Driver 8
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| “Driver 8” | |||||
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| Single by R.E.M. from the album Fables of the Reconstruction |
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| Released | September 1985 | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Recorded | 1985 | ||||
| Genre | College Rock | ||||
| Length | 3:18 | ||||
| Label | I.R.S. Records | ||||
| Producer | Joe Boyd | ||||
| R.E.M. singles chronology | |||||
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"Driver 8" was the second single from R.E.M.'s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction. Released in September 1985, the song failed to chart in the United States. It was not released in Europe.
The song refers to the Southern Crescent, a passenger train operated by the Southern Railroad until 1979, and continues today (with fewer stops) as the Amtrak Crescent. The music video shows Chessie System trains running around Huntington, West Virginia.
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. borrowed the title of this song for his autobiography. (Until 2008, Earnhardt drove a #8 car.)
ESPN anchor John Buccigross frequently references the song on SportsCenter, usually referring to an athlete that wears the number 8 (such as Alex Ovechkin).
[edit] Cover versions
- It was covered by Hootie and the Blowfish in 2000 on their covers-only album Scattered, Smothered and Covered after the band performed a live version of the song with R.E.M. on the UK's TFI Friday in October 1998.
- Dennis "Cannonball" Caplinger's bluegrass instrumental cover appears on 2001's Pickin' on R.E.M.: The Bluegrass Tribute.
- Death Cab for Cutie played the song on their 2006 UK tour for the album Plans, although they have not released an official recording of it.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
[edit] 7": IRS / IRS-52678 (US)
- "Driver 8" - 3:24
- "Crazy" (Pylon) - 3:05
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