So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
Encyclopedia
"So. Central Rain" is a song by the American alternative rock
band R.E.M.
. It was released in May 1984 as the first single from the group's second studio album Reckoning
(1984). "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" became the second R.E.M. single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number 85.
R.E.M. performed it on the television show Late Night with David Letterman
in 1983 before it even had a title in what was the band's first national television appearance.
singing in the foreground. Stipe refused to lip sync
to the song. Guitarist Peter Buck
said, "We played a recording of the track, and the rest of us faked it, but Michael insisted on singing a new vocal to make it more real for him."
The song is also featured in the Left of Reckoning video shot by James Herbert
.
on his 2006 covers album, Nineteeneighties
.
The song also was covered by Hem
on the 2006 album "No Word from Tom
."
, Peter Buck
, Mike Mills
, and Michael Stipe
unless otherwise indicated.
7" Single
12" single
Album
Notes:
"Walter's Theme" is not listed on the cover.
Album title listing contains initial lower case 's', following a pattern of the album's listings where random capital letters are smaller case and random lower case letters are capitalized. The front cover art lists it as 'So CENTRAL RAiN', with '7 chineSe bros.' on the back track listings differing from the cover art as well.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
. It was released in May 1984 as the first single from the group's second studio album Reckoning
Reckoning (R.E.M. album)
Reckoning is the second album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1984 by I.R.S. Records. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984...
(1984). "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" became the second R.E.M. single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 85.
R.E.M. performed it on the television show Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
in 1983 before it even had a title in what was the band's first national television appearance.
Music video
The video, directed by Howard Libov and first aired in June 1984, featured the members of the band playing their instruments behind white screens in an otherwise empty room, with Michael StipeMichael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
singing in the foreground. Stipe refused to lip sync
Lip sync
Lip sync, lip-sync, lip-synch is a technical term for matching lip movements with sung or spoken vocals...
to the song. Guitarist Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
said, "We played a recording of the track, and the rest of us faked it, but Michael insisted on singing a new vocal to make it more real for him."
The song is also featured in the Left of Reckoning video shot by James Herbert
James Herbert (director)
James Herbert is an American painter and director most known for directing a series of classic music videos for the band R.E.M.. He has also made over forty short films, including John Five and Jumbo Aqua , and directed four independent features: Scars , Speedy Boys , Rabbit Pix and Abandoned...
.
Cover versions
A version of the song was released by Grant-Lee PhillipsGrant-Lee Phillips
Grant-Lee Phillips is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his versatile voice, intense lyrical narratives and dexterity on the acoustic twelve-string guitar, a style that often sees him compared to Neil Young, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.- Background :Born in...
on his 2006 covers album, Nineteeneighties
Nineteeneighties
-Track listing:#"Wave of Mutilation" – 3:36#"Age of Consent" – 3:34#"The Eternal" – 5:15#"I Often Dream of Trains" – 3:20#"The Killing Moon" – 4:14...
.
The song also was covered by Hem
Hem (band)
Hem is an indie folk-rock band from New York City, United States. Band members include Sally Ellyson , Dan Messé , Gary Maurer , Steve Curtis , George Rush , Mark Brotter , Bob Hoffnar , and Heather Zimmerman .-Band history:In 1999,...
on the 2006 album "No Word from Tom
No Word From Tom
No Word From Tom is the third album from indie folk band Hem. Released on February 7, 2006, it features covers, live songs, and new recordings from the band.-Track listing:# "All the Pretty Horses"# "Rainy Night in Georgia"# "Radiation Vibe"...
."
Track listings
All songs written by Bill BerryBill Berry
William "Bill" Thomas Berry is a retired American musician, multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. In addition to his drumming duties, Berry played many other instruments including guitar, bass guitar, and piano, both for songwriting and on R.E.M....
, Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
, Mike Mills
Mike Mills
Michael Edward "Mike" Mills is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock group R.E.M.. Though known primarily as a bass guitarist, backing vocalist, and pianist, his musical repertoire includes also keyboards, guitar, and percussion instruments...
, and Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
unless otherwise indicated.
7" Single
- "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" – 3:16
- "Walter's Theme" / "King of the RoadKing of the Road (song)"King of the Road" is a 1964 song written and originally recorded by country singer Roger Miller.The lyrics tell of a hobo who despite being poor revels in his freedom, describing himself humorously as the "king of the road"...
" (Roger MillerRoger MillerRoger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
) – 4:44
12" single
- "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" – 3:16
- "Voice of Harold" – 4:25
- "Pale Blue Eyes" (Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
) – 2:54
Album
- "so. Central Rain" – 3:11{sic}
Notes:
"Walter's Theme" is not listed on the cover.
Album title listing contains initial lower case 's', following a pattern of the album's listings where random capital letters are smaller case and random lower case letters are capitalized. The front cover art lists it as 'So CENTRAL RAiN', with '7 chineSe bros.' on the back track listings differing from the cover art as well.
Chart positions
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 85 |