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This article is from the R.E.M. FAQ, by Ron Henry (rgh3@cornell.edu) with numerous contributions by others.

25 "Why is there a '4' superimposed over the 'R' on the Green cover?" (R.E.M.)

The story told in interviews is that someone (most likely Michael Stipe)
was typing the name of the album and hit the '4' key instead of the 'R'
(note their proximity on the "qwerty" keyboard). Somebody (again, most
likely Michael Stipe) thought it was a neat idea and carried it on to the
packaging as a faint transparent "4" over the "R" in both "GREEN" and "REM"
on the CD notes, and by "numbering" the fourth song ("Stand") with an "R".
Some later pressings (notably CD club versions) may not have the "4"s on
the cover.

Some newsgroup readers have connected this to the fact that Lifes Rich
Pageant has "OR" in place of "04" in the track listing.

When remarking on oddities in R.E.M. packaging and publicity, always bear
in mind the band's eccentric creative bent. (See also the answer to the
next question.)

 

Continue to:

• prev: 24 "What are the strange symbols on the cover of CD-single for 'What's the Frequency, Kenneth?'" (R.E.M.)
• Index
• next: 26 "There's a '5' on Document and a '4' on Green, and wait, there's a '10' on Chronic Town, and a '9' on Murmur and an '8' on Fables, and a '7' on Reckoning! Is this some kind of countdown?" (R.E.M.)

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music, R.E.M., Michael Stipe, rec.music.rem