The Songs of Kurt Cobain | |
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Box set by | |
Released | 2007 |
Recorded | 1988–1994 |
Genre | |
Label | Primary Wave |
Alternative cover | |
The Songs of Kurt Cobain is a 5-disc CD box set of music by the American rock band Nirvana, released as a promo only in 2007. The first three CDs feature songs by Nirvana themselves, while the last two discs feature covers by 11 other artists as well as seven "lullaby" and six "string" renditions of the band's songs. [1] [2]
The Songs of Kurt Cobain was released by Primary Wave, who had acquired the rights to the Nirvana frontman's compositions from his widow Courtney Love in early 2007 [3] for the purpose of promoting interest in licensing his work. The cover versions were recorded by artists such as Sinéad O'Connor ("All Apologies") and Tori Amos ("Smells Like Teen Spirit"). [1] Scala & Kolacny Brothers' cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was later used in the documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck in 2015. [4]
The release is highly valued by collectors, having been limited to a run of 500 copies. [1]
Each CD in the box set has a custom-printed picture and they are housed in a heart-shaped, hand-carved wooden musical box with Kurt Cobain's caricature logo etched on the lid and Primary Wave's logo on the side. When the lid is removed it plays the intro bars of the Nirvana song "Heart-Shaped Box". Each box set also comes with a booklet and individually numbered certificate. [3]
Despite having become a sought-after collector's item, Tiny Mix Tapes gave the release a poor review in November 2007. [5] WorthPoint, however, stated that the release was "the best collection of singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain's music available". [6]
All tracks are written by Kurt Cobain except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl | Nevermind (1991) | 5:01 |
2. | "In Bloom" | Nevermind | 4:14 | |
3. | "Come as You Are" | Nevermind | 3:39 | |
4. | "Breed" | Nevermind | 3:03 | |
5. | "Lithium" | Nevermind | 4:17 | |
6. | "On a Plain" | Nevermind | 3:16 | |
7. | "Pennyroyal Tea" | In Utero (1993) | 3:36 | |
8. | "Heart-Shaped Box" | In Utero | 4:39 | |
9. | "About a Girl" | Bleach (1989) | 2:48 | |
10. | "Polly" | Nevermind | 2:57 | |
11. | "Something in the Way" | Nevermind | 3:52 | |
12. | "Dumb" | In Utero | 2:29 | |
13. | "All Apologies" | In Utero | 3:50 | |
14. | "You Know You're Right" | Nirvana (2002) | 3:38 | |
15. | "Something in the Way" | MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) | 4:01 | |
16. | "Pennyroyal Tea" | MTV Unplugged in New York | 3:40 |
All tracks are written by Kurt Cobain
No. | Title | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Blew" | Bleach | 2:56 |
2. | "Floyd the Barber" | Bleach | 2:18 |
3. | "School" | Bleach | 2:42 |
4. | "Mr Moustache" | Bleach | 3:24 |
5. | "Negative Creep" | Bleach | 2:56 |
6. | "Dive" | Incesticide (1992) | 3:55 |
7. | "Sliver" | Incesticide | 2:16 |
8. | "Been a Son" | Incesticide | 2:22 |
9. | "(New Wave) Polly" | Incesticide | 1:48 |
10. | "Territorial Pissings" | Nevermind | 2:22 |
11. | "Drain You" | Nevermind | 3:43 |
12. | "Lounge Act" | Nevermind | 2:36 |
13. | "Stay Away" | Nevermind | 3:32 |
14. | "Serve the Servants" | In Utero | 3:36 |
15. | "Sappy" | No Alternative (1993) | 3:24 |
All tracks are written by Kurt Cobain except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Swap Meet" | Bleach | 3:03 | |
2. | "Downer" | Bleach | 1:43 | |
3. | "Aero Zeppelin" | Incesticide | 4:41 | |
4. | "Big Long Now" | Incesticide | 5:03 | |
5. | "Aneurysm" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | Incesticide | 4:35 |
6. | "Scentless Apprentice" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | In Utero | 3:48 |
7. | "Rape Me" | In Utero | 2:49 | |
8. | "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle" | In Utero | 4:09 | |
9. | "Very Ape" | In Utero | 4:09 | |
10. | "Milk It" | In Utero | 3:55 | |
11. | "Tourettes" | In Utero | 1:35 | |
12. | "Come as You Are" | MTV Unplugged in New York | 4:13 | |
13. | "Dumb" | MTV Unplugged in New York | 2:52 |
All tracks are written by Kurt Cobain except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performing artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lithium" | The Polyphonic Spree | ||
2. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | Paul Anka | |
3. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | Scala & Kolacny Brothers | |
4. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | Tori Amos | |
5. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | Patti Smith | |
6. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | Feat Morel-Desmond Williams | |
7. | "Come as You Are" | Charlie Hunter trio | ||
8. | "Breed" | Steve Earle | ||
9. | "All Apologies" | Herbie Hancock | ||
10. | "All Apologies" | Sinéad O'Connor | ||
11. | "Something in the Way" | Stereophonics |
All tracks are written by Kurt Cobain except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performing artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Come as You Are" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
2. | "In Bloom" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
3. | "Lithium" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
4. | "Something in the Way" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
5. | "About a Girl" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
6. | "Heart-Shaped Box" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
7. | "All Apologies" | Lullaby rendition by Michael Armstrong | ||
8. | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl | The Tallywood Strings | |
9. | "Come as You Are" | The Tallywood Strings | ||
10. | "In Bloom" | The Tallywood Strings | ||
11. | "Lounge Act" | The Tallywood Strings | ||
12. | "Polly" | The Tallywood Strings | ||
13. | "Something in the Way" | The Tallywood Strings |
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American musician who was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge rock band Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establishment persona, his compositions widened the thematic conventions of mainstream rock music. He was heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is widely recognized as one of the most influential alternative rock musicians.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled Nevermind to the top of several albums charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point when grunge entered the mainstream. It was Nirvana's biggest hit, charting high on music industry charts around the world in 1991 and 1992, and was number one on the charts in Belgium, France, New Zealand and Spain. It was met with wide critical acclaim, and described as an "anthem for apathetic kids" of Generation X. Although Nirvana grew uncomfortable with the mainstream and commercial attention the song brought to them, listeners and critics continue to praise "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as one of the greatest songs of all time.
