Nirvana discography

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Nirvana discography
Nirvana performing at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards
Nirvana performing at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards
Releases
↙Studio albums 3
↙Live albums 2
↙Compilation albums 3
↙Extended plays 2
↙Singles 18
↙B-sides 10
↙Video albums 4
↙Music videos 8
References and footnotes

This is a discography of Nirvana, an Aberdeen, Washington-based alternative rock group. The band has released three studio albums, twenty singles, two live albums, two extended plays, three compilation albums, and two box sets. This list does not include material performed by members or former members of Nirvana that was recorded with Fecal Matter, Melvins, The Men of Porn, Mudhoney, The Germs, Foo Fighters, Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift, or No WTO Combo.

Nirvana was formed in 1987 by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, with the position of drummer being filled by various musicians. The band released its debut album, Bleach, in 1989 on independent label Sub Pop. After being joined by final drummer Dave Grohl and signing to Geffen Records subsidiary DGC Records, the band released its second studio album, Nevermind, which became one of the best selling alternative albums of the 1990s[1][2] and popularized the Seattle grunge movement and alternative music.[3] The band's third album, In Utero, was also a commercial and critical success, though it did not match the sales precedent set by Nevermind—as the members of the band expected.[4] Nirvana disbanded in 1994 after the apparent suicide of Cobain; since then several posthumous releases have been issued from the band, which once resulted in a legal conflict between Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, and the surviving members of the band over the release of the song "You Know You're Right".[5] In March 2006, Love sold a significant share of the rights to Nirvana's publishing catalog to Larry Mestel of Primary Wave Music Publishing.[6] Nirvana has sold over 50 million records worldwide,[7] with 25 million records sold in the U.S. alone.[8]

Contents

[edit] Albums and box sets

Year Album details Chart positions Sales Certifications
U.S.
[9]		 UK
[10]		 AUS
[11]		 NOR
[12]		 SWI
[13]		 NLD
[14]		 AUT
[15]		 SWE
[16]		 FIN
[17]		 NZ
[18]		 JPN
[19]
1989 Bleach 89 33 34 — — — 26 — 24 30 46 1.7 million + (U.S.)[20] Platinum (U.S.)[21]
1991 Nevermind 1 7 2 2 2 5 2 1 1 2 24 10 million + (U.S.)[22]
26 million + (worldwide)[23]		 Diamond (U.S.)[24]
2× Platinum (UK)[25]
1992 Incesticide
  • Released: December 12, 1992
  • Label: Sub Pop, DGC (24504)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 39 14 22 — 18 36 10 27 18 23 50 1.13 million + (U.S.)[26] Platinum (U.S.)[21]
Gold (UK)[27]
1993 In Utero 1 1 2 7 16 4 8 1 5 3 13 4.11 million + (U.S.)[26]

17.5 Millon Worldwide

 5× Platinum (U.S.)[28]
Gold (UK)[29]
1994 MTV Unplugged in New York
  • Released: November 1, 1994
  • Label: DGC, Geffen (24727)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 1 1 1 6 3 2 1 2 3 1 20 6.8 million + (U.S.)[30] 5× Platinum (U.S.)[28]
Platinum (UK)[31]
1996 Singles — — — — — — — — — — —
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
  • Released: October 1, 1996
  • Label: DGC, Geffen (25105)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 1 4 1 8 9 14 3 6 2 2 12 1.15 million + (U.S.)[26] Platinum (U.S.)[21]
2002 Nirvana
  • Released: October 29, 2002
  • Label: DGC, Geffen (25105)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 3 3 1 5 2 12 1 10 9 2 6 1,000,000+ (U.S.)[32] Platinum (U.S.)[21]
Platinum (UK)[33]
2004 With the Lights Out 19 56 — 31 28 65 34 — — 39 16 1,000,000+ (U.S.)[34] Platinum (U.S.)[21]
2005 Sliver: The Best of the Box
  • Released: November 1, 2005
  • Label: DGC, Geffen (000561702), Universal (1190)
  • Format: CD
 21 56 — — 87 — 26 — — — — 38,000 + (U.S.)[35]

