by Everett True
Molly’s Lips / Cross: Kurt was a troubled guy / tourette’s
Lake Of Fire – Unplugged / Endino on ‘Do Re Mi’ / Do Re Mi
Breed – live / Vig: the legacy of Nevermind / D-7
WEEK 8
Plateau – Unplugged / Cross: Kurt was a troubled guy / Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam – rehearsal demo
Mexican Seafood / Endino: Nirvana’s first recording session / If You Must / About A Girl – Unplugged / Vig: favourite song on Nevermind / Smells Like Teen Spirit – live
Come As You Are / Cobain: Nevermind was recorded perfectly / Lithium – live at Reading Festival (*)
Here She Comes Now / Endino: ‘They Hung Him On A Cross’ / They Hung Him On A Cross
WEEK 9
On A Plain / Novoselic: Nevermind is a rite of passage record / Polly – live Sappy / Endino: making of a box set / Where Did You Sleep Last Night – solo acoustic
Son Of A Gun / Rollins: on Nirvana and Kurt / Radio Friendly Unit Shifter Old Age / Vig: early Nevermind recordings / Dive
Sliver / Cobain: where did he get the content for some lyrics? / MV
WEEK 10
Hairspray Queen / Vig: Kurt’s mood swings / Scentless Apprentice
Serve The Servants / C obain: old school dinosaurs needed to be weeded out / The Man Who Sold The World – Unplugged
Even In His Youth / Cross: the underdog winning / Been A Son
Very Ape / Poneman: Seattle sound at the time / Negative Creep All Apologies – solo acoustic / Endino: everything is not on the box set / Endless, Nameless
2004/2005 – USA, UMe ( CDRs no code)
Weekly radio promos for the With The Lights Out box set. Starting at end of November 2004, when the box was released, the series lasted for 10 weeks, until the end of January 2005.
Each CD contains a complete radio programme, with interviews and a selection of tracks, some of which are unavailable elsewhere (*). Custom printed CDrs with accompanying cue sheets.
SLIVER – THE RADIO SPECIAL
Smells Like Teen Spirit – boom box version / Cobain: where the title for ‘Teen Spirit’ came from / Old Age – outtake / Lithium – solo acoustic / Jack Endino: Frances Bean on ‘Rape Me’ / Rape Me – band demo / Sliver – home demo / Butch Vig: ‘About A Girl’ . . . favourite song from Bleach / About A Girl – home demo / You Know You’re Right – home demo / Grohl: recording studio version of ‘You Know You’re Right’ / Ain’t It A Shame – studio demo / Steve Albini: people latching on to Kurt / Heart-Shaped Box – band demo / All Apologies – home demo / Jack Endino: ‘Do Re Mi’ / Do Re Mi – home demo
2005 – USA, UMe ( CDR no code)
Radio promo for the Sliver: The Best Of The Box album. The CD contains a complete radio programme, with interviews and a selection of tracks. Custom printed CDr with accompanying cue sheets.
TRACKS ON COMPILATIONS
SUB POP 200
Spank Thru
1988 – USA, Sub Pop (12-inch x3 SP25)
Three 12-inch records contained in a black cardboard box, 20 page booklet with photos and info on the bands. 5,000 copies.
1989 – UK, Tupelo (CD TUPCD4)
1991 – USA, Sub Pop (CD SP25b)
1995 – USA, Sub Pop (CD SP25-2)
Reissue, black cardboard box and 20-page booklet, as a replica of the vinyl box set.
SUB POP ROCK CITY
Spank Thru
1989 – Germany, Glitterhouse (12-inch GR0052)
German release of the Sub Pop 200 compilation, without some tracks. Gatefold sleeve.
TERIYAKI ASTHMA Vol. I
Mexican Seafood
1989 – USA, C/Z (seven-inch C/ Z009)
Silk-screened twofold paper sleeve. 1,000 copies.
TERIYAKI ASTHMA Vols. I–V
Mexican Seafood
1991 – USA, C/Z (CD CZ037, MC CZ037)
1991 – Holland, C/Z (12-inch x2 CZ037)
Gatefold sleeve.
HARD TO BELIEVE
Kiss covers compilation
Do You Love Me?
1990 – USA, C/Z (12-inch CZ024, CD CZ024, MC CZ024)
Initially the front sleeve featured a distorted picture of the Kiss members’ faces, then, fearing legal action from the band, CD and cassette were re-released with a different graphic on the front sleeve.
