'' is a
Box Set , containing 3 CDs and 1 DVD, from the
American Grunge band
Nirvana . It was released in November 2004. The title refers to the line "with the lights out, it's less dangerous" from the hugely successful
Smells Like Teen Spirit single.
Rumors 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 " ''
1 ''.
{Link without Title}
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 in November 2004, over three years after its original release date but with far more music than had first 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.
{Link without Title} There were a few other rarities that were considered by some to be missing from the set: a cover of
Kiss ' "Do You Love Me?" (from the Kiss covers compilation, ''
Hard To Believe ''), the ''studio version'' of ''Spank Thru'' (originally released in 1988 on the compilation, ''
Sub Pop 200 ''), the ''studio version'' of ''Moist Vagina'' (which was the b-side of the ''All Apologies'' single; the demo version is listed as ''M.V.'' as it appears on the box set), and a live version of ''Radio Friendly Unit Shifter'' (which had been released on the compilation ''
Home Alive '' in 1995); in addition to the audio tracks of ''In Bloom (1990)'' and ''Talk To Me'' (a previously unreleased song played live; two videos for these songs appear on the accompanying DVD).
It was generally well-received by fans, marking the first time they had heard such legendary recordings as Kurt and Mark Lanegan's cover of
Lead Belly's "
Ain't It A Shame ", the studio versions of "
Verse Chorus Verse " and "
Old Age ", and a recording of Cobain's last known song, "
Do Re Mi ." It also contained a handful of surprises, such as a rehearsal demo of the previously-unknown "
Mrs. Butterworth ", as well as a solo Cobain rendition of Lead Belly'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, and is now the highest selling box-set of all time.
Many of Nirvana's posthumous releases have contained inaccuracies in their
Liner Notes . ''With the Lights Out'' is no exception.
- The order of the songs given in the track list of the Fecal Matter demo '' Illiteracy Will Prevail '' does not match the list of the first seven songs that can be seen on the tape's artwork printed next to it. It is in question whenever the booklet lists the correct song order.
- The proper name for the song listed as "Help Me, I'm Hungry" is believed to be " Vendetagainst ." {Link without Title} The former title may have been invented by bootleggers.
- "Mrs. Butterworth" is listed as being from 1988, and as featuring Dale Crover on drums. Producer Jack Endino , who was consulted during the compiling of 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. {Link without Title}
- The listing of songs on the DVD varies from the tracklist, in that In Bloom and Sappy are reversed. (see tracklisting below)
- " Aneurysm " is listed as being from 1990 on the back tracklist. It was recorded on January 1 , 1991 . The correct date is listed in the booklet.
- The title of ''With the Lights Out'' was chosen by Courtney Love. It is the first line in the chorus of Nirvana's biggest hit, " Smells Like Teen Spirit ".
- Additional music is featured in the DVD menus; specifically, a working rough mix of Lounge Act recorded during the '' Nevermind '' sessions, a jam recorded at the October 1992 session which yielded Rape Me from Disc 3 of the boxset, two separate portions of a 20-minute jam recorded at Nirvana's final recording session on January 30 , 1994 at Robert Lang's Studios in Washington, a sped-up version of the acoustic demo of All Apologies from Disc 3 of the boxset, and the audio from a short jam featured in the 1988 rehearsal on the DVD.
- Additional video is also included in the DVD menus and credits, specifically, pre-Nirvana footage Cobain made of himself, the band travelling on the road, home video recorded by Cobain of his art, the band playing an October 1990 concert in the UK, outtakes from the video shoots for " Smells Like Teen Spirit " and " Come As You Are ", and footage of a January 1992 photo shoot of the band.
- " Easter Egg s" are hidden throughout the DVD with even more video footage.
- In the liner notes, a full set list from the January 1994 Robert Lang recording sessions is shown. The list is as follows: Dave with Echo Plex, New Wave Groove, New Beat/In Cars, Chris with acoustic, February Stars (featuring Dave Grohl on guitar), Exhausted, Butterflies, Skid Mark, Big Me, French Abortion, Trash Tune (instrumental), '' You Know You're Right '', Jam After Dinner, and Jam with Kurt. Only You Know You're Right remains released.
- The box for With The Lights Out incorporates Thermo-Chrome printing. The back and inner fold of the box appears to be almost black (or "With The Lights Out",) but changes to reveal a picture full of reel tape boxes and recording sheets when touched or exposed to heat ("turning the lights on.")
- There is a fan made Bootleg called Loose Ends that contains every single nirvana song recorded in studio not officially released. This 2 cd set contains a host of songs rejected for inclusion in the with the lights out set, including "meat" by dave grohl and various other outtakes
: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 6, 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 Lead Belly 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
: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 " (traditional) – 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 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 " (Smells Like Teen Spirit single b-side) – 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
:15. "
Dumb " – 2:35
- 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 25-26, 1992 at Word of Mouth Studios 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 (Fall or Winter 1992 in Seattle, WA)
:10. " Serve The Servants " – 1:36
:11. "
Very Ape " – 1:52
- Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1993 in Seattle, WA)
: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 , Heart-Shaped Box single b-side) – 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 (1991 or 1992 in Olympia, WA or Los Angeles, California?)
: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 – 6:16
:17. "
Territorial Pissings " – 2:45
Alternate versions of "Lounge Act" and "All Apologies" are also featured on the DVD menus.
- American Sales 1 million, (Certified 1 X Platinum 12/17/04)
- Japanese sales 5 December 2004 , 9 weeks, 54,823.
- Nirvanabox.com - The official site promoting the release of ''With the Lights Out''.
