"Leaving New York" is a song by American

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternative ...

It was released as the

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

from the band's 13th studio album, ''

Around the Sun ''Around the Sun'' is the 13th studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on October 5, 2004 on Warner Bros. Records. Description The album was released in three editions: Cassette (the band's final release on the medium), ...

'' (2004). Although it was not as heavily promoted as earlier singles, it reached number five on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, becoming their 11th and final top-10 hit there. However, the song failed to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming the only lead US single from an R.E.M. studio album not to chart on the US Hot 100 besides "

Cant Get There from Here "Cant Get There from Here", or "Can't Get There from Here", is the first single released by R.E.M. from its third studio album ''Fables of the Reconstruction'' in 1985. The song peaked at number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 S ...

" from ''

Fables of the Reconstruction ''Fables of the Reconstruction'', also known as ''Reconstruction of the Fables'', is the third studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on I.R.S. Records on June 10, 1985. The Joe Boyd-produced album was the first recorde ...

'' in 1985. In early live performances of the song (September 2004), the band would play

Michael Stipe John Michael Stipe (; born January 4, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of alternative rock band R.E.M. He is known for his vocal quality, poetic lyrics and unique stage presence. Poss ...

's ''"It's pulling me apart. Change."'' album backing vocal during the chorus and bridge of live performances. As early as February 2005, however, as evidenced on the ''

R.E.M. Live ''R.E.M. Live'' is a live album from R.E.M., recorded at the Point Theatre, Dublin, on February 26 and 27, 2005, the closing nights of the winter European leg of the ''Around the World Tour'' in support of their thirteenth studio album ''Around t ...

'' disc, the band worked up an alternative whereby the backing vocals would be shared amongst

Mike Mills Michael Edward Mills (born December 17, 1958) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M., hi ...

Scott McCaughey Scott Lewis McCaughey is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter and the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. He was also an auxiliary member of the American rock band R.E.M. from 1994 unt ...

and

Ken Stringfellow Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star, Stringfellow's discography include ...

in order to make the song flow more smoothly.

Track listings

All tracks were written by

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his car ...

, and

unless otherwise stated. UK CD1 # "Leaving New York" – 4:44 # "

(Don't Go Back To) Rockville "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" is the second and final single released by American rock band R.E.M. from their second studio album, '' Reckoning''. The song failed to chart on either the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 or the UK Singles Charts. Backgroun ...

" (live, Oslo, Norway, October 25, 2003; Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 4:35 UK CD2 # "Leaving New York" – 4:49 # "You Are the Everything" (live, Raleigh, North Carolina –

Soundcheck A sound check is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance to adjust the sound on the venue's sound reinforcement or public address system. The performer and the audio engineers run through a small port ...

, October 10, 2003; Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 3:30 # "These Days" (live, Toronto, Ontario, September 30, 2003; Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe) – 3:27

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control R.E.M. songs 2004 singles 2004 songs New York City in fiction Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe Song recordings produced by Mike Mills Song recordings produced by Pat McCarthy (record producer) Song recordings produced by Peter Buck Songs about New York City Songs based on actual events Songs written by Michael Stipe Songs written by Mike Mills Songs written by Peter Buck Warner Records singles