Released after the dark and artistic Fables Of The Reconstrucion, Life's Rich Pageant (1986) was REM's first tentative step into the mainstream of rock 'n roll. The production of Don Gehman sounded shockingly clear and commercial for that moment, but in retrospect it was only a foretaste for the final commercial peak Green, Out Of Time and Automatic For The People. The beautiful Fall On Me (an
… ecological contemplation with a spectacular two-voice choir sung by Michael Stipe and Mike Mills) has remained the album's most famous track. However, they are four more rocking tracks - Begin The Begin, Cuyahoga, Just A Touch and a cover of The Clique's obscure Superman, sung by Mills - that already show some of the Georgia band's musical future.more
