If Doc was the turning level for R.E.M., then “The One I Love” served because the hinge. Launched because the lead single of their fifth LP in August 1987, the track grew to become R.E.M.’s first High 10 hit by the tip of that yr.
Even within the context of the album, “The One I Love” marked one thing of a demarcation line. Whereas the tracks on aspect one have been united by political ideas (or, not less than, implications) associated to the state of America in 1987, aspect two (kicked off by this track) was a stranger, extra eclectic musical expertise. It was a counter-balance to the jackhammer cohesion of the opposite half, which was in all probability the closest R.E.M. ever obtained to creating an idea file.
The primary track on aspect two was an unbelievable shift from the ultimate tune on aspect one – “It’s the Finish of the World as We Know It (And I Really feel Positive).” These would change into the 2 singles, the dual radio songs off of Doc, however they couldn’t be extra totally different, not less than from a lyrical strategy. In distinction to the litany of calamities and references that he shuffled like a Las Vegas blackjack vendor on “It’s the Finish,” frontman Michael Stipe went spartan on “The One I Love.”
The track has three verses, that are all equivalent except for a key phrase within the third go-round. It has a one-word refrain (should you don’t depend bassist Mike Mills’ backing contribution). Stipe solely sings 20 totally different phrases in the midst of a three-minute track – in comparison with “It’s the Finish…,” during which he passes the 20-word mark within the first 15 seconds.
“The One I Love” is plotted out like this. At first Stipe seems like he’s making a nod to the Shirelles (or the Mamas and the Papas): “This one goes out to the one I like.” Then it’s revealed the topic shouldn’t be a present lover, however a former one: “This one goes out to the one I left behind.” After which, there’s the flip: “A easy prop to occupy my time.” The primary line is repeated to the listener, not with the understanding that this isn’t a loving gesture, however one thing bitter, ironic or cynical. So from the place did this tightly wound blast of darkish poetry come from?
“I don’t know. That track simply got here up from someplace, and I acknowledged it as being actual violent and terrible,” Stipe informed Rolling Stone in ’87. “Nevertheless it wasn’t directed at anybody particular person. I’d by no means, ever write a track like that. Even when there was one particular person on the earth pondering, ‘This track is about me,’ I might by no means sing it or put it out.”
The observe’s lyrical straightforwardness was matched, in some methods, by its musical simplicity. One author known as “The One I Love”’s brief guitar solo “borderline rudimentary.” In typical R.E.M. style, the instrumental portion got here earlier than the lyrics. Guitarist Peter Buck got here up with the riff on his entrance porch.
“I bear in mind Peter, exhibiting me that riff and pondering it was fairly cool, after which the remainder of the track flowed from there,” Mills informed Uncut journal. “We performed the entire track as an instrumental till Michael got here up with some vocals for it.”
Stipe delivered the lyrics, together with the howled eruptions of “Hearth!” within the refrain, with a darkish edge. Hearth tied right into a recurring theme on Doc, representing ardour, anger, and even unrepentant destruction (as on “Welcome to the Occupation”). The track following “The One I Love” is titled “Hearth.” And the members of “Oddfellows Native 151” meet behind the firehouse. It’s no marvel that Doc was listed as “File Beneath Hearth” on its file sleeve (simply as Reckoning had “File Beneath Water” printed on it).
As R.E.M. launched their fiery single simply forward of their newest (and ultimate) album for unbiased label I.R.S., “The One I Love” started to attract radio programmers’ consideration like no R.E.M. single had earlier than. Though the band had launched singles earlier than, solely three had made the Billboard Scorching 100, none increased than a short tenure at No. 78. It wasn’t a side of the music trade that had drastically involved the band.
“We don’t actually fear about that. We simply do the data and provides ’em to the file firm and say ‘do what you’ll be able to, promote this,’” Mills informed Toronto’s Globe and Mail as “The One I Love” was selecting up momentum. “Being the quantity two most-added single is form of good. I imply, we’re not a band that writes hit singles, however I suppose if we’re going to do that we would as effectively we now have one.”
Whereas R.E.M. weren’t trying to change into extra industrial, the group’s sound had change into clearer and extra direct on this album and the one earlier, Lifes Wealthy Pageant. Stipe’s vocals had been pushed into the entrance and Invoice Berry’s drumming was recorded with an ear for crisp percussion. That ear belonged to co-producer Scott Litt, who was engaged on his first of six R.E.M. albums. If the band didn’t have their goals set on successful single, Litt confessed that it was a part of his plan.
“With R.E.M., I believed it was essential to point out that the music belongs on the radio, that it was each bit as worthy as Whitney Houston or no matter else was on there,” Litt informed the Chicago Tribune. “It was towards my nature to do one thing murky – versus uncooked – and principally I needed to deal with their vocals in a different way on Doc. They weren’t actually an excellent singles band then, however they grew to become one, starting with ‘The One I Love’ on that album. It’s a really linear track: the vocal stops, you then hear the drums, then the guitar is available in and takes your curiosity.”
Within the decade after “The One I Love,” the partnership between R.E.M. and Litt would lead to 14 songs that made the Billboard singles charts– three of them within the High 10 – and a number of albums that both topped the U.S. album charts or got here shut. However with rising recognition generally comes confusion. It appeared {that a} rash of listeners heard “The One I Love”’s distinctive riff and first lyric and stopped paying consideration. Callers would cellphone DJs to dedicate the tune to their dearest.
“I didn’t just like the track to start with,” Stipe informed Mojo in 2016. “I felt it was too brutal. I believed the sentiment was too troublesome to place out into the world. However individuals misunderstood it, so it was tremendous. Now it’s a love track, in order that’s tremendous.”
For a track that its lead singer hated, not less than initially, “The One I Love” stays one in all R.E.M.’s signature tunes. It’s been featured on each “best-of” compilation that features the band’s I.R.S. years, and was R.E.M.’s most ceaselessly performed set listing entry of their stay exhibits till the tip of their profession. It stays a contemporary and traditional rock radio staple to today.
R.E.M. Albums Ranked in Order of Awesomeness
