Automatic for the People
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Automatic for the People is R.E.M.'s eighth album, and their third major label release for Warner Bros., released in 1992.
Mostly acoustic and typified by its dark lyrics (many of which ruminate on mortality, death and those departed), Automatic for the People is generally considered to be among R.E.M.'s best albums, and one of the finest releases of the 1990's. The album name refers to the motto of Athens, Georgia eatery "Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods." The photograph on the front cover is not related to the restaurant: it shows a sign on a motel in Miami, where part of the album was recorded.
Arriving on the heels of the previous year's breakthrough album Out of Time, Automatic for the People entered the United States charts at #2, selling over four million copies there, and spent several weeks at #1 in the United Kingdom. As a consequence, R.E.M. were marketed alongside new acts such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam as purveyors of the "alternative" scene, despite obvious differences in outlook, style and musical influences between the older band and the newer ones. Despite the album's success, they declined to tour in support of Automatic for the People, as they had for Out of Time the previous year.
Many of Automatic for the People's songs proved to be very popular: "Drive", "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite", "Everybody Hurts", "Nightswimming" and the Andy Kaufman tribute "Man on the Moon", which would become the title of the late comedian's 1999 biographical movie starring Jim Carrey.
John Paul Jones, formerly the bassist for Led Zeppelin, in his second career in string arrangement, scored the strings for "Drive," "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite," "Everybody Hurts" and "Nightswimming."
It has subsequently been revealed that Kurt Cobain was likely listening to Automatic for the People before committing suicide on April 5, 1994Template:Fact.
In 1997 Automatic for the People was named the 18th greatest album of all time in a 'Music of the Millennium' poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 1998, Q magazine readers placed it at number 3. Template:RS500
In 2005, Warner Brothers Records issued a two-disc edition of Automatic for the People which includes a CD, a DVD-Audio disc containing a 5.1-channel surround sound mix of the album done by Elliot Scheiner, and the original CD booklet with expanded liner notes. The CD (as with all in this series) is not remastered.
Contents |
Track listing
All songs written by Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe.
- "Drive" – 4:31
- "Try Not To Breathe" – 3:50
- "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" – 4:06
- "Everybody Hurts" – 5:17
- "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" – 2:13
- "Sweetness Follows" – 4:19
- "Monty Got a Raw Deal" – 3:17
- "Ignoreland" – 4:24
- "Star Me Kitten" – 3:15
- "Man on the Moon" – 5:13
- "Nightswimming" – 4:16
- "Find the River" – 3:50
Personnel
Additional personnel
- Scott Litt – harmonica, contrabass clarinet
- John Paul Jones – orchestral arrangements
- George Hanson – conductor on 1 3 4 11
- Knox Chandler – cello on 1 3 4 11
- Kathleen Kee – cello on 1 3 4 11
- Daniel Laufer – cello on 1 3 4 11
- Elizabeth Murphy – cello on 1 3 4 11
- Denise Berginson-Smith – violin on 1 3 4 11
- Lonnie Ditzen – violin on 1 3 4 11
- Patti Gouvas – violin on 1 3 4 11
- Sandy Salzinger – violin on 1 3 4 11
- Sou-Chun Su – violin on 1 3 4 11
- Judy Taylor – violin on 1 3 4 11
- Paul Murphy – viola (lead) on 1 3 4 11
- Reid Harris – viola on 1 3 4 11
- Heidi Nitchie – viola on 1 3 4 11
- Deborah Workman – oboe on 1 3 4 11
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Billboard 200 | 2 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Drive" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1992 | "Drive" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| 1992 | "Drive" | Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 23 |
| 1992 | "Ignoreland" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1992 | "Ignoreland" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4 |
| 1993 | "Everybody Hurts" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 21 |
| 1993 | "Everybody Hurts" | Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 13 |
| 1993 | "Man on the Moon" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| 1993 | "Man on the Moon" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4 |
| 1993 | "Man on the Moon" | Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 9 |
| 1992 | "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 24 |
| 1992 | "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 28 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – USA | Gold | December 17 1992 |
| RIAA – USA | Platinum | December 17 1992 |
| RIAA – USA | Double Platinum | December 17 1992 |
| RIAA – USA | Triple Platinum | November 16 1993 |
| RIAA – USA | 4X Platinum | February 9 1995 |
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