'' is a
Box Set , containing 3 CDs and 1 DVD, from the
American Grunge band,
Nirvana . It was released in November
2004 .
Rumours of a posthumous Nirvana box set, or
Anthology , first surfaced in the mid-
1990s , not long after the death of the band's singer and guitarist
Kurt Cobain in April
1994 . It was eventually announced that a 45-track box set would be released in September
2001 , to mark the 10th anniversary of the band's breakthrough album, ''
Nevermind '', but a legal battle between Cobain's widow,
Courtney Love , and surviving Nirvana members
Dave Grohl and
Krist Novoselic , precluded this from happening.
The dispute - or much of it - centred around "
You Know You're Right ," a song recorded in January 1994 during the band's final studio session. Grohl and Novoselic had wanted it for the box set, but Love maintained that it would be better suited to a more commercial, single-disc compilation instead. In
2002 , the legal battle was settled, and "You Know You're Right" appeared on the "best-of" compilation, ''
Nirvana ''. This paved the way for what became ''With the Lights Out'', which arrived two years later with far more music than had originally been promised.
''With the Lights Out'' received a lukewarm reception from music critics, many of whom saw it as a valuable glimpse into the band's musical evolution, but also believed it contained too much second-rate material never intended for official release. It was generally well-received by fans, marking the first time they had heard such legendary recordings as the band's cover of
Leadbelly's "
Ain't It A Shame ," the studio versions of "
Verse Chorus Verse " and "
Old Age ," and any recording of Cobain's final song, "
Do Re Mi ." It also contained a handful of surprises, such as a rehearsal demo of the previously-unknown "
Mrs. Butterworth ," a solo Cobain rendition of Leadbelly's "
They Hung Him On A Cross ," and an acoustic demo of "You Know You're Right."
''With the Lights Out'' opened at #19 on the
Billboard 200 , setting a box set record for units sold during a single week with 105,760.
Most of Nirvana's posthumous releases have contained inaccuracies in their
Liner Notes . ''With the Lights Out'' is no exception.
- " Vendetagainst " is listed as "Help Me I'm Hungry." The latter title was invented by bootleggers, since the song's real name was unknown at the time.
- "Mrs. Butterworth" is listed as being from 1988, and as featuring Dale Crover on drums. Producer Jack Endino , who helped compile the box set, later said the recording more likely dates back to the Summer of 1987, and features Aaron Burckhard on drums. According to Endino, the original information was based on a "wild guess" on the part of someone at Nirvana's management company. He also said the song's true title is unknown, and was therefore renamed for release.
- " Aneurysm " is listed as being from 1990. It was recorded on January 1, 1991.
See "Track listing" (below) for accurate dates.
- The title of ''With the Lights Out'' was chosen by Courtney Love, and comes from the chorus of Nirvana's biggest hit, " Smells Like Teen Spirit ."
- From Nirvana's first radio session (April 17, 1987 at KAOS-FM in Olympia, WA)
:2. " Anorexorcist " (2:44)
:3. "
White Lace And Strange " (Bond; Thunder and Roses cover) (2:09)
:4. "
Help Me, I'm Hungry " (2:41)
- From a boombox-recorded band practice demo tape (Summer 1987 in WA)
:5. " Mrs. Butterworth " (4:05)
- From Nirvana's first studio session (January 23, 1988 at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, WA. Producer: Jack Endino)
:6. " If You Must " (4:01)
:7. "
Pen Cap Chew " (3:02)
- From a live performance (January 23, 1988 at the Community World Theatre in Tacoma, WA)
:8. " Downer " (1:43)
:9. "
Floyd The Barber " (2:33)
:10. "
Raunchola "/ "
Moby Dick " ("Moby Dick" - Bonham, Jones, Page; Led Zeppelin cover) (6:24)
- Cobain's 4-track home recordings (1987 and/or 1988 in Aberdeen, WA)
:11. " Beans " (1:32)
:12. "
Don't Want It All " (2:26)
:13. "
Clean Up Before She Comes " (3:12)
:14. "
Polly " (2:30)
:15. "
About A Girl " (2:44)
- From the studio session which yielded the ''Bleach'' recordings of "Love Buzz" and "Big Cheese" (June-September 1988 at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, WA. Producer: Jack Endino)
:16. " Blandest " (3:56)
- From Nirvana's first 24-track studio session (Spring 1989 at the Evergreen State College Audio Studio in Olympia, WA. Producer: Greg Babior)
:17. " Dive " (4:50)
