Thanks, Chris! Great information, as usual. And yes, the official narrative was very strange. A real missed opportunity (imo) in that they could have released a track that was (1) actually worked on at Compass Point, (2) was actually previously unreleased, and (3) (at least in terms of the title) had an additional thematic hook to the charity cause by issuing “Weatherman.” As always, the ways of the band are inscrutable . . . 
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I would really like to see a new color-way for the cover artwork like all the 25th anniversary releases beforehand. Maybe a blue one this time around to contrast the original yellow. For actual content. I hope they don’t go the route of Up 25 and just add a live concert. A collection of B-sides, and maybe some demos and unused tracks like the other ones before would be great. I’m also a sucker for the merch lines for each rerelease, I’m begging for a reveal enamel pin to go with my Chronic Town 40th Anniversary one and my Up one. Anything with the dog from I’ll Take The Rain would make me happy.
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The completed unreleased songs that were worked on at Compass Point Studios in 2004 were ‘On The Fly’, ‘Man-Sized Wreath’, ‘Magnetic North’, & ‘I’m Gonna DJ’.
There were a few others that were not completed.
The last time the band had worked on ‘Weatherman’ was a year earlier in March 2003, so it was clear that the band felt it didn’t fit with what they wanted at an early stage & was dropped.
By the end of mixing, the songs that didn’t make the cut was ‘On The Fly’ & ‘I’m Gonna DJ’. The studio version of ‘On The Fly’ sounds very similar to the Live At The Olympia version, but the ATS version of ‘I’m
Gonna DJ’ sounds half finished and nowhere as good as the Accelerate version, & glad they didn’t release the ATS version.
There is a very beautiful earlier version of ‘Aftermath’ from the Compass Point sessions with a quite different plaintiff vocal from Michael & much more prominent backing vocals. Definite candidate for the reissue.
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Chris,
Thanks for the correction and the additional info!
i always assumed the fanclub version of “magnetic north” was an unfinished demo, since the chorus is wordless. interesting to know there’s an actual finished studio version. i’ve grown to like that song, and part of it is the bare bones demo quality actually seems to suit the ATS era style. curious what the studio take is like.
also – is that earlier version of “aftermath” the “fast” demo that’s floating around?
That Compass Point version of ‘Aftermath’ is a different recording to the ‘fast version’ .
in the Compass Point version - Michael’s vocal is like a guide vocal and quite different to the released version & the ‘fast’ version. In my opinion it is much better than the ‘fast’ version.
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Thank you for clearing this up and apologies for promoting a non truth. I was mislead by a combination of an enthusiastic fan online and some confirmation bias I obviously failed to filter out when I check the two “versions” on YouTube. I mean even now knowing the truth they seem marginally different to me but I guess an upload there might not be an original master and maybe carry a slightly different tonal footprint.
Or, I’ve gone mad 
True! years ago I asked Mike on Twitter if there’s a more complete version to “Magnetic North” (more than the fanclub version), he’s been ignoring me ever since… 
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In the later versions of Magnetic North, they trimmed it down & cut out the wordless chorus & made minor tweaks to the lyrics. Also there is an extra verse at the end - ‘you set your course, magnetic north’.
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Thanks. I wonder what was the logic behind releasing the demo version for the fanclub and not a more complete version…
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So, safe to say, we won’t be seeing anything for this now? A shame really, as I liked the new packages and there was some anticipation (on my part at least) as to how the band may have taken a look at something alternative for Around the Sun in a few years too.
Per some posts in the R.E.M. Fans United group on FB, a 25th anniversary edition of Reveal is definitely being released.
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That’s great news - thank you. I’m not a Facebook user so that info has passed me by.
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As is everyone, I’m looking forward to the big Reveal, but I’d also love a re-do of the New Adventures boxset. And they seem to be highlighting the 30th anniversary of that release, so maybe anything’s possible? LOL . . .
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There’s a teaser on Instagram.
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Just came to post the same thing. Might just be the sound on my phone, but I thought it sounded like a different mix of Beat a Drum. (Not the Dalkey demo.)
I’m not usually very successful at sharing Instagram stuff, but this may (or may not) link to the teaser:
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Thank you for sharing this! I’m thrilled!
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Just came across this:
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Great! I’m waiting for it to officially show up at R.E.M. HQ. See how paranoid I’ve become on social media. I have to legitimise everything.
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I’m THRILLED! Whatever form it takes, giving this album another breath of well-deserved attention is an exciting prospect for me! REVEAL is one of my absolute favorites and it’s an album that has been recognized by multiple members of the band as highly underrated.
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