The Automatic Box Explained

The Automatic Box
Type:	Box set
Artist:	R.E.M.
Cover:	R.E.M. - The Automatic Box.jpeg
Recorded:	May 1988– September 1993
Genre:	Alternative rock
Label:	Warner Bros.
Producer:	Scott Litt and R.E.M.
Prev Title:	Automatic for the People
Prev Year:	1992
Next Title:	Monster
Next Year:	1994

The Automatic Box is a four-disc box set by R.E.M., released in Germany in December 1993.^[1] It was primarily a collection of B-sides from Automatic for the People, though disc four contains B-sides from Green-era singles (then collected on the 7" vinyl box set Singleactiongreen). "It's a Free World Baby", "Fretless", "Mandolin Strum", and "Organ Song" were outtakes recorded during Out of Time recording sessions. This is part of a Warner Bros. Records series that compiles rarities and b-sides from a specific record, also containing the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Live Rare Remix Box.

Track listing

All tracks written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe except as indicated.

Disc 1 – Vocal tracks

1. "It's a Free World Baby" – 5:11
2. "Fretless" – 4:49
3. "Chance (Dub)" – 2:32
4. "Star Me Kitten" (demo) – 3:04

Disc 2 – Instrumentals

1. "Winged Mammal Theme" – 2:55
2. "Organ Song" – 3:28
3. "Mandolin Strum" – 3:45
4. "Fruity Organ" – 3:26
5. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 2" – 3:48

Disc 3 – Covers

1. "Arms of Love" (Robyn Hitchcock) – 3:35
2. "Dark Globe" (Syd Barrett) – 1:51
3. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss) – 2:41
4. "First We Take Manhattan" (Leonard Cohen) – 6:06

Disc 4 – B-sides from Singleactiongreen

1. "Ghost Rider" (Martin Rev, Alan Vega) – 3:44
2. "Funtime" (David Bowie, Iggy Pop) – 2:14
3. "Memphis Train Blues" – 1:38
4. "Pop Song 89" (acoustic) – 3:03
5. "Everybody Hurts" (live at the 1993 MTV Awards) – 4:56

Notes and References

1. Book: Platt, John . The R.E.M. Companion . 1998 . Schirmer Books . 978-0-8256-7213-2 . 254 . en.