Not a fan of covers of Richards tunes but this is OK, for the flip side try David Gilmor's "Dimming of the Day".

Ok, I agree about Richard and Linda's version, but this does strangely sound like her.

Isobel wrote: it is.

I've never heard the original, but it has to be better than this. What a maddeningly plodding rendition. Or maybe my mind is still stunned stupid from watching the presidential debate.

This is a great song . . . for those of us of similar convictions and fans of Richard Thompson's songwriting. :) 8) Since the original version got so many raves, would Bill please put it on sometime? :?:

redbird wrote: I agree. I love this song. It is one of my favorite Richard Thompson songs and I like this version on it's on, but I seem to remember liking Nanci's version the best. Does anybody know where I can find it? I haven't seen it on any of her albums I could find. BTW I never thought this song was about carnival rides. It stands on it's own as a statement about taking chances.

Antigone wrote: And another vote from me. PLEASE, BILL some songs from "Shoot out the Lights"??

How 'bout the real thing? Nobody can do this better than Richard and Linda T.

Lyrics could be best in the world. Doesn't mean anything if they're sung by no-talent hacks... Which is what rem sounds like in this song.

A tribute to a classic song!

Spliff wrote: Funny, you've got some Richard Thompson songs in your high ratings... and this doesn't seem vastly different from those...

hutchmo wrote: As did I, with the same result. Didn't even hit the review channel.

These lyrics are absolutely stupid. Die already!

If the previous commentators would just let go of the comparison, this version stands well on its own. The point of a tribute album isn't to outperform the original, but rather to put your own sound and style to the original. Beat the Retreat is awesome exactly because the artists do things differently from RT and from each other.

I heard this song this morning and couldn't log on. I recently found it in my stack of CDs on an REM single I purchased a long time ago. I really like it a lot and never realized it was written by someone else. I will have to check out the original.

I absolutely love this song. I am a huge fan of REM and when I purchased the single that this was a B-side of, it reconfirmed my passion for them. This is an amazing song and I admire them for choosing it. It is one of my top 5 REM songs and they did not even write it. Thanks so much for playing it...it made my day.

I also prefer the Richard and Linda Thompson original because of the vocals, but also think the song loses much taken out of the context of the Shoot Out the Lights album. Here the song can be taken as nothing more than a recitation of favorite carnival rides. In context, it\'s a statement about love and the value of taking risks. You may be risking \"death\", but it\'s the \"nearest to feeling alive.\" Avoid risk and you\'re on the carousel, going nowhere. Me, I\'ll take my chances on the Wall of Death too. But all that aside, the REM version is superior to the one I do whenever I hear this song.

Hey, this LP turned me on to Richard & Linda Thompson, so don\'t knock it! It actually took me a while to get used to the original after listening to this so much...

I'm in complete agreement with the previous posters -- this would be a good version if I wasn't already familiar with the Richard and Linda Thompson version -- and it just enticed me more to hear that original!! Wow, what a great album that was! (Another example of how chaos and dispair can transcend and create great art) --Shari

Add one more vote for the original Richard and Linda Thompson version!

Not bad. But... I have to echo the other comments re: the Richard and Linda Thompson version.

This one is really growing on me. I really like Mills\' voice, it\'s great to hear him on backing vocals.

Bill: I have to agree w/ other posters: this is a great tune done wonderfully by the Thompsons! How about some tunes off Shoot out the Lights or other Richard and Linda collaborations?

I\'m a huge REM fan, but the original of this song by Richard and Linda is superior. The harmonies on the Thompson\'s version are sublime. It is one of the great songs on \'Shoot out the Lights\' album/CD describing the break-up of their marriage. Amazing that so many beautiful songs and harmonies can come out of what sounds like a very destructive relationship or at least what became a destructive relationship. I attempted to upload the original some time ago, but it was rejected. I would urge Bill to reconsider!

Wow. I haven\'t heard this song since the last time I heard the Richard and Linda Thompson version years and years ago. I think the close harmonies are a real part of what makes this song great, though, and that\'s not REM\'s strength. But a fine tune and a great band covering it - certainly not bad!

i really like this little ditty. of course, it\'s got a pedal steel in it, that is why!

Good song, but I still prefer the Nanci Griffith version.

one of my favorite Richard Thompson songs!