Losing My Religion

Peter Buck wrote the main riff and chorus of "Losing My Religion" on a mandolin he had recently bought while learning to play it. He recorded himself practicing while watching television, and when he listened back the next day, the riff that became the song sat between stretches of him simply figuring out the instrument. He later said he likely would not have written the chord progression the same way had he not played it on mandolin. In July 1990, R.E.M. recorded a demo under the working title "Sugar Cane" in a studio in their hometown of Athens, Georgia, featuring banjo and Hammond organ.

The final version was recorded that September at Bearsville Studio A in Woodstock, New York. Mike Mills wrote a bassline inspired by the Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie, and the touring guitarist Peter Holsapple joined on acoustic guitar after the band found the track lacked midrange between the bass and mandolin. Michael Stipe recorded his vocals in a single take.

Strings arranged by Mark Bingham were performed by members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Soundscape Studios in Atlanta in October 1990. Released on February 19, 1991, as the lead single from Out of Time, the song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 21 weeks and becoming R.E.M.'s highest-charting hit in the United States.