Although it got lost on the way to the charts, it’s still a good driving song.
Kronomyth 3.1: Maths and legends.
R.E.M. was never much of a singles band, at least in the beginning. Instead, they wrote great songs, some of which (“Radio Free Europe,” “So. Central Rain”) worked well as singles. Can’t Get There From Here is a great song that doesn’t really work as a single. Honestly, nothing on Fables of the Reconstruction did. I don’t recall hearing this on the radio or seeing a video for it, but I wasn’t looking out for it either.
The interesting stuff starts on the other side with the bittersweet, jangly Bandwagon and, on the 12-inch single, R.E.M.’s take on Iggy Pop, Burning Hell. “Bandwagon” might have been sharpened into something better than a twangy throwaway tune, but “Burning Hell” is three minutes of burning awesomeness that shows R.E.M. knows how to rock. Maybe you already knew that. Both songs eventually turned up on Dead Letter Office. Of minor interest, the US single featured a slightly edited version of the album track, while in the UK the longer elpee version was used (presented, oddly, as the “extended mix”).
Original 7-inch single version
A1. Can’t Get There From Here (3:39)
B1. Bandwagon
Original 12-inch single version (US)
A1. Can’t Get There From Here (3:40)
B1. Bandwagon
B2. Burning Hell
Original 12-inch single version (US)
A1. Can’t Get There From Here (LP version) (4:10)
B1. Bandwagon
B2. Burning Hell
Songs written by William Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch and 12-inch single in July 1987 in the US (I.R.S., IRS-52642/ILSA 12,6384) and the UK (I.R.S, IRT 102) with picture sleeve.