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah is a live album by American rock band Nirvana, released on October 1, 1996. It features live performances recorded between 1989 and 1994.
With the Lights Out is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana, released on November 23, 2004. It contains three CDs and one DVD of previously rare or unreleased material, including B-sides, demos, and rehearsal and live recordings. The title comes from the lyrics of Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
"Heart-Shaped Box" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the third track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released by DGC Records in September 1993. It was one of two songs on In Utero remixed by Scott Litt prior to the album's release, due to the band's dissatisfaction with the original mixing by producer Steve Albini. The Litt remix also featured additional vocal harmonies and guitar by Cobain, which were the only elements on the album's 12 main tracks not recorded during the original sessions with Albini in February 1993.
"Rape Me" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the fourth song on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993.
"Pennyroyal Tea" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the ninth track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993.
"All Apologies" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the final track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released by DGC Records in September 1993. The song closes the American version of the album, while non-US versions of In Utero feature an additional song, "Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip", which begins after approximately 20 minutes of silence on the same track.
Singles is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana, released in Europe in December 1995.
"Smells Like Nirvana" is a song parody written and performed by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. A parody of Nirvana's song "Smells Like Teen Spirit", it was released as the lead single from Yankovic's Off the Deep End album in April 1992. "Smells Like Nirvana" was written during a three-year career low for Yankovic after the financial failure of his film UHF, but captured the quickly-rising popularity of grunge and Nirvana's success. The song was written to ridicule the fact that many people could hardly understand Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain's lyrics in the original song. After being unable to contact Nirvana conventionally, Yankovic called Cobain while the band was on the set of Saturday Night Live, where Cobain quickly gave permission to record the parody.
"Do Re Mi" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It first appeared on the band's rarities box set, With the Lights Out, released in November 2004. A second version appears on the deluxe edition of Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, released in November 2015.
Journals is a collection of writings and drawings by American musician Kurt Cobain, who was the lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana. Though the content is undated, it is arranged in approximately chronological order. It was published in hardcover by Riverhead Books in November 2002, and in paperback by Riverhead Books in November 2003. Journals opened at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list (non-fiction). It contains scrawled notes, drafted letters, shopping lists, and drawings by Cobain.
"Opinion" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. Never performed in concert and not confirmed to have been recorded in the studio, the song was initially survived only by a heavily-bootlegged solo acoustic version, recorded by Cobain during his appearance on the KAOS (FM) Boy Meets Girl radio show on September 25, 1990. In 2015, a brief clip of a second version, believed to be a demo, appeared in the Cobain documentary Montage of Heck, directed by Brett Morgan. The full clip of this version appeared online in April 2024.
"Scentless Apprentice" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl, and bassist Krist Novoselic. It is the second track on their third and final studio album In Utero, released in September 1993.
The discography of Nirvana, an American rock band, consists of three studio albums, twenty-one singles, five live albums, two extended plays, four compilation albums, and three box sets.
Nevermind, It's an Interview is the only officially released interview CD of American grunge band Nirvana. It was only a promotional release and was never commercially available. Released in limited-edition form worldwide in 1992 by Geffen Records, written, produced and engineered at WFNX Boston by Kurt St. Thomas and Troy Smith, (authors of Nirvana: The Chosen Rejects,. The original interview sessions were recorded by St. Thomas the night of Nirvana's first appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live in 1992. It contains over an hour of audio interview with live and studio recordings. The reason for its production was for radio stations world-wide to have a Nirvana interview to play because at that time the band was so popular that it was not possible for them to visit all the radio stations that were playing their music. Copies of the CD are rare and have become collectors items. However, for a limited time, the entire CD was included at the end of the iTunes version of With the Lights Out, Nirvana's posthumous box set. It is listed as:
The Nirvana bootleg recordings are a number of recordings of musical performances by the American rock band Nirvana, which were previously not officially released by the band, or under any other legal authority. The recordings consist of both live performances and outtakes from studio sessions unavailable as a legal release.
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is a 2015 American documentary film about Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. The film was directed by Brett Morgen and premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It received a limited theatrical release worldwide and premiered on television in the United States on HBO on May 4, 2015. The documentary chronicles the life of Kurt Cobain from his birth in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1967, through his troubled early family life and teenage years and rise to fame as frontman of Nirvana, up to his suicide in April 1994 in Seattle at the age of 27.
Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings is a compilation of home recordings by Kurt Cobain that were used as the soundtrack to the film Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, released posthumously on November 13, 2015 by Universal Music. The album was released as a standard 13-track CD, a 31-track deluxe album, and an audio cassette. The 13-track standard version focuses on the music found on Cobain's personal cassettes and the 31-track deluxe version showcases tracks from the documentary including spoken word, demos and full songs.
Verse Chorus Verse is an unreleased live album by the American rock band Nirvana, scheduled for release on November 1, 1994. It was to be a double album comprising a CD of live performances on one CD and Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance on the other. It was canceled as Nirvana members Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl found it overwhelming to compile material so soon after the death of Kurt Cobain earlier that year.