Drive (R.E.M. song)

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“Drive”
“Drive” cover
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Automatic for the People
Released October 8, 1992 (1992-10-08)
Format CD single, 7" single, 12" single, Cassette
Recorded 1992
Genre Alternative rock
Length 4:25
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Scott Litt & R.E.M.
R.E.M. singles chronology
"It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
(1991)
"Drive"
(1992)
"Man on the Moon"
(1992)
Automatic for the People track listing
"Drive"
(1)
"Try Not to Breathe"
(2)

"Drive" was the lead single and first track from R.E.M.'s eighth studio album Automatic for the People in 1992. Although it was not as successful as previous lead singles "Losing My Religion," "Stand," or "The One I Love" in the United States, it became R.E.M.'s then second biggest hit on the UK Singles Charts, peaking at #11. It managed a peak of #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song did hit #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks and #2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.

Despite the success and popularity of the song, it was left off of the band's Warner Bros. Records "best of" compilation In Time - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003. However, a live version of the song was included in the special edition two-disc set of In Time that included rarities, live versions, and B-sides. The version featured was the "funk" version, which has never been studio-recorded.

The title itself is derived from Stipe and R.E.M.'s support for what would eventually become the "Motor Voter Bill" and the lyric "Hey, kids, rock 'n' roll" is an homage to the song "Stop It" by fellow Athens, Georgia group Pylon.

The song is included on R.E.M. Live.

Contents

[edit] Video

The song's video, directed by Peter Care, was shot over two nights in late August 1992 at Sepulveda Dam in the Burbank area of Los Angeles.


[edit] Track listing

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

[edit] US 7", Cassette and CD Single

  1. "Drive" – 4:25
  2. "Winged Mammal Theme" – 2:55

[edit] UK "Collector's Edition" CD Single

  1. "Drive" – 4:25
  2. "It's a Free World Baby" – 5:11
  3. "Winged Mammal Theme" – 2:55
  4. "First We Take Manhattan" (Leonard Cohen) – 6:06

[edit] DE CD Maxi-Single

  1. "Drive" – 4:25
  2. "World Leader Pretend" – 4:15
  3. "Winged Mammal Theme" – 2:55

[edit] UK and DE 7" and Cassette Single

  1. "Drive" – 4:25
  2. "World Leader Pretend" – 4:15
Preceded by
"Blood Makes Noise" by Suzanne Vega
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single
October 17, 1992 - November 14, 1992
Succeeded by
"These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs