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Superman (The Clique song)

1969 song by The Clique

Summary

1969 song by The Clique

FieldValue
nameSuperman
typeSingle
artistThe Clique
albumThe Clique
B-sideShadow Of Your Love
released1969
genrePsychedelic rock
length2:27
labelWhite Whale Records
writer
producerGary Zekley

| B-side = Shadow Of Your Love "Superman" is a 1969 song by the Texas psychedelic band the Clique, made more famous in 1986 when it was recorded by R.E.M. In 1997, Zapp frontman Roger Troutman also recorded a version of the song that was included on the 2002 re-release of his debut album The Many Facets of Roger.

It was written by Mitchell Bottler and Gary Zekley and originally released as the first single off of The Clique's first album for White Whale Records.

R.E.M. version

| B-side = White Tornado

  • garage rock

R.E.M. recorded it for their fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant. It was released as a single and received a fair amount of radio play, but did not chart on the main U.S. singles chart, though it did reach #17 on Billboard magazine's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

The scratchy spoken intro is attributed to a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll. Translated loosely from the Japanese, it says, "This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the Self-Defense Force has been useless. He is heading towards the city. Aaaaaaaaagh...."

Cash Box called it "another sparing example of simplicity maximized." Rolling Stone called it "an irresistibly cheesy psychedelic grunge rocker." with "energetic treatment."

Songwriter Gary Zekley joined R.E.M. on stage during a performance at Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, Illinois, on October 21, 1986.

The R.E.M. version was played during the "Tempus, Anyone?" episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. It was also used as part of the soundtrack for the movie DC League of Super-Pets (2022).

The B-side to the single, a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado", was first recorded by the band in 1981. The version used on the single was recorded in January, 1984, during the Reckoning sessions, but remained unreleased until "Superman."

Track listing

;7": IRS / IRM 128 (UK)

  1. "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
  2. "White Tornado" (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe) – 1:56

;12": IRS / IRT 128 (UK)

  1. "Superman" (Gary Zekley / Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
  2. "White Tornado" (Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 1:56
  3. "Femme Fatale" (Lou Reed) – 2:50

;12": IRS / ILS 65025 5 6 (Holland)

  1. "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
  2. "White Tornado" (Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 1:56
  3. "Perfect Circle" (Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 3:30

References

References

  1. DeCurtis, Anthony. (August 28, 1986). "''Life's Rich Pageant''".
  2. (2002). "All Music Guide to Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation.
  3. [{{AllMusic
  4. "Rec.music.rem Frequently-Asked Questions list (2 of 3)".
  5. (November 15, 1986). "Single Releases".
  6. Natkin, Paul. (October 26, 1986). "Michael Stipe And Gary Zekley On Stage".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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