So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)

Infobox Single
Name = So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)


Caption =
Artist = R.E.M.
from Album = Reckoning
A-side =
B-side =
Released = May 15, 1984
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = 1984
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 3:11
Label = I.R.S. Records
Writer =
Producer = Mitch Easter and Don Dixon
Certification =
Last single = "Talk About the Passion"
(1983)
This single = "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)"
(1984)
Next single = "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville"
(1984)
Misc =

"So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" 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 #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.

Variant titles

Depending on where one looks, this song is titled:

* "So. Central Rain" (the back of both "Reckoning" and "Eponymous").
*"So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" (on the single and on And I Feel Fine)
*"S. Central Rain" (both on the "Reckoning" album cover and the liner notes on "Eponymous")
*"Southern Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" (inside the "Reckoning" sleeve)

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 Stipe 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."Black, Johnny. " [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=347 The Greatest Songs Ever! So. Central Rain] ". "Blender". June/July 2002. Retrieved on May 11, 2008.]

The song is also featured in the "Left of Reckoning" video shot by James Herbert.

Cover versions

A version of the song was released by Grant-Lee Phillips on his 2006 covers album, "Nineteeneighties".

The song also was covered by Hem [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hem_(band)] on the 2006 album "No Word from Tom."

Track listings

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.

7" Single
# "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" - 3:16
# "Walter's Theme" / "King of the Road" (Roger Miller) - 4:44

12" single
# "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" - 3:16
# "Voice of Harold" - 4:25
# "Pale Blue Eyes" (Lou Reed) - 2:54

Notes:"Walter's Theme" is not listed on the cover."Voice of Harold" is actually a version of the album track "7 Chinese Brothers" with different lyrics.

Charts

References

External links

* [http://www.vh1classic.com/view/artist/1009/222705/R_E_M/South_Central_Rain/index.jhtml "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" video at VH1 Classics.com]