Studio Album · No. 4

Lifes Rich Pageant Songwriting Credits by R.E.M.

1986 I.R.S. 12 tracks 38:23

Produced by Don Gehman  ·  Engineered by Jim Dineen, Ross Hogarth, Bob Ludwig

I.R.S. Jangle PopAlternative Rock
92%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether R.E.M. carries a lyricist or composer credit.

92%
11 trackswritten by R.E.M. 1 trackoutside writers
R.E.M.'s roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist92%
Composer92%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
6
Lyricists
1
Producers
1986
Released
Data Insight

Eleven of the twelve are the band. The twelfth, "Superman", is a 1969 song by two Los Angeles writers, and it is the first track on any R.E.M. album that nobody in the band wrote.

Lifes Rich Pageant came out on I.R.S. in July 1986, made in Indiana with a producer used to arena rock.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Begin the Begin
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
2
These Days
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
3
Fall on Me #94
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
4
Cuyahoga
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
5
Hyena
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
6
Underneath the Bunker
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
7
The Flowers of Guatemala
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
8
I Believe
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
9
What If We Give It Away?
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
10
Just a Touch
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
11
Swan Swan H
Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael Stipe William Thomas BerryPeter Lawrence BuckMichael Edward MillsJohn Michael Stipe Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)
12
Superman
Mitchell BottlerGary Zekley Mitchell BottlerGary Zekley Don Gehman R.E.M. (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 12 contributors

BB
Bill Berry
Writer
On this album11 written
JM
John Michael Stipe
Writer
On this album11 written
ME
Michael Edward Mills
Writer
On this album11 written
MS
Michael Stipe
Writer
On this album11 written
MM
Mike Mills
Writer
On this album11 written
PB
Peter Buck
Writer
On this album11 written
PL
Peter Lawrence Buck
Writer
On this album11 written
WT
William Thomas Berry
Writer
On this album11 written
GZ
Gary Zekley
Writer
On this album1 written
MB
Mitchell Bottler
Writer
On this album1 written
DG
Don Gehman
Producer
On this album12 produced
R
R.E.M.
Performer
On this albumGuest

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2011 100%
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Frequently Asked Questions Lifes Rich Pageant

Who wrote Lifes Rich Pageant?
Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe on eleven of the twelve tracks. "Superman" was written by Mitchell Bottler and Gary Zekley.
How high did the single chart?
"Fall on Me" reached number 94 on the Hot 100.
How did it sell?
The discography publishes certifications rather than a sales figure for it.
Who engineered it?
Jim Dineen and Ross Hogarth, with Bob Ludwig mastering.
Who produced it?
Don Gehman.
Who sings "Superman"?
Mike Mills takes the lead, one of the few R.E.M. tracks Stipe does not sing.
How long is the album?
38:23 across twelve tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Lifes Rich Pageant Wikipedia: R.E.M. discography Wikipedia: R.E.M. Cover Art Archive: Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.