1987.E2.80.931990:_Breakthrough R.E.M.

scott litt produced string of r.e.m. s breakthrough albums in late 1980s , mid-1990s.

don gehman unable produce r.e.m. s fifth album, suggested group work scott litt. litt producer band s next 5 albums. document (1987) featured of stipe s openly political lyrics, particularly on welcome occupation , exhuming mccarthy , reactions conservative political environment of 1980s under american president ronald reagan. jon pareles of new york times wrote in review of album, document both confident , defiant; if r.e.m. move cult-band status mass popularity, album decrees band there on own terms. document r.e.m. s breakthrough album, , first single 1 love charted in top 20 in us, uk, , canada. january 1988, document had become group s first album sell million copies. in light of band s breakthrough, december 1987 cover of rolling stone declared r.e.m. america s best rock & roll band .

frustrated records did not see satisfactory overseas distribution, r.e.m. left i.r.s. when contract expired , signed major label warner bros. records. though other labels offered more money, r.e.m. signed warner bros.—reportedly amount between $6 million , $12 million—due company s assurance of total creative freedom. in aftermath of group s departure, i.r.s. released 1988 best of compilation eponymous (assembled input band members) capitalize on assets company still possessed. band s 1988 warner bros. debut, green, recorded in nashville, tennessee, , showcased group experimenting sound. record s tracks ranged upbeat first single stand (a hit in united states), more political material, rock-oriented orange crush , world leader pretend , address vietnam war , cold war, respectively. green has gone on sell 4 million copies worldwide. band supported album biggest , visually developed tour date, featuring back-projections , art films playing on stage. after green tour, band members unofficially decided take following year off, first extended break in band s career. in 1990 warner bros. issued music video compilation pop screen collect clips document , green albums, followed few months later video album tourfilm featuring live performances filmed during green world tour.