant Get There From Here " – 3:39
# "Green Grow the Rushes" – 3:46
# "Kohoutek" – 3:18
# "Auctioneer (Another Engine)" – 2:44
# "Good Advices" – 3:30
# "
Wendell Gee " – 3:01
- Published in 1985 by Night Garden Music and administered in the real world by Unichappell Music, Inc.
- The album is designed to be read on the sides of the LP as "Fables of the..." and "Reconstruction of the..." to create a redundant, never-ending title ("Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction of the..." etc.)
- The album is the first to use live horns on its songs (i.e., "Can't Get There From Here").
