Released in March 1992, the name of the album is derived from the hometowns of the two bands: Andover, Hampshire, in England, and Athens, Georgia, in the United States.

's covering the Troggs' single "Love Is All Around" in live performances during promotion for the former's album Out of Time (1991).

"We'd just done a show in a hotel, and as the lift door opened there was this crowd waiting for autographs and someone shouted out, 'What do you think of R.E.M.

explained Troggs frontman Reg Presley to Record Collector editor Peter Doggett.

Recording took place over a one-week period in September 1991 at John Keane's Studio in Athens.

The album was re-released by the Troggs as Athens, Georgia & Beyond (1996) with seven additional tracks not recorded during the R.E.M.