REM - In Time: The Best of REM 1988 - 2003 question

[Rik Booth]

I want to purchase this CD, but am unsure of which version to get.

I have found 3 versions, and if you could tell me which would be the best/difference between them (follow the links), it would be much appreciated:

* Standard Version (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=CD&title=135899)
* Euro Version (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=CD&title=144745)
* Special Edition 2CD (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=CD&title=138448&p=34&c=&g=48)

:)

[utero]

STANDARD AND EURO ARE THE SAME, 2CD HAS ADDT TRACKS, B-SIDES ETC, THAT'D THE ONE TO GET

[Rik Booth]

2 questions in response:

1. Why do they insist on doing standard and euro versions for most albums, if there is no difference at all?

2. Are the added songs on the 2CD worth spending another £5 for?

[evilsly]

2. country feedback live = yes worth it.

also fretless is a great track. The 2nd cd is well worth the extra

[Rik Booth]

When are the songs from? Are they recent?

[mikegray]

Originally posted by Rik Booth
When are the songs from? Are they recent?

The clue is in the title. ;) The second disc is also Warner Era stuff and does indeed range from Green all the way up to Reveal. It's essential stuff if you don't own the singles, and while some of it sucks (Chance [dub]) for instance, the good heavily outweighs the bad.

Plus with the second you get a cool slipcase, a little booklet of liner notes and a poster. Can't say fairer than that.

[emccusker]

I dunno about the 2x disc version. If you don't own anything by REM at the moment, the second disc is a load of flim-flam that you could well do without. Live versions? Demos? A bit from the Bill Burroughs spoken word album? Smacks of something with which to bring in the collectors!

If you want an introduction to REM and you're using this to do it, buy the standard version single disc but instead of saving £5, put it with another £5 and buy Eponymous (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=CD&title=9754). That way, you have the best of IRS-era REM (their first record label) and of Warners-era REM (current record label). REM didn't start being good on signing to Warners and the set of Eponymous and In Time will be a nice introduction to the band.

After that, start putting money aside as you'll find you're missing so much good stuff that buying Green, Murmur, Life's Rich Pageant, Document, Out Of Time, Automatic... etc. will only seem like the right thing to do.

[mikegray]

For me, CD 2 holds very little value to collectors, as with the sole exception of the version of Country Feedback, it's all previously released B-Sides etc... for the difference (£2 or so from CD-Wow) I don't really see the point in getting the single disc version, as some of the stuff on there is good even for people who aren't particularly huge fans (the acoustic One I Love from 'Not Bad For No Tour', the live Country Feedback etc..)

In general, of course, I entirely disapprove of Greatest Hits compilations and suggest people buy two mid-price previous albums instead, in this case, Green, Murmur or New Adventures In Hi-Fi (assuming most people already have Out Of Time and Automatic, although I'd actually probably buy those three ahead of OOT or Automatic)

[Rik Booth]

I went for the Standard Version. :)