Different track lists were used on the various releases, but the Nirvana track appears on all.
The 12-inch was first released in purple-red vinyl and gatefold sleeve, then in black vinyl, both in gatefold and single sleeves.
1990 – UK, Waterfront / Southern Studios (12-inch DAMP 121, CD DAMP 121CD)
The 12-inch was released in a gatefold sleeve.
1990 – UK, Waterfront (12-inch x2 DAMP 121)
Double 12-inch release, pressed in red and in black vinyl. Gatefold sleeve.
HEAVEN AND HELL Volume 1
Velvet Underground covers compilation
Here She Comes Now
1990 – UK, Imaginary (12-inch ILLUSION 016, CD ILL CD 016, MC ILL CASS 016)
1991 – USA, Communion (12-inch 20, CD 20CD, MC 20)
HEAVEN AND HELL Volumes 1–3
Velvet Underground covers compilations
Here She Comes Now
1992 – UK, Imaginary (CD x3 ILL CD 016 / ILL CD 017 / ILL CD 022) Collection of the three volumes, in a numbered cardboard box.
KILL ROCK STARS
Beeswax
1991 – USA, kill rock stars (12-inch KRS-201, CD KRS-201)
12-inch first release: 1,000 copies in hand-screened sleeve. Hand signed and numbered on the front by the sleeve designer. Blank back sleeve.
12-inch second release: regular sleeve, not silk-screened or numbered. Track list and bands’ pictures on the back sleeve.
THE GRUNGE YEARS
Dive
1991 – USA, Sub Pop (CD SP112b, MC SP112a) On the front CD inlay is ironically written, “Limited edition of 500,000”.
EIGHT SONGS FOR GREG SAGE AND THE WIPERS
Wipers covers compilation Return Of The Rat
1993 – USA, Tim Kerr (seven-inch x4 TK 917010 TRIB2) Cardboard box containing four seven-inch vinyl records in individual picture sleeves, and an info sheet in textured paper.
10,000 complete boxes. 4,000 boxes contain black vinyl records. The other 6,000 contain coloured vinyl records.
Each single was pressed in several different colours then randomly put inside the boxes. It’s not known how many colours were used for each single, and how many copies were pressed for each colour. Probably the pressing plant used all the leftover bits of coloured vinyl they could find . . . The Nirvana single has been printed in clear, grey, clear red, clear blue, marbled green (different shades), marbled blue-green (aqua). Other colours also used (not for the Nirvana single) are: marbled pink, marbled red, marbled peach-red, white, clear yellow (gold), clear green, clear orange, marbled light blue, marbled dark blue, marbled light purple, clear dark purple.
FOURTEEN SONGS FOR GREG SAGE AND THE WIPERS
Wipers covers compilation
Return Of The Rat
1993 – USA, Tim Kerr (CD TK 91CD10 TRIB2)
NO ALTERNATIVE
Sappy
Two different front sleeves, with a picture of a young boy or of a young girl.
The Nirvana track is ‘hidden’, and the title isn’t mentioned anywhere. For this reason, until the release of the With The Lights Out box set, which defined the official title, it had also been called ‘Verse Chorus Verse’ or ‘Another Rule’.
1993 – USA, Arista (CD 07822-18737-2, MC 07822-18737-4) 1991 – UK, Arista (CD 07822-18737-2)
THE BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD EXPERIENCE
I Hate Myself And I Want To Die
1993 – USA, DGC (CD GEFD-24613, MC GEFC-24613)
Some copies of the CD were used for promotion with a red ‘PROMOTIONAL’ print on the disc.
1991 – UK, Geffen (12-inch picture GEF24613, CD GED24613)
12-inch picture disc in a clear pl
astic sleeve.
DGC RARITIES Vol. 1
Pay To Play (early demo version of ‘Stay Away’)
1994 – USA, DGC (CD DGCD-24704, MC DGCC-24704)
Advance promo CD ( DGCD-A-24704) with custom back inlay and ‘ADVANCE CD’ printed in red on the CD.
Some copies of the regular CD were also used for promotion with a white ‘PROMOTIONAL’ print on the disc.
