With the Lights Out is a box set by Nirvana released in November 23, 2004. It contains three CDs and one DVD of previously rare or previously unreleased material, including B-sides, demos and rehearsals, and live recordings. The title comes from the lyrics of Nirvana‘s 1991 single Smells Like Teen Spirit. The box set was planned for a 2001 release, but was delayed due to a legal battle with Courtney Love, the widow of Kurt Cobain. Part of the feud centered on the previously unreleased song You Know You’re Right, recorded in January 1994 during the band’s final studio session. Grohl and Novoselic wanted it for the box set, but Courtney Love blocked its release and sued them for control of the Nirvana legacy. She believed that You Know You’re Right would be “wasted” in a box set, and instead belonged on a single-disc compilation similar to the Beatles’ 1.
In 2002, the legal battle was resolved and You Know You’re Right appeared on Nirvana‘s best of compilation. This paved the way for what became the With the Lights Out box set, which arrived in November 2004, including an acoustic demo. of You know you’re right. With the Lights Out is packaged in heat-sensitive material that changes color when touched, revealing tape footage of recording sessions.
Each of the three CDs represents rare recordings from three periods in Nirvana‘s history, in line with the band’s three studio albums, Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero, which were released in 1989, 1991 and 1993 respectively. The DVD contains rare live performances and rehearsals from throughout the band’s career. Includes a 60-page booklet containing liner notes by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and journalist Neil Strauss, as well as photographs and a chronological catalog of the band’s recording history, including studio sessions, television appearances and radio, live performances. performances and demo recording sessions at home.
Disc One
March 7, 1987 show in Raymond, Washington. (Nirvana’s first show)
1. Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin)
May 6, 1987 radio session at KAOS 89.3 FM, Olympia, Washington. (Nirvana’s first radio session)
2. Anorexorcist (a.k.a. Annorexorcist)
3. White Lace and Strange (Chris Bond)
4. Help Me, I’m Hungry (a.k.a. Vendetagainst)
1987 band rehearsal in Aberdeen, Washington.
5. Mrs. Butterworth (a.k.a. Unknown #2)
January 23, 1988 studio session at Reciprocal Recording Studios, Seattle, Washington. Producer: Jack Endino. (Nirvana‘s first studio session)
6. If You Must
7. Pen Cap Chew
January 23, 1988 show at the Community World Theatre, Tacoma, Washington.
8. Downer
9. Floyd the Barber
10. Raunchola (a.k.a. Erectum)(Moby Dick)
1987–1988 solo 4-track home recordings, Aberdeen, Washington.
11. Beans
12. Don’t Want It All (a.k.a. “Seed”)
13. Clean Up Before She Comes
14. Polly
15. About a Girl
June 6, 1988 studio session at Reciprocal Recording Studios, Seattle, Washington. Producer: Jack Endino
16. Blandest
Spring 1989 studio session at The Evergreen State College Audio Studio, Olympia, Washington. Producer: Greg Babior.
17. Dive (Kurt Cobain/Krist Novoselic)
August 20 and 28, 1989 studio session at Reciprocal Recording Studios, Seattle, Washington. Producer: Jack Endino. (Studio session for “the Jury”, a Lead Belly cover band featuring members of Nirvana and the Screaming Trees)
18. They Hung Him on a Cross (Huddie Ledbetter)
19. Grey Goose (Huddie Ledbetter)
20. Ain’t It a Shame (Huddie Ledbetter)
September 1989 studio session at Music Source Studios, Seattle, Washington. Producer: Steve Fisk.
21. Token Eastern Song
22. Even in His Youth
23. Polly
Disc Two
September 25, 1990 solo radio session on The Boy Meets Girls Show, KAOS 89.3 FM, Olympia, Washington. Host: Calvin Johnson.
1. Opinion
2. Lithium
3. Been a Son
1990 boombox-recorded home demos, Olympia, Washington.
4. Sliver
5. Where Did You Sleep Last Night (traditional)
April 2–6, 1990 studio session at Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin. Producer: Butch Vig.
6. Pay to Play (early version of “Stay Away”) (previously released on DGC Rarities: Volume 1 in 1994)
7. Here She Comes Now (The Velvet Underground ) (previously released on split-single with the Melvins in 1991)
April 1991 4-track demo, San Francisco, California. Features Dale Crover on drums and Dave Grohl on bass.
8. Drain You
January 1, 1991 studio session at Music Source Studios, Seattle, Washington. Producer: Craig Montgomery
9. Aneurysm (previously released on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” single in 1991)
March 1991 band rehearsal, Tacoma, Washington.
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit
May–June 1991 studio session at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, California. Producer: Butch Vig. (Studio session for Nevermind)
11. Breed (Butch Vig rough mix)
12. Verse Chorus Verse
13. Old Age
September 3, 1991 radio session at Maida Vale Studios, London, England. (John Peel session)
14. Endless, Nameless
15. Dumb
October 21, 1990 radio session at Maida Vale Studios, London, England. (John Peel session)
16. D-7 (Greg Sage) (previously released on Lithium single in 1992)
April 7, 1992 studio session at Laundry Room Studios, Seattle, Washington. Producer: Barrett Jones.
