All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)

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"All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)"
R.E.M. - All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star).jpg
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Reveal
B-side
  • "165 Hillcrest"
  • "Yellow River"
  • "Imitation of Life" (live)
ReleasedJuly 23, 2001 (2001-07-23)
Length4:43
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Imitation of Life"
(2001)		"All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)"
(2001)		"I'll Take the Rain"
(2001)

"All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. It was released on July 23, 2001 as the second single from the band's twelfth studio album, Reveal (2001). The single did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, but it did reach number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, number 31 in Italy, and number 34 in Ireland.

Contents

The B-side live performances were recorded at the South Africa Freedom Day concert in Trafalgar Square, London, which was held in honour of South African President Nelson Mandela. The event marked the 7th anniversary of democracy in South Africa. [2]

Background

According to Peter Buck's sleevenotes to In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 , the R.E.M. compilation on which this song also appears, the song describes someone who believes they can get famous if they go to Reno, Nevada. The working title of the song was "Jimmy Webb on Mars," which, according to Buck's notes, was a "sick tribute to a songwriter who we all admire." [3]

Release

In 2023, Mike Mills named the song the best the band had released since Bill Berry left: "[It's] as good as anything we did after Bill left the band. All the parts work. Peter [Buck]'s composition is fantastic. The bass line is cool. The production is really, really good. It's encapsulated in that song. [It's] a little sad but it's also a little optimistic, like the best of Michael [Stipe]'s writing. It encompasses joy and tragedy. That song grabbed everything we were looking for." [4]

Music video

The song's video was shot at Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School in the Prospect Park area of Brooklyn, New York. It was directed by Michael Moore [5] and filmed by four students from the host school and other local schools: Chris, 17; Steve, 17; Andy, 18; Charlotte, 13; Roger, 18; and Juan, 17. In the video, Buck and Mike Mills can be seen entering the Career Guidance office with their respective instruments in hand, only to leave armed with nothing more than a dustpan and brush. Bertis Downs makes an appearance as the school's announcer, only to have his microphone commandeered by Michael Stipe.

The video was included with the iTunes Store bonus music videos released along with Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011 , the band's swan song and career-spanning compilation. The song was not, however, included on the compilation itself.

Track listings

All songs were written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe except "Yellow River", written by Christie. "Imitation of Life" was recorded live at Trafalgar Square (London, England) on April 29, 2001.

Charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [12] 84
Germany (Official German Charts) [13] 92
Ireland (IRMA) [14] 34
Italy (FIMI) [15] 31
Scotland (OCC) [16] 20
UK Singles (OCC) [17] 24
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 8

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United KingdomJuly 23, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
  • DVD
 Warner Bros. [19]
AustraliaAugust 6, 2001CD [20]
JapanAugust 8, 2001 [21]
United StatesAugust 13, 2001 Triple A radio [22]
August 14, 2001 [22]

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References

  1. ↑ "ALBUMS". R.E.M.Hq. December 18, 2011. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ "R.E.M. PLAY FOR MANDELA". NME. April 29, 2001. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  3. ↑ Kemp, Sam (February 18, 2023). "The R.E.M. song written as a "sick tribute" to Jimmy Webb". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ivie, Devon (September 13, 2023). "The Most Heartfelt and Goofy of R.E.M., According to Mike Mills". Vulture. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  5. ↑ R.E.M. HQ [@remhq] (May 14, 2020). "REVEAL, R.E.M.'s 12th studio LP, was released on May 14, 2001. Here's the video for the second single, "All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star)", directed by Michael Moore" (Tweet). Retrieved December 15, 2021– via Twitter.
  6. ↑ All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) (UK CD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. W568CDX, 9362423962.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) (UK DVD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. W568DVD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) (UK cassette single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. W568C, 5439167364.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) (German CD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. 5439167362.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) (Australian CD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. 9362423952.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) (Japanese CD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. WPCR-11012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 19, no. 33. August 11, 2001. p. 7. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  13. ↑ "R.E.M. – All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  14. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography R.E.M.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  15. ↑ "R.E.M. – All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  18. ↑ "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  19. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 23, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . July 21, 2001. p. 27. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. August 6, 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  21. ↑ "最新のCD リリース一覧" [Latest CD Releases] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 18, 2001. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1414. August 10, 2001. pp. 95, 104, 111. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
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