Blew (EP)
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| Blew | |||||
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| EP by Nirvana | |||||
| Released | December 1989 | ||||
| Recorded | 1988-1989 | ||||
| Genre | Grunge | ||||
| Length | 11.32 | ||||
| Label | Sub Pop Tupelo (UK) |
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| Producer | Jack Endino, Steve Fisk | ||||
| Nirvana chronology | |||||
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"Blew" is the title of a song and an EP by the American grunge band Nirvana.
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[edit] The song
The song was written in 1988 by the band's frontman Kurt Cobain. It initially appeared as the first track on Nirvana's debut album Bleach, released in June 1989.
Unlike the other songs from the album, Blew is tuned to D with the bottom string then tuned down to C thus creating a deeper and heavier sound. This was a mistake made during the recording of the song where somebody accidentally tuned the guitar down a second time after it had already been adjusted. It was probably kept this way since it proposed no technical difficulties and also since Cobain's voice was able stay in key with the alternate tuning. It also produced what could be considered a desirable effect.
[edit] The EP
The Blew EP was released in December 1989 on the Tupelo Records label. In addition to the song "Blew", it includes the songs "Love Buzz" (which also appears on Bleach and was released as a different mix on Nirvana's first single), and two previously unreleased songs, "Been A Son" and "Stain".
The versions of "Blew" and "Love Buzz" are the same as found on "Bleach" except for the U.K. version of the album which substitutes "Big Cheese" in its place (most likely to increase marketability of the EP in the U.K. by offering an additional unavailable track). "Been a Son" and "Stain" were culled from a session with Steve Fisk that was set up to record new tracks exclusively for this E.P. Other songs from the session have been made available since as part of the "With The Lights Out" boxed set.
It was released only in the United Kingdom and is thus difficult to obtain elsewhere. Only 3,000 copies of the EP were pressed on 12" vinyl record, but it was also released on CD. Both CD and vinyl counterfeit copies exist, of which the vinyl copies vary in colour (only fakes are coloured, the initial 3,000 ones were black).
[edit] Other versions
Early live performances of the song "Blew" contain almost entirely different lyrics and can be found on various bootlegs. There are also numerous bootlegs featuring performances of the album version of "Blew". A live version of "Blew" (performed on November 25, 1991 in the Netherlands) appears on Nirvana's live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah. Video footage of this same performance appears on the Nirvana DVD Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!.
[edit] Track listing
- "Blew" (appeared on Bleach) – 2:54 (Kurt Cobain)
- "Love Buzz" (appeared on Bleach and released as Nirvana's first single) – 3:35 (Robbie van Leeuwen)
- "Been A Son" (previously unreleased, later appeared on Nirvana) – 2:23 (Cobain)
- "Stain" (previously unreleased, later appeared on Incesticide) – 2:40 (Cobain)
Note: a different version of "Been A Son" appears on the Incesticide album.
[edit] Credits
- Kurt Cobain – guitar, vocals
- Krist Novoselic – bass guitar
- Chad Channing – drums
- Jack Endino – producer
- Steve Fisk – producer
[edit] Covers
- Japanese musician Miyavi has covered the song.
- American Pop-punk band The Ergs! covered the song on their Blue EP. The EP contained an original, Blue on side A, and a cover of Blew on side B. The EP was only pressed onto blue vinyl.
- Northern Irish Alternative rock band Ash covered the song, releasing it on their Numbskull EP in 1999.
[edit] External links
- Blew EP on Nirvanadiscography.com
- Live Nirvana Companion to Official Releases - Blew EP
- Live Nirvana Sessions History - September 1989
