"Superman" is a 1969 song by the Texas band The Clique, made more famous in 1986 when it was recorded by R.E.M. Roger Troutman also recorded a version in 1997 that was included on the 2002 re-release of his debut album The Many Facets of Roger.
| "Superman" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Clique | |
| from the album The Clique | |
| B-side | "Shadow Of Your Love" |
| Released | 1969 |
| Length | 2:27 |
| Label | White Whale Records |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Gary Zekley |
It was written by Mitchell Bottler and Gary Zekley and originally released as the first single off of The Clique's first album for White Whale Records.
R.E.M. recorded it for their fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant. It was released as a single and received a fair amount of radio play, but did not chart on the main U.S. singles chart, though it did reach #17 on Billboard magazine's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[1]
R.E.M. version
edit| "Superman" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by R.E.M. | ||||
| from the album Lifes Rich Pageant | ||||
| B-side | "White Tornado" | |||
| Released | November 1986 | |||
| Recorded | April–May 1986 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:54 | |||
| Label | I.R.S. | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Don Gehman | |||
| R.E.M. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The scratchy spoken intro is attributed to a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll.[4] Translated loosely from the Japanese, it says, "This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the Self-Defense Force has been useless. He is heading towards the city. Aaaaaaaaagh...."
Cash Box called it "another sparing example of simplicity maximized."[5] Rolling Stone called it "an irresistibly cheesy psychedelic grunge rocker." with "energetic treatment."[2]
Songwriter Gary Zekley joined R.E.M. on stage during a performance at Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, Illinois, on October 21, 1986.[6]
The R.E.M. version was played during the "Tempus, Anyone?" episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. It was also used as part of the soundtrack for the movie DC League of Super-Pets (2022).
The B-side to the single, a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado", was first recorded by the band in 1981. The version used on the single was recorded in January, 1984, during the Reckoning sessions, but remained unreleased until "Superman."
Track listing
edit- 7"
- IRS / IRM 128 (UK)
- "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
- "White Tornado" (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe) – 1:56
- 12"
- IRS / IRT 128 (UK)
- "Superman" (Gary Zekley / Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
- "White Tornado" (Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 1:56
- "Femme Fatale" (Lou Reed) – 2:50
- 12"
- IRS / ILS 65025 5 6 (Holland)
- "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
- "White Tornado" (Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 1:56
- "Perfect Circle" (Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 3:30
References
edit- ^ allmusic.com
- ^ a b c DeCurtis, Anthony (August 28, 1986). "Life's Rich Pageant". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). p. 930. ISBN 0-87930-653-X.
- ^ "Rec.music.rem Frequently-Asked Questions list (2 of 3)".
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 15, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ Natkin, Paul (October 26, 1986). "Michael Stipe And Gary Zekley On Stage". Getty Images. Retrieved May 27, 2020.