Hunted Down

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“Hunted Down”
“Hunted Down” cover
Single by Soundgarden
from the album Screaming Life (EP)
B-side "Nothing to Say"
Released June 1987
Format Vinyl
Recorded 1987 at Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, Washington
Genre Alternative metal, grunge
Length 2:42
Label Sub Pop
Writer(s) Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil
Producer Jack Endino, Soundgarden
Soundgarden singles chronology
"Hunted Down"
(1987)		 "Flower"
(1989)
Screaming Life track listing
"Hunted Down"
(Track 1)		 "Entering"
(Track 2)

"Hunted Down" is a song by the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden. It appears as the first track on the band's first release, the Screaming Life EP (1987). The song was released as the band's first single in June 1987.

Contents

[edit] Origin and recording

The song features lyrics written by frontman Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist Kim Thayil. Guitarist Kim Thayil on the song:

That song wasn't supposed to be as heavy sounding as it turned out. We just started jamming on the riff and it took on the 'noise rock' dimensions, kind of a rhythmic thing. And that solo is a noise solo. It's very dissonant.[1]

[edit] Composition

The song is representative of the early "grunge" sound - with its dirty guitar, dissonant atmosphere and lyrics concerning entrapment and escape.

[edit] Release and reception

It was the only single released from Screaming Life. The single was pressed on blue vinyl as a limited edition with only 500 copies made, and has since become a Soundgarden collector's item. "Nothing to Say" was the B-side of the single. Oddly, this B-side, rather than "Hunted Down", later appeared on the Soundgarden compilation A-Sides.

"Hunted Down" was the first song on Sub Pop's "hold music" tape. According to guitarist Kim Thayil, "You would call them up, and when they put you on hold you heard 'Hunted Down'."[1] Upon hearing the song, record labels began contacting the band, which eventually led to the band signing with A&M Records.

The song also appears on the Fuck Me I'm Rich compilation album.

[edit] Formats and track listing

Blue 7"
  1. "Hunted Down" (Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil) – 2:42
  2. "Nothing to Say" (Cornell, Thayil) – 3:56

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Gilbert, Jeff. "Primecuts: Kim Thayil". Guitar School. May 1994.
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