Orange Crush
1988 · Warner Bros. PRO-A-3306 · Athens, USA
- Artist
- R.E.M.
- Title
- Orange Crush
- Release
- Orange Crush / Ghost Riders
- Year
- 1988
- Label
- Warner Bros. # PRO-A-3306
- Format
- 12" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Athens, USA
- Songwriter
- Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe
- Genre
- Rock · Alternative Rock
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation — Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]
Influential and popular alternative rock band R.E.M., formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980, led by Michael Stipe , and featuring Peter Buck (guitars), Mike Mills (bass, keyboards, vocals), and Bill Berry (drums, 1980-97). The group disbanded on 21 September 2011. The group released the 1989 anti-war song "Orange Crush" ( Warner Bros. Records # 922960-7), which told the story of a young football player leaving home for the Vietnam War - and thus the title is a reference to Agent Orange , the defoliant / herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, which had long term negative health effects on the Vietnamese and US soldier whom came into contact with the chemical. It is frequently referenced in post-war songs. The song featured on R.E.M's sixth studio album Green ( Warner Bros. Records # 9 25795-1). It did not reach the US Billboard Hot 100 , but made it to #28 on UK singles chart. British indie band the Editors did a cover on the b-side to the re-issued Blood single in 2006. "I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush / Collar me, don't collar me / I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush / We are agents of the free / I've had my fun and now it's time to serve your conscience overseas / Over me, not over me, coming in fast, over me"
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
US promo 12", PRO-A-3306, 1988; issued as a 7" in Europe (9 27652-7), Australia (7-27652) and the UK. [From Discogs]
About the artist
American rock band formed 1980 in Athens, Georgia; disbanded 2011. [Source: Wikipedia]