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

[edit] EPs

Date EP Chart positions Comments
AUS[11] JPN[19]
December 1989 Blew — — Blew was intended to be released to promote an upcoming European tour, but this plan was scrapped, and the EP ended up being released exclusively in the UK shortly after its completion.[36]
January 1992 Hormoaning 2 67 Hormoaning was only released in Australia and Japan, with two different covers accompanying the release in each country, to promote the band's tour of the Pacific Rim.[37]

[edit] Singles

Year Single Peak positions Certifications Album
U.S.
[38]		 U.S. Main
[38]		 U.S. Mod
[38]		 UK
[10][39]		 IRE
[40]		 NZ
[18]		 AUS
[11]		 FR
[41]		 FIN
[17]		 SWE
[42]		 BEL
[43]
1988 "Love Buzz" — — — — — — — — — — — Bleach
1990 "Sliver" — — 19 90 23 — — — — — — Non-album single[I]
1991 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 6 7 1 7 1 1 5 1 9 3 1 Platinum (U.S.)[21] Nevermind
1992 "Come as You Are" 32 3 3 9 7 3 25 12 12 24 15
"Lithium" 64 16 25 11 5 28 54 — 3 — 28
"In Bloom" — 5 — 28 7 20 73 — — 30 —
1993 "Heart-Shaped Box" — 4 1 5 6 9 21 37 14 16 31 In Utero
"All Apologies/Rape Me" — 4 1 32 20 32 58 20 — — —
1994 "Pennyroyal Tea"[II] — — — — — — — — — — —
"About a Girl"[III] — 3 1 — — — 4 23 8 20 13 MTV Unplugged in New York
2002 "You Know You're Right"[IV] 45 1 1 — — — — — — — — Nirvana

"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

  • I ^  Though "Sliver" was initially released as a standalone single on Sub Pop, it did not chart in the United States or Ireland until its appearance on the DGC-released Incesticide (1992).
  • II ^  Canceled after the death of Kurt Cobain. Limited quantities were released.
  • III ^  Released only in Europe and Australia.
  • IV ^  Released as a downloadable and promotional single only.

[edit] Promotional singles

Year Single Airplay charts Album
US Main
[38]		 US Mod
[38]		 LAT
[44][45]		 Pol
[46]		 FIN
[17]		 BEL
[43]		 CAN
[47]
1991 "On a Plain"[V] — 25 — — — — — Nevermind
1992 "Molly's Lips"[VI] — — — — — — — Incesticide
1994 "The Man Who Sold the World" 12 6 1 1 — 24 22 MTV Unplugged in New York
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" — — 18 — — — —
"Lake of Fire" 22 — — — — — —
1996 "Aneurysm" 11 13 — 17 40 — — From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
"Drain You" — — — — — — —

"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

  • V ^  Released only in the U.S.
  • VI ^  Released only in Brazil.

[edit] Split singles

Year Single Other artist Peak positions
U.S. Main
[38]		 U.S. Mod
[38]		 UK
[10]
1991 "Candy/Molly's Lips" The Fluid — — —
"Here She Comes Now/Venus in Furs" Melvins — — —
1993 "Puss/Oh, the Guilt" The Jesus Lizard — — 12

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

[edit] B-sides

Year A-side Song Comments
1989 "Love Buzz" "Big Cheese" Later appears on Bleach.
1990 "Sliver" "Dive" Later appears on Incesticide.
"About a Girl (live)" Only appear on CD single.
"Spank Thru (live)"
1991 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" "Even in His Youth" Demo version later appears on With the Lights Out.
"Aneurysm" B-side version appears on With the Lights Out, alternate version appears on Incesticide.
1992 "Come as You Are" "Endless, Nameless" Appears as a hidden track on certain pressings of Nevermind.
"School (live)" Live version from a Seattle concert in 1991.[48]
"Drain You (live)"
"Lithium" "Been a Son (live)" Live version from a Seattle concert in 1991.[49]
"Curmudgeon"; Remixed version appears on With the Lights Out.
"In Bloom" "Sliver (live)" Live version from a Del Mar, California concert in 1991.[50]
"Polly (live)"
1993 "Heart-Shaped Box" "Milk It" Appears on In Utero.
"Marigold" Later appears on With the Lights Out.
"All Apologies/Rape Me" "Moist Vagina" Demo version later appears on With the Lights Out.
1994 "Pennyroyal Tea" "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" Appears on The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience.
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" Appears on MTV Unplugged in New York.
"About a Girl" "Something in the Way"

