REM: Georgia Peaches...Ripe! (rec. 1981)

 REM had only been a band for about eight months when this set was recorded, live before a small but enthusiastic hometown crowd. Even at this early stage the band had several albums worth of material and there are songs on this set that would  appear on Chronic Town, Murmur, Reckoning, Lifes Rich Pageant, and Dead Letter Office, plus there are fourteen songs that never made it to the recording stage. As a bonus, this set kicks off with a fun cover of Buddy Holly’s “Rave On”, which is exactly what this young band did for the next hour or so. 

This album is one of many REM boots that I bought at the late, great Record Mart (in ALX Va), back in 1990 or so. When I was in middle and high school, pretty much every penny I earned was spent there. I still have dreams about that place.