Superman (R.E.M. song)
Encyclopedia
"Superman" is a 1969
song by the Texas band The Clique
, made more famous in 1986
when recorded by R.E.M.
It was written by Mitchell Bottler and producer/songwriter Gary Zekley
and originally released as the b-side to The Clique's hit "Sugar on Sunday," itself a cover of a Tommy James and the Shondells song.
R.E.M. recorded it for their fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant
. It was released as a single and received a fair amount of radio play, but did not chart on the main U.S. singles chart, though it did reach #17 on Billboard magazine
's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
was not as enthusiastic about recording the song as the other band members were, and as a result bassist Mike Mills
debuted on lead vocals with Stipe providing background.
The B-side to the single, a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado", was first recorded by the band in 1981. The version used on the single was recorded in January, 1984, during the Reckoning sessions, but remained unreleased until "Superman."
Gary Zekley joined R.E.M. on stage during a performance at Northern Illinois University
in De Kalb, Illinois
, on October 21, 1986.
The R.E.M. version was played during the "Tempus, Anyone?" episode (3x14) of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
.
The song appears in a CSI: NY
episode.
, Peter Buck
, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
1969 in music
-Events:Perhaps the two most famous musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event...
song by the Texas band The Clique
The Clique (Texas band)
The Clique are a late 1960s U.S. sunshine pop band from Beaumont, Texas, 90 miles east of Houston.The group was centered around record producer/songwriter Gary Zekley, who often employed session musicians...
, made more famous in 1986
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
when recorded by R.E.M.
It was written by Mitchell Bottler and producer/songwriter Gary Zekley
Gary Zekley
Gary Zekley was a former West Coast record producer and songwriter associated with 1960s, 1970s and 1980s bands and songs in the bubblegum, rock and roll, sunshine pop, and surf genres....
and originally released as the b-side to The Clique's hit "Sugar on Sunday," itself a cover of a Tommy James and the Shondells song.
R.E.M. recorded it for their fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant
Lifes Rich Pageant
Lifes Rich Pageant is the fourth album by the American band R.E.M., released in 1986. Intended as an upbeat reaction to the sobering and historical Fables of the Reconstruction, R.E.M...
. It was released as a single and received a fair amount of radio play, but did not chart on the main U.S. singles chart, though it did reach #17 on Billboard magazine
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
R.E.M. version
Lead singer 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...
was not as enthusiastic about recording the song as the other band members were, and as a result bassist 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...
debuted on lead vocals with Stipe providing background.
The B-side to the single, a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado", was first recorded by the band in 1981. The version used on the single was recorded in January, 1984, during the Reckoning sessions, but remained unreleased until "Superman."
Gary Zekley joined R.E.M. on stage during a performance at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
in De Kalb, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, on October 21, 1986.
The R.E.M. version was played during the "Tempus, Anyone?" episode (3x14) of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books...
.
The song appears in a CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
episode.
7": IRS / IRM 128 (UK)
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 and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
- "Superman" (Gary ZekleyGary ZekleyGary Zekley was a former West Coast record producer and songwriter associated with 1960s, 1970s and 1980s bands and songs in the bubblegum, rock and roll, sunshine pop, and surf genres....
/Mitchell Bottler) - 2:52 - "White Tornado" - 1:56
12": IRS / IRT 128 (UK)
- "Superman" (Gary ZekleyGary ZekleyGary Zekley was a former West Coast record producer and songwriter associated with 1960s, 1970s and 1980s bands and songs in the bubblegum, rock and roll, sunshine pop, and surf genres....
/ Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52 - "White Tornado" – 1:56
- "Femme Fatale" (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...
) – 2:50
12": IRS / ILS 65025 5 6 (Holland)
- "Superman" (Gary ZekleyGary ZekleyGary Zekley was a former West Coast record producer and songwriter associated with 1960s, 1970s and 1980s bands and songs in the bubblegum, rock and roll, sunshine pop, and surf genres....
/Mitchell Bottler) - 2:52 - "White Tornado" - 1:56
- "Perfect CirclePerfect Circle (song)"Perfect Circle" is an R.E.M. song and is the 6th track from their 1983 debut album Murmur. R.E.M. fans hold this song in high regard and is widely considered a fan favorite. It is one of the few R.E.M...
" - 3:30
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
17 |