Singles (Nirvana box set)

Singles
Box set by
Nirvana
ReleasedDecember 1995 (1995-12)
Recorded1991–1993
GenreGrunge, alternative rock
Length70:29
LabelGeffen
ProducerVarious
Nirvana chronology
MTV Unplugged in New York
(1994) 		Singles
(1995) 		From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]

Singles is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana, released in Europe in December 1995.[3]

Background

The box set was produced in response to unofficial versions of it that had been released previously.[4][5]

Content

The box set contains all six CD singles from the band's two Geffen Records-released studio albums, Nevermind, released in September 1991, and In Utero, released in September 1993.[3] It includes "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Come as You Are", "Lithium" and "In Bloom", released from 1991 to 1992 to promote Nevermind, and "Heart-Shaped Box" and the double A-side "All Apologies"/"Rape Me", released in 1993 to promote In Utero.[3] It does not include the planned third In Utero single, "Pennyroyal Tea", which was canceled after the death of vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain in April 1994.

Although released in Europe, the Nevermind singles are the American versions, with the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single lacking the studio version of "Drain You," and the "Lithium" single lacking the band's cover of the Wipers song "D-7," both of which appeared on the European versions of those singles. "In Bloom" and the two In Utero singles were not released in the US.

All singles appear in slimline jewel cases.

Promotion

The song "Marigold" received some airplay on US alternative and active rock radio in 1996,[6] after it appeared on the import release of the Singles box set as the B-side to the "Heart-Shaped Box" single.[7] KROQ Music Director Lisa Worden, introduced “Marigold” to the radio waves after discovering the B-side on the single in the import box set. The song was then picked up by alternative radio stations in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. Despite the spontaneous success of the song, Geffen Records and the song writer, Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, refused to capitalize on it and made it known that copies of the song would not be sent out to radio stations to promote airplay.[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by Kurt Cobain, except when noted.

CD1: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

  1. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (edit) (Cobain/Grohl/Novoselic) – 4:39
  2. "Even in His Youth" – 3:06
  3. "Aneurysm" (Cobain/Grohl/Novoselic) – 4:46

CD2: "Come as You Are"

  1. "Come as You Are" – 3:39
  2. "Endless, Nameless" (Cobain/Grohl/Novoselic) – 6:43
  3. "School" [live, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington; October 31, 1991] – 4:18
  4. "Drain You" [live, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington; October 31, 1991] – 5:01

CD3: "In Bloom"

  1. "In Bloom" – 4:14
  2. "Sliver" (Cobain/Novoselic) [live, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California; December 28, 1991] – 2:15
  3. "Polly" [live, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California; December 28, 1991] – 3:00

CD4: "Lithium"

  1. "Lithium" – 5:02
  2. "Been a Son" [live, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington; October 31, 1991] – 2:02
  3. "Curmudgeon" – 1:31

CD5: "Heart-Shaped Box"

  1. "Heart-Shaped Box" – 4:38
  2. "Milk It" – 3:54
  3. "Marigold" (Grohl) – 2:34

CD6: "All Apologies/Rape Me"

  1. "All Apologies" – 3:47
  2. "Rape Me" – 2:51
  3. "Moist Vagina" – 3:59

Chart performance

Despite being a box set of six separate CD singles the release was eligible to chart on the Danish Singles Chart, remaining in the Top 20 for 11 weeks and peaking at number 5.[8] The release was also eligible to chart on the French Singles Chart, remaining on the chart for 8 weeks and peaking at number 17.[9] The release peaked at number 15 on the Australian Kent Music album chart and remained on the chart for a total of twelve weeks.[10]

Charts

Singles was eligible to chart on the singles chart in Denmark and France, and on the albums chart in the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Singles charts

Chart (1995 - 1996) Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[11] 5
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[12] 55
France (SNEP)[13] 17

Album charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 15
UK (Official Charts Company)[14] 101
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[15] 10

References

  1. ^ "Music Search, Recommendations, Videos and Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press.
  3. ^ a b c Nirvava- Singles Boxset Review sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Singles". nirvana-discography.com. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Nevermind & In Utero Singles". nirvana-discography.com. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  6. ^
  7. ^ a b HOCHMAN, STEVE (1996-04-07). "No Foo-ling, That's Nirvana". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  8. ^
  9. ^ "NIRVANA - SINGLES (CHANSON)". lescharts.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Kent, David (2010). Australian Chart Book 1993-2009. Turramurra, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book Pty, Ltd. p. 173. ISBN 9780646529950. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. January 20, 1996. p. 15. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 9, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Nirvana – Singles" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  14. ^ The Zobbel Website! - Chart Log UK 1994–2010 -Nadanuf – Michael Nyman zobbel.de. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2020.