Released: 11/22/04 (Europe), 11/23/04 (US)
Releases: Boxset comprising of 3 CDs, 1 DVD and booklet.
Additional Information: This long-anticipated boxset was finally released at the end of 2004; a single-CD "best of" compilation entitled 'Sliver - The Best Of The Box' was also released in November 2005 which features 3 tracks not included on the boxset.
The boxset itself is packaged in a unique heat-sensitive material which turns from dark brown to white to reveal hidden images (of various session tapes) when warmed by touch. It includes a well-illustrated 60-page booklet which catalogues the history of the band chronologically (through their home demos, studio sessions, TV appearances and live recordings) and provides information on the tracks included on the boxset. It features never before seen pictures of the actual physical tapes from which the tracks on the boxset are sourced, candid photos the band and images of related paraphenalia such as session logs. The booklet also includes an interesting history of the band's career written by Thurston Moore.
Moving onto the actual content of the boxset approximately 50% of the material included on the 3 CDs was already circulating in one form or another prior to the release of the boxset: for example, some of the tracks have been included on other official releases whilst others derive from tapes which had been circulating amongst traders for many years (and sometimes in better quality than the boxset!). The majority of the content on the DVD, however, is totally exclusive to the boxset.
Unfortunately as with many NIRVANA releases there are some inaccuracies in the liner notes. Therefore you will find below a full guide to the contents of the boxset, including some corrections to the liner notes and additional commentary on the tracks (QUICK LINKS: CD #1, CD #2, CD #3, DVD). We have also included an analysis of which tracks are genuinely exclusive to the boxset: if a track was not available to traders prior to the release of the boxset it is marked 'yes' in the 'Exclusive?' field. Some of these exclusives are also marked with an asterix (Yes*) where the tracks may not be totally exclusive but are sufficiently different to trading versions to warrant merit as such: for example, the live tracks 'Downer', 'Floyd The Barber' and 'Erectum/Moby Dick' were circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset but from an inferior sounding video source whilst the boxset uses a superior and unique soundboard source.
CD ONE
| Track: | Date / Location: | Exclusive? | Comments |
| Heartbreaker (live) | 03/xx/87 - 17 Nussbaum Road (house party), Raymond, WA, US | No | The complete show from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. However the boxset uses a better sounding (and almost certainly lower generation) version of the same trading source. |
| Annorexorcist (radio session) | 05/06/87 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio, Olympia, WA, US | No | The radio session from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset in similar quality. NOTE: the liner notes misspell the track 'Anorexorcist' (setlists from the period always spelt it with two n's) and erroneously state this track was recorded on April 17, 1987. Close listening also suggests the first 8 seconds were spliced from a different and inferior sounding source. |
| White Lace And Strange (radio session) | 05/06/87 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio, Olympia, WA, US | No | The radio session from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset in similar quality. NOTE: the liner notes erroneously state this track was recorded on April 17, 1987. |
| Vendetagainst (radio session) | 05/06/87 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio, Olympia, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! This track was NOT present on versions of this radio session circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. NOTE: the liner notes erroneously state this track was recorded on April 17, 1987. The track is also incorrectly titled 'Help Me I'm Hungry' on the boxset which was the title originally given to it by bootleggers but was later found to be incorrect. |
| Unknown (home demo) | Summer, 1987 - Cobain residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | The label admitted this track was titled 'Mrs. Butterworth' posthomously (based on the main lyric) when it was unearthed and so this is also certainly not correct. Also based on Jack Endino's analysis the liner notes are incorrect to state Dale Crover is the drummer: Endino summises it is more likely to be Aaron Burckhard on drums and as such more likely to be from the 1987 period. |
| If You Must (studio) | January 23, 1988 - Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US | No | The studio session from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset. |
| Pen Cap Chew (studio) | January 23, 1988 - Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US | No | The complete show from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset. |
| Downer (live) | 01/23/88 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA, US | Yes* | The complete show from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. However the boxset uses a unique and superior-sounding soundboard source! |
| Floyd The Barber (live) | 01/23/88 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA, US | Yes* | The complete show from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. However the boxset uses a unique and superior-sounding soundboard source! |
| Erectum/Moby Dick (live) | 01/23/88 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA, US | Yes* | The complete show from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. However the boxset uses a unique and superior-sounding soundboard source! NOTE: the liner notes erroneously title this track as 'Raunchola/Moby Dick' and curiously this particular track sounds a little worse than both 'Downer' and 'Floyd The Barber'. |
