When we think of the top albums of all time rarely does the mind include music created in the past three decades. We all too often go to the birth or Rock & Roll in the ‘50’s or the decade of love. It’s a shame really. While I cannot argue that music over the course of the last three decades has seemed to hit a creative plateau there are a few bright shining points of light that we must pay attention to. One of those points of light is Nevermind by Nirvana.
In June of 1989, Nirvana had released their debut studio album Bleach through independent, Seattle based label, Sub Pop. The album was a received well critically but did not chart in the US. Ironically, it was re-released in 1992 due to the success of Nevermind. It debuted at #89 on the Billboard 200 that year. Bleach is currently Sub Pop’s #1 selling album of all time with sales of just over 1.7 million units.
Early on in 1990, Nirvana started work on their second studio album. This was to be the aforementioned Nevermind. The band began working with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studio’s in Wisconsin. They recorded 8 songs during the Smart Studio sessions including “In Bloom”, “Lithium”, and “Polly”. The plan was to complete the album during these sessions but Kurt strained his voice and recording was halted. Recording would not begin again until May, 1991.
When recording restarted, the band, along with Vig, had moved the production to Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. During their trip to California, the band stopped to perform a show. It was at this show they played “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time. Recording of the album was finished in July and mastering began on August 2nd. The completed album was released on September 24th, 1991. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released on September 10th to try and build buzz for the album’s release.
I can remember my initial exposure to Nevermind. Keep in mind that I was in grade 6 at the time. A classmate had brought in his cassette and the first thing we notice is the album art. We couldn’t stop laughing, none of us. What I consider iconic album art now seemed like a joke when I was 12. At lunch time my classmate played the cassette for us and I can clearly remember identifying with the music. The loud and brash guitar riffs combined with lyrics that screamed anti-establishment struck a chord within me. I went home that day and demanded my parents drive me to Sam the Record Man so I could buy the cassette. They did not comply with my demand and made me do my chores but rest assured I did manage to buy this album.
It is rare that an album or band can take an entire industry and reshape it. Nirvana took Rock music that was watered down and over produced and showed us what music was meant to be. They showed us that the medium of music is a powerful force that can change the course of one’s life. I know it did for me.
– The duty of youth is to challenge corruption. – Kurt Cobain.
An odd little fact about this album. There was to be a hidden track on the album after “Something in the Way”. When the album was mastered this track was left off the original pressings. When Kurt found about this he demanded it be put onto future pressings. The label complied with his demand and the track was added to future pressings.
Josh Halliday
@LD_StVital
