R.E.M. released their first single, "Radio Free Europe," on July 8, 1981.The future legends of alternative rock formed the previous year and were making a name for themselves on the music scene around the college town of Athens, Georgia. They first recorded the song at a session in February, and re-recorded it in April. The second session produced the version released as a single.The song would be re-recorded again during the sessions that produced their debut album, "Murmur," which would not come out until 1983.