Dead Letter Office (album)

Dead Letter Office is a rarities and B-sides collection by R.E.M. and released in 1987 as their fifth official album. The album effectively mops up many of the additional recordings R.E.M. made pre-Murmur to Lifes Rich Pageant that were outtakes or released as flip sides to their singles internationally.

Related Topics:
R.E.M. - 1987 - Murmur - Lifes Rich Pageant

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Guitarist Peter Buck saw fit to compose wry, self-deprecating (and, in one instance, apologetic) liner notes to the songs on Dead Letter Office.

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The album was initially issued as a 15-song collection on vinyl and cassette, but when its CD edition appeared (now the only available edition of Dead Letter Office), the legendary and obsure Chronic Town EP from 1982 was slotted in.

Related Topics:
Chronic Town - 1982

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Dead Letter Office originally reached #52 in the US and #60 in the UK, giving it the dubious distinction of being one of R.E.M.'s rare releases to not go gold. However, the album is considered one of the finest rarities packages to be produced by a major group.

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