release date: Oct. 2, 1988
format: vinyl (ILP 463147 1) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: I.R.S. Records - nationality: USA
2nd compilation album but the first best of album by R.E.M. released on I.R.S. Records just one month before their first release on the band's new label, Warner Bros. The A-side of the vinyl issue is labelled 'Early' and its B-side 'Late' [a somewhat obscure decision as the last track on the A-side and the first on the B-side are from the same album].
The album is a fine collection of songs for someone not acquainted with the band, but for a fan, it's not only a redundant album but it also feels like an extremely insufficient release with 12 tracks only. On the positive side, three of the tracks are in alternate versions compared to previous album releases, and one track "Romance" hasn't previously been released on any studio releases, except the soundtrack album for the movie "Made in Heaven" (1987); however, the purchase soon felt more like a rather pointless one.