| Beans (home demo) | 1987–1988 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | No | This demo was circulating amongst traders but in slightly lower quality prior to release of the boxset. The liner notes state this is undated but collectors believe it dates from 1987 or 1988. |
| Seed (home demo) | 1987–1988 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | No | This demo was circulating amongst traders but in slightly lower quality prior to release of the boxset. NOTE: the title 'Don't Want It All' is erroneous (and seems to be based on the main lyric). However early setlists by Cobain suggest the real title is 'Seed'. Also the liner notes state this is undated but collectors believe it dates from 1987 or 1988. Finally the track sounds poorly mastered with lots of clipping. |
| Clean Up Before She Comes (home demo) | 1987–1988 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | No | This demo was circulating amongst traders but in slightly lower quality prior to release of the boxset. The liner notes state this is undated but collectors believe it dates from 1987 or 1988. |
| Polly (home demo) | 1987–1988 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | No | This demo was circulating amongst traders but in lower quality prior to release of the boxset. The liner notes state this was recorded in 1988 but it could date from 1987. |
| About A Girl (home demo) | 1987–1988 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | No | This demo was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. Curiously the trading circle version (which is sourced from a commercial bootleg) seems to sound better than the boxset version too. The liner notes state this was recorded in 1988 but it could equally date from 1987. |
| Blandest (studio) | June–September, 1988 - Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US | No | This track was circulating amongst traders in similar quality prior to release of the boxset. |
| Dive (studio) | Spring, 1989 - Chorus Rehearsal & Audio Studio, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! Rehearsal footage of this track was circulating prior to release of the boxset but this complete version/edit is unique to the boxset. |
| They Hung Him On A Cross (studio) | August 20 & 28, 1989 - Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes erroneously state this track was recorded in July 1989. |
| Grey Goose (studio) | August 20 & 28, 1989 - Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes erroneously state this track was recorded in July 1989. |
| Ain't It A Shame (studio) | August 20 & 28, 1989 - Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes erroneously state this track was recorded in July 1989. |
| Token Eastern Song (studio) | September, 1989 - The Music Source, Seattle, WA, US | No | A 'rough mix' (by Steve Fisk) of the studio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset. However this track has been remixed by Adam Kasper for the boxset and sounds better than the trading circle versions. |
| Even In His Youth (studio) | September, 1989 - The Music Source, Seattle, WA, US | No | A 'rough mix' (by Steve Fisk) of the studio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset. However this track has been remixed by Adam Kasper for the boxset and sounds better than the trading circle versions. |
| Polly (studio) | September, 1989 - The Music Source, Seattle, WA, US | No | A 'rough mix' (by Steve Fisk) of the studio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset. However this track has been remixed by Adam Kasper for the boxset and sounds better than the trading circle versions. |
CD TWO
| Track: | Date / Location: | Exclusive? | Comments |
| Opinion (radio session) | 09/25/90 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio (The Boy Meets Girl Show), Olympia, WA, US | No | The radio session from which this live track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset though the boxset version perhaps sounds slightly better. NOTE: for some reason there is a sound blip/patch at the 40-second mark which does not appear on the trading circle version. The trading version also includes some studio banter not present here. |
| Lithium (radio session) | 09/25/90 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio (The Boy Meets Girl Show), Olympia, WA, US | No | The radio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset though the boxset version does sound slightly better and is slightly more complete. The trading version also includes some studio banter not present here. |
| Been A Son (live) | 09/25/90 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio (The Boy Meets Girl Show), Olympia, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! This track was not circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. |
| Sliver (home demo) | Summer, 1990 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! It is suspected that the 1989 recording date listed in the liner notes is incorrect. |
| Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (home demo) | Summer, 1990 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! It is suspected that the 1989 recording date listed in the liner notes is incorrect. |
| Stay Away (studio) | April 2–6, 1990 - Studio A, Smart Studios, Madison, WI, US | No | The complete studio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders in various forms prior to release of the boxset. This particular track was also included on the official release Geffen/DGC Rarities Vol. 1. NOTE: 'Stay Away's is the correct title for this tracked (as it was named on 'Nevermind'). |
| Here She Comes Now (studio) | April 2–6, 1990 - Studio A, Smart Studios, Madison, WI, US | No | The complete studio session from this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders in various forms prior to release of the boxset. This particular track was also included on the official release Heaven And Hell: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground, Volume 1. NOTE: curiously the boxset uses a notably bad sounding source for this track (which sounds as if it was sourced from an analog cassette) and so audiophiles should seek out the official release. |