GEFFEN RARITIES Vol. 1
Pay To Play (early demo version of ‘Stay Away’)
1994 – UK, Geffen (12-inch GFL-19247, CD GFLD-19247, MC GFLC 19247)
FIFTEEN MINUTES
Velvet Underground covers compilation
Here She Comes Now
1994 – UK, Imaginary (CD ILLCD 047P)
FENDER: 50th ANNIVERSARY GUITAR LEGENDS
Come As You Are
1996 – USA, Pointblank / Virgin (CD 7243 8 42088 2 0)
A limited number of copies contain a commemorative guitar pick.
HOME ALIVE – THE ART OF SELF DEFENCE
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter – live
1996 – USA, Epic (CD x2 E2K67486, MC x2 E2T 67486 ET 67487)
HYPE!
Negative Creep
The CD releases contain a short synth version of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ as a hidden track.
1996 – USA, Sub Pop (seven-inch x4 SP378, CD SPCD371) The vinyl release is a cardboard box containing four seven-inch singles in different vinyl colours (the Nirvana one is green marbled) in individual picture sleeves, and a black and white poster.
1996 – UK, Sub Pop (CD SPCD371)
SNL 25 – SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE The Musical Performances, Volume 2
Rape Me – live
1996 – USA, Dreamworks (CD 0044-50206-2)
On the back inlay there are only the band names. A sticker with the track list is attached on the box or on the wrap, but the Nirvana track name has been removed (censored).
Promo custom printed CDr (no code)
KURT COBAIN’S SIDE PROJECTS
FECAL MATTER – Spank Thru / . . .
1995
The line-up on this pre-Nirvana band was: Kurt Cobain (guitar, vocals, percussion), Dale Crover (vocals, bass, drums), Greg Hokanson (drums).
In December 1995, Cobain and Crover recorded a demo tape on a four-track recorder, at Cobain’s aunt’s house. Cobain then edited and dubbed the tracks on cassettes he distributed to friends. Of the 15 or more tracks recorded, only ‘Spank Thru’ has found its way on to an official release, Nirvana’s With The Lights Out box set, 2004.
THE JURY – Where Did You Sleep Last Night / They Hung Him On A Cross / Grey Goose / Ain’t It A Shame
1989
The band’s line-up was: Kurt Cobain (guitar, vocals), Mark Lanegan (guitar, vocals), Krist Novoselic (bass), Mark Pickerel (drums).
In August 1989 the four musicians recorded four blues tracks in Jack Endino’s Reciprocal Studios. ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’ was then included on Lanegan’s album The Winding Sheet, 1990. The other three have been included on Nirvana’s With The Lights Out box set, 2004.
MARK LANEGAN – THE WINDING SHEET
Cobain sings background vocals on ‘Down In The Dark’, and plays guitar on ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’. Novoselic plays bass on ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’.
1990 – USA, Sub Pop (12-inch SP61, CD SP61B, MC SP61A) The first 12-inch release was of 1,000 copies in red vinyl. It was then reissued in black vinyl.
MARK LANEGAN – Down In The Dark / I Love You Little Girl
Cobain sings background vocals on ‘Down In The Dark’.
1990 – Germany, Glitterhouse (seven-inch GR0101) Twofold paper sleeve in two versions, with the credits positioned differently on the back sleeve.
THE GO TEAM – Scratch It Out / Bikini Twilight
The Go Team was a project by Calvin Johnson, leader of K records. On this single the line-up was Calvin Johnson – guitar, Kurt Cobain – guitar, Tobi Vail – drums. Cobain plays on ‘Bikini Twilight’.
1989 – USA, K (seven-inch GTJL 89)
Black vinyl seven-inch, in a plain white die-cut paper sleeve. According to Calvin Johnson, around 700 copies were made. The band name and credits are printed in red ink with a rubber stamp on one side of the sleeve. Some copies have been printed on both sides. Both tracks are on the A-side. On the B-side, there is a blue silk-screened band logo. A few copies miss the logo and have a white label instead. A very few copies have small logos printed on the white label and on the vinyl.
EARTH – EXTRA-CAPSULAR EXTRACTION
The band’s line-up is Dave Harwell, Dylan Carlson and Joe Preston. Kurt Cobain and Kelly Canary are credited as ‘specialists’.
Cobain features on vocals on the track ‘A Bureaucratic Desire For Revenge’.