[edit] Miscellaneous

Year Song Album Comments
1988 "Spank Thru"[51] Sub Pop 200 A re-recording of a song first performed on the 1985 Illiteracy Will Prevail demo by members of Nirvana as Fecal Matter.
1989 "Mexican Seafood"[52] Teriyaki Asthma, Vol. 1 Later released on Incesticide.
1991 "Beeswax"[53] Kill Rock Stars
1992 "Do You Love Me?"[54] Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation Cover of a 1976 Kiss song.
1993 "Return of the Rat"[55] Eight Songs for Greg Sage and The Wipers Cover of a 1979 Wipers song. Later released on With the Lights Out.
"Verse Chorus Verse"[56] No Alternative Nirvana's contribution to this Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series compilation was uncredited and a secret track.[57] The song was originally titled "Sappy", but was renamed prior to release.
"I Hate Myself and Want to Die"[58] The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience Recorded during the sessions for In Utero. This version of "I Hate Myself And Want To Die" differs from the one found on With the Lights Out.
1994 "Pay to Play"[59] DGC Rarities, Vol. 1 An early version of "Stay Away" from Nevermind.
"Dive"[60] The Grunge Years Previously released on Incesticide.
"Here She Comes Now"[61] Fifteen Minutes: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground Cover of a 1968 Velvet Underground song. Previously released on the split single "Here She Comes Now/Venus in Furs".
1996 "Come as You Are"[62] Fender 50th Anniversary Guitar Legends Previously released on Nevermind.
"Radio Friendly Unit Shifter"[63] Home Alive: The Art of Self Defense Live version from a Grenoble, France concert in 1994.
"Negative Creep"[64] Hype! Previously released on Bleach.
1998 "Blew", "Love Buzz"[65] The Birth Of Alternative Vol. 1 Both tracks were previously released on Bleach.
"About a Girl"[65] The Birth Of Alternative Vol. 2 Previously released on Bleach.
1999 "Rape Me"[66] Saturday Night Live: The Musical Performances Vol. 2 Live version from an appearance on Saturday Night Live.
2001 "Smells Like Teen Spirit"[67] Music of the Millennium Previously released on Nevermind.

[edit] Music videos

Year Title Director
1990 "In Bloom" (Sub Pop version) Steve Brown
1991 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Samuel Bayer
1992 "Come as You Are" Kevin Kerslake
"Lithium"
"In Bloom"
1993 "Sliver"
"Heart-Shaped Box" Anton Corbijn
2002 "You Know You're Right" Chris Hafner

[edit] Videos

Date Title Chart positions Sales/ Certifications
U.S
[68][69]		 FIN
[70]		 NZ
[18]
November 15, 1994 Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! (VHS) — — — 3× Platinum (U.S.)[21]
March 2005 Classic Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind — 3 — Platinum (U.S.)[21]
November 7, 2006 Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! (DVD) 4 — 6 Gold (U.S.)[21]
November 20, 2007 MTV Unplugged In New York 6 — —

[edit] Unreleased songs

Courtney Love stated in May 2002 that she owned 109 unreleased tapes made by Cobain, with or without the other members of Nirvana.[71] Of these songs, many were released on the 61 song box set With the Lights Out, with three "freshly unearthed" songs appearing on the compilation Sliver: The Best of the Box.[72] Besides the remainder of Love's collection there is an abundance of unofficially released Nirvana songs, including covers and jam sessions, on bootleg recordings.[73] However, several of these previously unreleased songs have also since been released on With the Lights Out.

