NIRVANA
Homebase: Aberdeen / Olympia / Seattle, WA.
Notes: Nirvana was a rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, and played their earliest gigs under various names: Skid Row; Ted Ed Fred; Pen Cap Chew; and Bliss. 
In early 1988 they took on the name "Nirvana" and began establishing itself as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing its first album Bleach for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. In 1990 the band added drummer Dave Grohl and developed a sound that relied on dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses. After signing to major label DGC Records, Nirvana found unexpected success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the first single from the band's second album Nevermind (1991). Nirvana's sudden success widely popularized alternative rock as a whole, and the band's frontman Cobain found himself referred to in the media as the "spokesman of a generation", with Nirvana being considered the "flagship band" of Generation X. In response, Nirvana's third studio album, In Utero (1993), featured an abrasive, less-mainstream sound and challenged the group's audience. The album did not match the sales figures of Nevermind but was still a commercial success and critically acclaimed. Nirvana's brief run ended following the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, but various posthumous releases have been issued since, overseen by Novoselic, Grohl, and Cobain's widow Courtney Love. Since its debut, the band has sold over 25 million records in the United States alone, and over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, its first year of eligibility. Nirvana had almost countless issues of their recordings released in many different countries -- and time and space forbid us from documenting all of those variations. Instead we offer a simple discography of their prime units.
"The Rocket," classified ad, October 1987
PERSONNEL:
- Kurt Cobain - vocals, guitar (1987-1994)
- Krist Novoselic - bass (1987-1994)
- Aaron Thomas Burckhard - drums (1987-1988)
- Dale Crover - drums (1988, 1990)
- Dave Foster - drums (1988)
- Chad Channing - drums (1988-1990)
- Jason Everman - guitar (1989)
- Dan Peters - drums (1990)
- Dave Grohl - drums, backing vocals (1990-1994)
- Pat Smear - guitar (1993-1994)
- Lori Goldston - Cellist (1993-1994)
- Melora Creager - (Cellist 1994)
Backlash Magazine, 1988
Poster art by Kurt Cobain - First gig the band played using their new name "Nirvana."
Nirvana concert set-list, late-1991, courtesy Gina Arnold collection.
MISC NOTES: First release by the Sub Pop Singles Club.
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Kurt Cobain (vocals / guitar); Krist Novoselic (bass); Chad Channing (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO: Reciprocal Studios
RECORDING ENGINEER: Jack Endino
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES: Ltd Edition pressing of 1,200 copies, 1,000 of which are numbered in red ink on the back of the sleeve.
"Love Buzz" Album Reissues:
2000. Disc two, track #2 on Wild And Wooly: The Northwest Rock Collection CD compilation album (Experience Music Project EMPCD 001)
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE: why don't you trade those guitars for shovels? L-31540 SP-23-A kdisc
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Robby Van Leeuwen
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B-SIDE STAMPER CODE: L-31540X SP-23-B kdisc
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Cobain
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SIDE ONE:
1.) Blew
2.) Floyd The Barber
3.) About A Girl
4.) School
5.) Love Buzz
SIDE TWO:
1.) Negative Creep
2.) Scoff
3.) Swap Meet
4.) Mr. Moustache
5.) Sifting
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: Seattle
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Kurt Cobain (vocals / guitar); Krist Novoselic (bass); Chad Channing (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO: Reciprocal
RECORDING ENGINEER: Jack Endino
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
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[caption id="attachment_42774" align="aligncenter" width="720"]
Original materials used by album cover designer Lisa Orth.[/caption]
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SPEED: 45 rpm
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SPEED: 45 rpm
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A-SIDE COMPOSER: Kurt Cobain / Nirvana
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B-SIDE COMPOSER: Kurt Cobain / Nirvana
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MISC NOTES: Nirvana's second LP. To date, the best-selling album in the DGC catalog is Nevermind, the 1991 album by Nirvana, reaching international sales of twenty-five million albums worldwide, with ten million sold in the United States and is one of the first albums to be certified "Diamond" level in sales.
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RECORDING PERSONNEL: Kurt Cobain (vocals / Guitar); Krist Novoselic (bass); Dave Grohl (drums / vocals).
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FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
DISC NOTES: Also available on CD and cassette.
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SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
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A-SIDE COMPOSER: Kurt Cobain / Nirvana
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B-SIDE COMPOSER: Kurt Cobain / Nirvana
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MISC NOTES: Compilation of rarities and previously unreleased songs.
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FORMAT: CD / DVD
DISC NOTES: 3-CD + 1-DVD boxset.
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MISC NOTES: Recorded live on April 17, 1987.
Songs: "Love Buzz"; "Floyd The Barber"; "Downer"; "Mexican Seafood"; "White Lace and Strange"; "Spank Thru"; "Anorexorcist"; "Hairspray Queen"; "Pen Cap Chew".
LOCATION: KAOS radio studios, Evergreen State College, Olympia WA.
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Skid Row: Kurt Cobain (guitar/vocals); Krist Novoselic (bass); Aaron Burkhard (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO: KAOS radio, Olympia, WA.
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FORMAT: CD
DISC NOTES: Bootleg release.