Reckoning

In this context, Webster 1913's second definition is the most accurate. A reckoning in the judicial sense would mean that a man's due to be called to account for his deeds, good or (typically) evil.

Released on April Fool´s Day 1981, this album documents the Dead´s return to their roots as an acoustic band. Yep before the Dead became the Dead they were a folk/jug band. They left that behind for the psychedelic thing in ´66, but latter returned to it in 1970 with the albums Workingman´s Dead and American Beauty.

Then as suddenly as the acoustic period of 1970 came it was gone again and would not return to their concerts until 1980. Then return it did, and with wonderful melody and color. Reckoning documents an average acoustic setlist of that year. It is a warm, lush and down-home sound, mixing GD originals with songs by Elizabeth Cotten, Bill Browning, Jesse Fuller and several traditional tunes. Another intersting not is that when the album was first released on CD it carried a different name (For The Failthful).

Produced by Dan Healy, Betty Cantor-Jackson and Jerry Garcia the album was recorded live at the Warfield Theater, San Francisco, September 25-October 14, 1980, and at Radio City Music Hall, New York, October 22-31, 1980.

Reckoning (File Under Water) by R.E.M.
IRS Records, 1984. Produced by Mitch Easter.

1. HarborcOat
2. 7 chineSe bros.
3. so. Central Rain
4. Pretty Persuasion
5. Time After Time (annElise)
6. second GuessinG
7. letter Never seNt
8. camerA
9. (don't Go back To) ROCKVILLE
10. little america

The lettering of the above song titles reflects the packaging of the album

R.E.M.'s third release for IRS and second full-length lp. The seldom-mentioned subtitle--"File Under Water"¹--refers to the abundant water imagery in the lyrics of the album. This is not surprising, as it was recorded following one of the largest floods in Georgia's history, a subject dealt with, albiet obliquely, in the song "So. Central Rain." Water in some form is mentioned in nearly every song:

Reck"on*ing, n.

1.

The act of one who reckons, counts, or computes; the result of reckoning or counting; calculation.

An account of time

Adjustment of claims and accounts; settlement of obligations, liabilities, etc.

Even reckoning makes lasting friends, and the way to make reckonings even is to make them often. South.

He quitted London, never to return till the day of a terrible and memorable reckoning had arrived. Macaulay.

2.

The charge or account made by a host at an inn.

A coin would have a nobler use than to pay a reckoning. Addison.

3.

Esteem; account; estimation.

You make no further reckoning of it [beauty] than of an outward fading benefit nature bestowed. Sir P. Sidney.

4. Navigation (a)

The calculation of a ship's position, either from astronomical observations, or from the record of the courses steered and distances sailed as shown by compass and log, -- in the latter case called dead reckoning (see under Dead); -- also used fro dead reckoning in contradistinction to observation.

The position of a ship as determined by calculation.

To be out of her reckoning, to be at a distance from the place indicated by the reckoning; -- said of a ship.

© Webster 1913.