[edit] References

  1. ^ No Dog Days of Summer for Teen Toppers. Recording Industry Association of America (1999-08-31). Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  2. ^ Top 100 Albums. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  3. ^ Olsen, Eric (2004). 10 years later, Cobain lives on in his music (http). MSNBC.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-21.
  4. ^ Gaar, Gillian G. (2006). In Utero 33⅓. New York: Continuum. ISBN 0-8264-1776-0. p. 3
  5. ^ vanHorn, Teri (2001-06-29). Courtney Love Sues Grohl And Novoselic, Blocks Nirvana Rarity. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
  6. ^ Lash, Jolie (2006-03-30). Courtney Sells Nirvana Rights Share. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
  7. ^ Armstrong, Mark (2002-11-17). Nirvana Tops 50 Million Mark In Worldwide Sales, 'Journals' Number One. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  8. ^ Top Selling Artists. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  9. ^ Nirvana Artist Chart History: Albums. Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  10. ^ a b c Roberts, David, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th edition. HIT Entertainment. ISBN 1-90499-410-5.
  11. ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 and 1993 - 2005. St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0646119176.
  12. ^ Search for: Nirvana. NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
  13. ^ Suche nach: Nirvana. HitParade.ch. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
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  17. ^ a b c Pennanen, Timo (2003). Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 951121053X.
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  20. ^ Barnes, Ken (2007-03-23). Sales questions: Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
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  22. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (2001-08-23). Nirvana: 10 years after Nevermind. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
  23. ^ Thomas, Lou (2007-06-21). Nevermind Review. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
  24. ^ The Recording Industry's New Diamond Award Mines Best-Sellers. Recording Industry Association of America (1999-03-31). Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  25. ^ Nevermind Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  26. ^ a b c Basham, David. "Got Charts? No Doubt's Christmas Gift; Nirvana Ain't No Beatles", MTV.com, 2001-12-20. Retrieved on 2007-07-28. 
  27. ^ Incesticide Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-08-18.
  28. ^ a b Top 100 Albums. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
  29. ^ In Utero Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
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  31. ^ Unplugged in New York Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  32. ^ D'Angelo, Joe. "Mariah Can't Top Shania On Billboard Albums Chart", MTV.com, 2002-12-11. Retrieved on 2007-08-02. 
  33. ^ Nirvana Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  34. ^ "NIRVANA's 'With The Lights Out' Becomes Fastest-Selling Box Set In History", Blabbermouth.net, 2004-12-03. Retrieved on 2007-08-02. 
  35. ^ Harris, Chris. "Blink-182's Hits, Santana's All Are No Match For Now 20", MTV.com, 2005-11-09. Retrieved on 2007-08-02. 
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  48. ^ Come As You Are (Geffen Records). LiveNirvana.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  49. ^ Lithium (Geffen Records). LiveNirvana.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  50. ^ In Bloom (Geffen Records). LiveNirvana.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  51. ^ Torreano, Bradley. Sub Pop 200. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
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  53. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Kill Rock Stars. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  54. ^ Torreano, Bradley. Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  55. ^ 14 Songs for Greg Sage: Wipers Tribute. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  56. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. No Alternative. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  57. ^ Gaar, 2006. p. 5
  58. ^ Unterberger, Richie. The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
  59. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. DGC Rarities, Vol. 1. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  60. ^ Torreano, Bradley. The Grunge Years. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
  61. ^ Fifteen Minutes: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  62. ^ Ankeny, Jason. Fender 50th Anniversary Guitar Legends. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  63. ^ Parisien, Roch. Home Alive: The Art of Self Defense. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  64. ^ Rabid, Jack. Hype!. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.
  65. ^ a b Benne, David. Nirvana: Compilations. nirvanadiscography.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  66. ^ Stranzl, Justin. Various Artists, Saturday Night Live: The Musical Performances Vol. 1 & 2. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
  67. ^ Music of the Millennium. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
  68. ^ Billboard Comprehensive Music Videos: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!. Billboard (2006-11-25). Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
  69. ^ Billboard Comprehensive Music Videos: Unplugged In New York. Billboard (2007-12-08). Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
  70. ^ Lista - Suomen virallinen lista. YLE. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  71. ^ Heath, Chris (2002-05-14). Courtney on Unheard Cobain Songs. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  72. ^ Petrusich, Amanda (2005-10-31). Nirvana: Sliver: The Best of the Box Review. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  73. ^ The LiveNirvana Bootography. LiveNirvana.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Nirvana
Kurt Cobain · Krist Novoselic · Dave Grohl
Aaron Burckhard · Dave Foster · Chad Channing · Dale Crover · Dan Peters · Jason Everman · Pat Smear
Studio albums
Live albums
Extended Plays
Compilations
Singles
Video releases
and box sets
Related articles