- From a studio session for "the Jury," a Leadbelly cover band featuring members of Nirvana and the Screaming Trees (August 20, 28 at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, WA. Producer: Jack Endino)
:18. " They Hung Him On A Cross " ( Ledbetter, Huddie ) (1:57)
:19. "
Grey Goose " (Ledbetter, Huddie) (4:36)
:20. "
Ain't It A Shame " (Ledbetter, Huddie) (2:01)
- From the studio session which yielded the ''Blew'' EP versions of "Been a Son" and "Stain" (September, 1989 at Music Source Studios in Seattle, WA. Producer: Steve Fisk)
:21. " Token Eastern Song " (3:21)
:22. "
Even In His Youth " (3:12)
:23. "
Polly " (2:36)
- From Cobain's acoustic performance at a college radio show (September 25, 1990 at KAOS-FM in Olympia, WA)
:1. " Opinion " (1:34)
:2. "
Lithium " (1:49)
:3. "
Been A Son " (1:12)
- Cobain's boombox-recorded home demos (1990 in Olympia, WA)
:4. " Sliver " (2:09)
:5. "
Where Did You Sleep Last Night " (Ledbetter, Huddie) (2:31)
- From the studio session which yielded the ''Nevermind'' version of "Polly" (April 2-6, 1990 at Smart Studios, Madison, WI. Producer: Butch Vig)
:6. " Pay To Play " (early version of " Stay Away ") (3:29)
:7. "
Here She Comes Now " (
Cale ,
Morrison ,
Reed ,
Tucker ;
The Velvet Underground cover) (5:01)
- From a 4-track demo (April 1991 in San Francisco, California)
:8. " Drain You " (2:38)
- From the studio session which also yielded the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single version of "Even in His Youth" (January 1, 1991 at Music Source Studios, Seattle, WA. Producer: Craig Montgomery)
:9. " Aneurysm " (4:47)
- From the studio session for ''Nevermind'' (May-June 1991 at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA. Producer: Butch Vig)
:11. " Breed " ( Butch Vig mix) (3:07)
:12. "
Verse Chorus Verse " (3:17)
:13. "
Old Age " (4:20)
- From a John Peel radio session (September 3, 1991 at Maida Vale Studios, London, England)
:14. " Endless, Nameless " (8:47)
:15. "
Dumb " (2:35)
- From a John Peel radio session (October 21, 1990 at Maida Vale Studios, London, England)
:16. " D-7 " ( Sage ; Wipers cover) (3:46)
- From Nirvana's first post-''Nevermind'' studio session (April 7, 1992 at Laundry Room Studios, Seattle, WA. Producer: Barrett Jones)
:17. " Oh, The Guilt " (3:25)
:18. "
Curmudgeon " (Lithium single b-side) (3:03)
:19. "
Return Of The Rat " (Sage; The Wipers cover) (3:09)
- From the studio session for ''Nevermind'' (May-June 1991 at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA. Producer: Butch Vig)
:20. " Smells Like Teen Spirit " (Butch Vig mix) (4:59)
- Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (May 1991 in Oakwood, CA?)
:1. " Rape Me " (3:23)
- From Nirvana's second post-''Nevermind'' studio session (October 25-25, 1992 at Word of Mouth Studios, former Reciprocal Recording Studios, Seattle, WA. Producer: Jack Endino).
:2. " Rape Me " (3:01)
- From a band practice demo tape (Winter 1992 in Seattle, WA)
:3. " Scentless Apprentice " (rehearsal demo) (9:32)
- From Nirvana's final pre-''In Utero'' studio session (January 19-21, 1993 at Ariola Ltda BMG, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Producer: Craig Montgomery)
:4. " Heart-Shaped Box " (5:31)
:5. "
I Hate Myself And Want To Die " (4:03)
:6. "
Milk It " (4:34)
:7. "
Moist Vagina " (a.k.a. "MV") (1:56)
:8. "
Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip " (7:33)
:9. "
The Other Improv " (6:24)
- Cobain's boombox-recorded home demos (1992 and/or 1993 in Seattle, WA)
:10. " Serve The Servants " (1:36)
:11. "
Very Ape " (1:52)
:12. "
Pennyroyal Tea " (3:30)
- From the studio session for ''In Utero'' (February 12-26, 1993 at Pachyderm Studios, Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Producer: Steve Albini)
:13. " Marigold " ( Grohl ) (2:34)
:14. "
Sappy " (3:26)
- Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1994 in Seattle, WA)
:16. " Do Re Mi " (4:24)
- Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1992 in Seattle, WA?)
:18. " All Apologies " (3:33)
- Rehearsal at bass player Krist Novoselic's mother's house, Aberdeen, Washington in 1988.
:1. " Love Buzz " (2:32)
:2. "
Scoff " (:47)
:3. "
About A Girl " (3:05)
:4. "
Big Long Now " (4:22)
:5. "
Immigrant Song " (Led Zeppelin cover) (1:57)
:6. "
Spank Thru " (3:03)
:7. "
Hairspray Queen " (3:37)
:8. "
School " (2:53)
:9. "
Mr. Moustache " (3:47)
:16. "
Smells Like Teen Spirit "
ever performance of this song (6:16)
:17. "
Territorial Pissings " (2:45)
Japanese sales
5 December 2004 , 9 weeks, 54,823.
