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Tulum's Collection

R.E.M.   01/26/1995

Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Australia
Source Sony TCD-D8 DAT Recorder > Sonic Studios DSM-6 mics
Media FLAC   28 discs
Notes 2025 JEMS transfer + remastering

Here’s a new version of the final concert R.E.M. performed in Australia near the beginning of its 1995 tour, getting itself together after being off the road for more than five years.

Behind “Monster,” R.E.M. made its case as a ’90s band, drawing heavily from that LP and Warner Bros. predecessors “Automatic for the People,” “Out of Time,” and on this night, “Green,” too. Some tunes got revved up (“Try Not to Breathe”) while others took the scenic route (“Half a World Away”).

Though the tour was in its embryonic stage, the shows were quite good, augmented by a second auxiliary musician and a bonanza of new music. Michael Stipe’s persona was cipher-like: he seemed content in allowing the audience to make of him what it wanted. “Thanks,” he’d say. “Here’s another song” — wry and to the point in such instances, then charming and heartfelt in others, like his remarks here to set up “Man on the Moon.”

Over two nights in Melbourne, 12 different numbers rotated in. That put “Disturbance at the Heron House,” the aforementioned “Half a World Away,” and a lovely cover of Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” (with tennis player Jim Courier playing drums) alongside standard numbers like “Losing My Religion,” “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth,” and “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” Note that Michael sang a few lines a cappella from “Winter” by Tori Amos to lead the encore.

I recorded four nights — five, if you count January 18 in Sydney, where I carelessly let the light from my deck make its way into the eyes of a nearby snitch. After shaking off a stern rebuke from the band’s tour manager, I recorded the remaining dates I attended, enjoying the Australian summertime and making new friends along the way — all’s well that ends well. A tape, our dear friend Jared Houser liked to say, is better than no tape.

This one features intermittent chatter and clapping, but nothing proved overly intrusive (I excised a few egregious instances). As January 26 was the tour’s tenth date, a few miscues creep in; more often, however, you’ll hear stretches of good R.E.M. music — I hope you enjoy hearing them.

My old pal BK helmed the 2025 transfer and mastering. It's a real improvement over the prior one; though we were concerned about diginoise, it appeared only in a fleeting moment. I was perhaps too active with managing levels, but BK took two passes to smooth that out in post. Thanks again, friend.

And here’s to Jared and Stan. Without them, the world would be a far quieter place. And not in a good way.

Share it freely, and for free!

- slipkid68
Tech Notes JEMS 2025 Transfer: Master DAT > Tascam DA-302 > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.7.1 > iZotope RX and Ozone > .wav > FLAC > tracking and finishing via Audacity 3.7.1 and TLH
Trades Allowed Yes
Owned by Tulum · Last Updated Jul 9, 2025