1991 – USA, Sub Pop (CD SP123B)
Card sleeve, may include a card inlay with the front sleeve artwork, and an ‘Earth featuring Dylan’ sticker on the front.
2002 – USA, Sub Pop (12-inch SP 123, CD SPCD 123)
Reissue of 1,000 copies of the 12-inch, and 3,000 copies of the CD, in a regular jewel box.
EARTH – SUNN AMPS AND SMASHED GUITARS LIVE
Originally released on Blast First in 1995, then reissued with added tracks. One of them, ‘Divine And Bright’, features Cobain on vocals.
2001 – USA, No Quarter (CD nqr001)
EARTH – Divine And Bright – demo / Divine And Bright – live
The demo version features Cobain on vocals.
2003 – USA, Autofact (seven-inch FACT 01)
First release, 1,000 copies in clear plastic sleeves. According to the label owner, 700 copies were pressed in black vinyl, 276 on white vinyl (may have faint black stains) and 24 on clear green vinyl. A few extra copies were pressed while changing the vinyl colour, and resulted in marbled black and white. The picture sleeves weren’t available, so the records were distributed in plain clear plastic sleeves.
Second release, 500 copies in picture sleeves, made in 2004. Pressed in literally tens of different vinyl colours, all more or less marbled/swirled. Black, white and clear green are between the colours used, but copies from the second pressing can be distinguished because they are slightly ‘muddy’, while the colours of the first pressing are pure and bright. The picture sleeves were ready, and could be used. Allegedly this reissue, even if made using the same pressing plates as the first, wasn’t authorised by the label owner.
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS – KURT COBAIN – THE ‘PRIEST’ THEY CALLED HIM
Burroughs reads one of his dark novels, over a guitar feedback noise background provided by Cobain. Novoselic posed for the front sleeve picture. 1993 – USA, Tim Kerr (10-inch 9210044, 10-inch picture 9210044, CD 92CD044)
On the 10-inch records the track is recorded on the A-side. The B-side is blank, with etchings of the artists’ signatures.
First pressing: black vinyl.
Second pressing: picture disc with black B-side. 5,000 copies, numbered on the A-side from 1 to 5,000.
Third pressing: picture disc with yellow B-side. 5,000 copies, numbered on the A-side from 5,001 to 10,000.
Fourth pressing: picture disc with photos of Burroughs and Cobain on the B-side. 5,000 copies, not numbered.
MELVINS – HOUDINI
Hooch / Night Goat / Lizzy / Going Blind / Honey Bucket / Hag Me / Set Me Straight / Sky Pup / Joan Of Arc / Teet / Copache / Pearl Bomb / Spread Eagle Beagle (CD only) / Rocket Reducer #62 ( Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa) (12-inch only)
Cobain helped produce and mix some of the tracks, and also played guitar on ‘Sky Pup’ and additional percussion on ‘Spread Eagle Beagle’
1993 – USA, Amphetamine Reptile (12-inch 532-1)
Gatefold sleeve, 5,000 copies. May include a sticker with the band name written in the same style as the Kiss logo.
The track ‘Spread Eagle Beagle’ was too long for inclusion, so it was substituted with ‘Rocket Reducer #62’
1993 – USA, Atlantic (CD 7 82532-2, MC 82532-4) T
he print on the CD may vary in the number and combinations of the colours used.
Promo cassette (7567-82532-4 CA 491) with custom inlay.
MELVINS – Hooch / Sky Pup
Cobain helped produce both tracks, and also played guitar on ‘Sky Pup’
1993 – USA, Rise (seven-inch picture RR76)
Picture disc, design by Kozik. 1,000 copies. Five-colour silk-screened multi-fold sleeve. It’s a “hard to open package” (as written on the sleeve), and once (if ) you manage to open it without damage, you better not close it again . . .
HOLE – LIVE THROUGH THIS
Kurt sings barely audible backing vocals on ‘Asking For It’ and also co-wrote the outtake ‘Old Age’, released on the ‘Beautiful Son’ single (City Slang, 1993) and on the compilation album of rare Hole tracks My Body The Hand Grenade (City Slang, 1997). A version of ‘Old Age’, recorded solo by Cobain, has been included on Nirvana’s With The Lights Out box set, 2004.
1994 – USA, DGC
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Nirvana. Kurt. Krist. Dave. Chad. Thanks for existing.