17. Oh, the Guilt (alternate mix of previously released song on split-single with the Jesus Lizard in 1992)
18. Curmudgeon (alternate mix of previously released song on “Lithium” single in 1992)
19. Return of the Rat (Greg Sage) (alternate mix of previously released song on Eight Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers in 1993)
May–June 1991 studio session at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, California. Producer: Butch Vig. (Studio session for Nevermind)
20. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Butch Vig mix)
Disc Three
May 1991 solo boombox-recorded home demo, Los Angeles, California.
1. Rape Me
October 25–26, 1992 studio session at Word of Mouth Studios (former Reciprocal Recording Studios), Seattle, Washington. Producer: Jack Endino.
2. Rape Me
Winter 1992 band rehearsal, Seattle, Washington.
3. Scentless Apprentice
January 19–21, 1993 studio session at Ariola Ltda BMG, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Producer: Craig Montgomery.
4. Heart-Shaped Box
5. I Hate Myself and Want to Die (mis-labeled as the “b-side” version)
6. Milk It
7. Moist Vagina (a.k.a. “MV”)
8. Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip“(previously released on non-U.S. versions of In Utero, 1993)
9. The Other Improv
Fall or Winter 1992 solo boombox-recorded home demos, Seattle, Washington.
10. Serve the Servants
11. Very Ape
1993 solo boombox-recorded home demo, Seattle, Washington.
12. Pennyroyal Tea
February 12–26, 1993 studio session at Pachyderm Studios, Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Producer: Steve Albini. (Studio session for In Utero)
13. Marigold (Dave Grohl) (previously released on “Heart-Shaped Box” single in 1993)
14. Sappy (previously released as “Verse Chorus Verse” on No Alternative in 1993)
February 5, 1994 band rehearsal at Pavilhão Dramático, Cascais, Portugal.
15. Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam (Eugene Kelly/Frances McKee)
1994 solo boombox-recorded home demo, Seattle, Washington.
16. Do Re Mi
1993 or 1994 solo boombox-recorded home demo, Seattle, Washington.
17. You Know You’re Right
1991 or 1992 solo boombox-recorded home demo, Olympia, Washington, or Seattle, Washington.
18. All Apologies
For a limited time, the US iTunes store included Nevermind It’s an Interview as bonus tracks.
DVD
1988 band rehearsal, residence of bassist Krist Novoselic’s mother, Aberdeen, Washington.
1. Love Buzz (Robbie van Leeuwen)
2. Scoff
3. About a Girl
4. Big Long Now
5. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
6. Spank Thru
7. Hairspray Queen
8. School
9. Mr. Moustache
June 23, 1989 show at Rhino Records, Los Angeles, California.
10. Big Cheese (Kurt Cobain/Krist Novoselic)
February 16, 1990 show at Bogarts, Long Beach, California.
11. Sappy (mislabeled as track 12 on the cover)
1990 Sub Pop music video. Director: Steve Brown.
12. In Bloom (mislabeled as track 11 on the cover) (Pre-Nevermind version, featuring Chad Channing on drums, recorded April 1990 at Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin. Producer: Butch Vig)
September 22, 1990 show at the Motor Sports International Garage, Seattle, Washington.
13. School
October 11, 1990 show at North Shore Surf Club, Olympia, Washington. (Drummer Dave Grohl’s first show)
14. Love Buzz
April 17, 1991 show at OK Hotel, Seattle, Washington.
15. Pennyroyal Tea (first live performance)
16. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic) (first live performance)
17. Territorial Pissings October 31, 1991 show at the Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington.
18. Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam (Eugene Kelly/Frances McKee)
October 4, 1992 show at the Crocodile Cafe, Seattle Washington.
19. Talk to Me January 22, 1993 studio session at BMG Ariola Studios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Producer: Craig Montgomery.
20. Seasons in the Sun (Terry Jacks)
NIRVANA
Kurt Cobain: lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass and percussion on Don’t Want It All, drums on Seasons in the Sun
Krist Novoselic: bass, accordion on Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam (rehearsal), guitar on Seasons in the Sun
Dave Grohl: drums, backing vocals, lead vocals and guitar on Marigold, bass on Drain You and Seasons in the Sun
Aaron Burckhard: drums on tracks 1, 4 (disc one)
Dale Crover: drums on tracks 5-10 (disc one) and track 8 (disc two)
Chad Channing: drums on tracks 16, 17, 21,23 (disc one), tracks 6, 7 (disc two) and tracks 1, 12 (DVD)
Dan Peters: drums on track 13 (DVD)
Jason Everman: 2nd guitar on track 17 (disc one) and track 10 (DVD)
Pat Smear: 2nd guitar on track 15 (disc three)
Additional Personnel
Mark Lanegan: guitar on tracks 19, 20 (disc one)
Mark Pickerel: drums on tracks 19, 20 (disc one)
Melora Creager: cello on track 15 (disc three).
Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 April 5, 1994).
Mark Lanegan: (November 25, 1964 February 22, 2022)
