Rare Nirvana. Part 2

Since the last one was (kinda) a success, here's part 2 to A Guide To Some Of Nirvana's Rarer Tracks.

01. Imodium
02. Pay To Play
03. Cracker
04. Here She Comes Now
05. Anorexocist
06. High On The Hog
07. Beans
08. Help Me
09. Oh, The Guilt
10. If You Must
11. Curmudgeon
12. Grey Goose/ Ain't It A Shame



Imodium

Imodium is simply an early version of the punk-rock classic, Breed, with alternate lyrics. The band decided to change the name to Breed to avoid lawsuit. The story behind the name Imodium, is that a friend of the band's was on Imodium (some sort of drug) and thought it would make a good name for a song (despite the fact it has no relation to the song).


Pay To Play

Another early version of a Nevermind classic, Pay To Play was the first version of Stay Away, with Pay To Play being sung in the chorus instead of Stay Away. The song was originally about bands having to pay to play gigs in bars and clubs. Pay to play was released on a DGC rarities compilation.


Cracker

The very first version of Polly sees the song being given a spooky, electric feel. Although the lyrics remained pretty much the same throughout the song's life, the title was originally Cracker, then Hitchiker, and eventually Polly.


Here She Comes Now

This is a cover of the Velvet Underground song, that the band performed live many times. It has been officially released on a Velvet Underground tribute compilation.


Anorexecist

Probably the rarest and most mysterious Nirvana track, some say this is the same song as Suicide Samarui. A version of the song under the title Anorexecist has never surfaced, so many don't believe this song exists.


High On The Hog

This is actually a band called TAD that Cobain toured with. On this song, Kurt provides vocals. This song is commonly mislabelled as Alcohol, because of the one line chorus.


Beans

A "quirky" song with a four note tune running throughout, this was confirmed by Nirvana's ex-drummer Chad Channing, to be authentic. It has also been confirmed it is, (rather strangely) Kurt Cobain singing on this track. It was left off of Bleach, as Sub Pop thought it was "retarded". Some versions have surfaced where somebody, at the beginning of the song is saying "I don't like you, I'm gonna beat you up."


Help Me

An unreleased song that was performed live on several occasions. In typical Nirvana fashion, the verse, ("Help me, I'm fucking happy, I'm fucking hungry, I'm fucking high") breaks into a chorus of Cobain manically screaming some uncomprehensable lyrics.


Oh, The Guilt

Released as a split single with the Jesus Lizard's song, Puss, Oh, The Guilt reached number 12 in the UK charts.


If You Must

The first track ever recorded in a studio by Nirvana, If You Must was the first track on the demo they recorded in Seattle. The demo also included Downer, Floyd The Barber, Beeswax and Pen Cap Chew.


Curmudgeon

The B-side to Lithium, this song was performed live just once, in Belgium. The content of the song, is bleak and depressing. ("I'm not sad, until I'm home") I think the song perhaps reflect Cobain's own feelings, of how he would never be happy despite how much money he had.


Grey Goose/ Ain't It A Shame

Recorded in 1989 with Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees (for his solo album), (Cobain and Nevosolic only recorded, not Chad Channing), this Leadbelly cover was one of three recorded at the session. Ain't It A Shame remains unsurfaced, and Where Did You Sleep Last Night was the only song of the three that made the album. Grey Goose, as far as I know, also remains unsurfaced.


Note On Nirvana Rarities

Remember that some Nirvana "rarities" found on the internet will be FAKE, for example Kurt's solo of Miss Robinson. He never did this song! In my Guide To Rare Nirvana, I am only gonna cover somgs that are confirmed to have been done by the band, (and if not, I will clearly label the song as fake). If you want to use my work on your website please email me first: the_legend_kurt@hotmail.com.

Well that's all for now, until part three...

from: ultimate-guitar.com