E-Bow the Letter

"E-Bow the Letter" is a 1996 song by R.E.M. and featuring the backing vocals by Patti Smith. It is the first single from their 10th studio album New Adventures in Hi-Fi. It went to the top 10 in Iceland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Norway. It went to number 49 in the United States.

"E-Bow the Letter"
Single by R.E.M.
from New Adventures in Hi-Fi"
B-side	"Tricycle" "Departure" "Wall of Death"
Released	August 19, 1996 (1996-08-19)
Studio	Bad Animals (Seattle)
Genre	Folk rock avant-rock
Length	5:22
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Bill Berry Michael Stipe Mike Mills Peter Buck
Producer(s)	Scott Litt R.E.M.
R.E.M. singles chronology
""Tongue" (1995) E-Bow the Letter ""Bittersweet Me" (1996)
{{{This album}}}

Track listings

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, except where noted.

• US CD, cassette, and 7-inch single

UK cassette single

1. "E-Bow the Letter" (Seattle studio) – 5:22 (5:24 on UK version)
2. "Tricycle" (St. Louis soundcheck) – 1:58 (1:59 on UK version)

• US 12-inch and maxi-CD single

UK and European CD single

1. "E-Bow the Letter" (Seattle studio) – 5:22 (5:24 on UK version)
2. "Tricycle" (St. Louis soundcheck) – 1:58 (1:59 on UK version)
3. "Departure" (Rome soundcheck) – 3:35
4. "Wall of Death" (Athens studio) (Richard Thompson) – 3:07

• Australian CD single

1. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:24
2. "Tricycle" – 1:59
3. "Departure" (live) – 3:35
4. "Wall of Death" (Thompson) – 3:07

E-Bow The Letter Media

• 

  Patti Smith—an influence on Peter Buck and Michael Stipe—provided backing vocals to the song.