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Fables of the Reconstruction
Studio album by R.E.M.
Released	10 June 1985
Recorded	February–March 1985, Livingstone Studios, London
Genre	Rock/College rock
Length	39:44
Label	I.R.S. Records
Producer(s)	Joe Boyd
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B+) link Rolling Stone link
R.E.M. chronology
Reckoning (1984)	Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)	Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)

Fables of the Reconstruction is the third studio album released by the American band R.E.M. on the I.R.S. Records label, in 1985.

Contents 1 Details 2 Track listing 2.1 UK reissue 3 Personnel 3.1 Additional personnel 4 Miscellanea 5 Charts 6 Certifications 7 External links

Despite the critical acclaim received by the band after their initial two albums, Murmur and Reckoning, R.E.M. decided to make noticeable changes to their style of music and recording habits, including a change in producer (Joe Boyd) and recording location (London, England).

Lyrically, the album explores the mythology of the Southern United States. A celebration of an eccentric individual is the subject of no fewer than four songs on the album ("Maps and Legends", "Life and How To Live It", "Old Man Kensey", "Wendell Gee"). "Maps and Legends" is dedicated to the Reverend Howard Finster, "a man of vision and feeling—a fine example to all." "Driver 8" describes the scenery surrounding railroad tracks. Trains are a frequent topic of Southern music; they epitomize the freedom and promise of an escape from one's home environment. The source of the title of "Cant Get There from Here" is a phrase heard when asking directions in a rural area.^{[citation needed]} "Kohoutek" is about Comet Kohoutek, and is perhaps the first song by R.E.M. about a romantic relationship. "Life and How To Live It", though not referencing him by name, is certainly about Georgian author Brivs Mekis that is alluded to in the live version on the And I Feel Fine... bonus disc.^{[citation needed]} By the time this album was released, R.E.M. were already well-known and critically acclaimed, and the video for "Cant Get There From Here" was played frequently on MTV, though it failed to chart as a single.

Recorded during a period of minor internal strife, the band's view of the album has been polarized for years. Former drummer Bill Berry was quoted in the early 1990s as saying that Fables of the Reconstruction "sucked", while frontman Michael Stipe considers it home to some of their more important songs, telling producer Joe Boyd that he had grown to love the album.

The album's liner notes lists a song entitled "When I Was Young" as among the tracklisting, but it does not appear on the release. It was played live three or four times during the 1985 "Preconstruction" U.S. College tour (a tour that took place before the release of the album), but the song was quickly dropped. However, a few lines of its lyrics would eventually form part of "I Believe", a completely different track later released on Lifes Rich Pageant.

Upon its release, Fables of the Reconstruction reached #28 in the U.S. (going gold in 1991) and was their best showing yet in the UK, peaking at #35.

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe except where noted.

1. "Feeling Gravitys Pull" – 4:51
2. "Maps and Legends" – 3:10
3. "Driver 8" – 3:23
4. "Life and How to Live It" – 4:06
5. "Old Man Kensey" (Jerry Ayers, Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 4:08
6. "Cant Get There from Here" – 3:39
7. "Green Grow the Rushes" – 3:46
8. "Kohoutek" – 3:18
9. "Auctioneer (Another Engine)" – 2:44
10. "Good Advices" – 3:30
11. "Wendell Gee" – 3:01

On August 6, 1992, EMI (which owns the I.R.S. catalogue) re-released Fables of the Reconstruction in the UK with five bonus tracks:

12. "Crazy"
13. "Burning Hell"
14. "Bandwagon"
15. "Driver 8" (Live)
16. "Maps and Legends" (Live)

"Crazy", "Burning Hell" and "Bandwagon" can be found on Dead Letter Office.

• Bill Berry – drums, vocal
• Peter Buck – guitar, banjo, harmonica
• Mike Mills – bass, piano, vocal
• Michael Stipe – lead vocal

• David Bitelli – saxophone
• Jim Dvorak – trumpet
• David Newby – cello
• Camilla Brunt – violin
• Philippa Ibbotson – violin
• Pete Thomas – saxophone

• This album is R.E.M.'s first to use live horns, on "Cant Get There From Here".

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1985	The Billboard 200	28 (42 weeks on chart)
1985	UK Albums Chart	35 (4 weeks on chart)

Singles

Year	Song	Chart	Position
1985	"Cant Get There from Here"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	14
1985	"Driver 8"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	22

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – U.S.	Gold	June 24, 1991

• Fables of the Reconstruction at MusicBrainz

R.E.M.
Peter Buck • Mike Mills • Michael Stipe • Bill Berry
Other musicians: Scott McCaughey • Bill Rieflin • Ken Stringfellow • Nathan December • Buren Fowler • Peter Holsapple • Barrett Martin • Joey Waronker
Management and producers: Bertis Downs, IV • Pat McCarthy • Jefferson Holt • Scott Litt Joe Boyd • Don Dixon • Mitch Easter • Don Gehman
Discography
Albums: Chronic Town • Murmur • Reckoning • Fables of the Reconstruction • Lifes Rich Pageant • Document • Green • Out of Time • Automatic for the People • Monster • New Adventures in Hi-Fi • Up • Reveal • Around the Sun
Singles: See here
Compilations: Dead Letter Office • Eponymous • In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 • And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Remix album: R.E.M.IX
Soundtrack: Man on the Moon
Videos: Succumbs • Tourfilm • Pop Screen • This Film Is On • Parallel • Road Movie • In View: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 • Perfect Square • When the Light Is Mine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Related articles
Alternative rock • Hindu Love Gods • I.R.S. Records • Warner Bros. Records
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