| Drain You (home demo) | April, 1991 - Melvins practice space & Crover residence, San Francisco, CA, US | No | This demo was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. Curiously the trading circle version (which is sourced from a commercial bootleg) seems to sound better than the boxset version (which either comes from a lossy source or is due to poor mastering) and is slightly more complete too (featuring a very brief spoken word introduction). NOTE: the liner notes incorrectly date the demo to 1990. |
| Aneurysm (studio) | January 1, 1991 - Studio A, The Music Source, Seattle, WA, US | No | This track was officially released prior to the boxset on the Smells Like Teen Spirit single. |
| Smells Like Teen Spirit (band rehearsal) | March, 1991 - Converted barn, Tacoma, WA, US | Yes | This track is exclusive to the boxset! NOTE: whilst the liner notes only state this was recorded in "early 1991" collectors have dated it more precisely to March 1991. 'Come As You Are' from the same session appears on the official release 'Sliver: Best of the Box' whilst a very brief version of 'Old Age' is circulating amongst collectors. |
| Breed (studio) | May–June, 1991 - Sound City Studios, Van Nuys & Devonshire Studios, Burbank, CA, US | Yes | This 'working mix' by Butch Vig differs to the 'final mix' by Andy Wallace that appears on 'Nevermind'. |
| Verse Chorus Verse (studio) | May–June, 1991 - Sound City Studios, Van Nuys & Devonshire Studios, Burbank, CA, US | Yes | This 'Nevermind' outtake is exclusive to the boxset! Remixed by Adam Kasper. |
| Old Age (studio) | May–June, 1991 - Sound City Studios, Van Nuys & Devonshire Studios, Burbank, CA, US | Yes | This 'Nevermind' outtake is exclusive to the boxset. Remixed by Adam Kasper. |
| Endless, Nameless (radio session) | September 3, 1991 - Studios 4 & 5, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, UK | No | The complete radio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. |
| Dumb (radio session) | September 3, 1991 - Studios 4 & 5, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, UK | No | The complete radio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. |
| D-7 (radio session) | October 21, 1990 - Studio 3, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, UK | No | The complete radio session from which this track is extracted was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. This track also appears on the official release Hormoaning. |
| Oh, The Guilt | April 7, 1992 - Laundry Room Studio, Seattle, WA, US | Yes* | This track was remixed exclusively for the boxset by Adam Kasper. Hitherto the original mix by Barrett Jones was available on the Oh, The Guilt single. |
| Curmudgeon | April 7, 1992 - Laundry Room Studio, Seattle, WA, US | Yes* | This track was remixed exclusively for the boxset by Adam Kasper. Hitherto the original mix by Barrett Jones was available on the Lithium single. |
| Return Of The Rat | April 7, 1992 - Laundry Room Studio, Seattle, WA, US | Yes* | This track was remixed exclusively for the boxset by Adam Kasper. Hitherto the original mix by Barrett Jones was available on the Eight/Fourteen Songs For Greg Sage and the Wipers compilation. |
| Smells Like Teen Spirit (studio) | May–June, 1991 - Sound City Studios, Van Nuys & Devonshire Studios, Burbank, CA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! Whilst this is clearly a different mix to the Nevermind version of SLTS the liner notes do not provide any clues simply stating it is mixed by Butch Vig. We suspect it may in fact be a 'working mix' like 'Breed'. |
CD THREE
| Track: | Date / Location: | Exclusive? | Comments |
| Rape Me (home demo) | May, 1991 - Oakwood Apartment, Los Angeles, CA, US | Yes | The liner notes state this track was recorded in 1992 but we suspect this is incorrect as this rendition is closer to the version played live from 1991. |
| Rape Me (studio) | 25–26 October, 1992 - Word Of Mouth Productions, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the DVD included with the boxset also includes a jam from the same studio session. |
| Scentless Apprentice (home demo) | Winter, 1992 - Band practice space, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Heart-Shaped Box (studio) | January 19–21, 1993 - Studio B, BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | No | Adam Kasper remix. A rough mix by Craig Montgomery was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. |
| I Hate Myself And I Want To Die (studio) | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | Yes | Adam Kasper remix. This track was not available on versions circulating amongst traders prior to the release of the boxset and so is a genuine boxset exclusive! |
| Milk It (studio) | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | No | Adam Kasper remix. A rough mix by Craig Montgomery was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. |
| M.V. (studio) | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | No | Adam Kasper remix. A rough mix by Craig Montgomery was circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset. |
| Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip (studio) | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | No | Contrary to the liner notes this track does not appear to have been remixed by Adam Kasper as stated. It seems instead to be the same mix as used on the official release of In Utero prior to release of the boxset. |
| The Other Improv (studio) | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | No | Contrary to the liner notes this track does not appear to have been remixed by Adam Kasper as stated. It seems instead to be the same rough mix by Craig Montgomery that was ciculating amongst collectors prior to release of the boxset. The boxset version sounds perhaps sounds a little better than the trading version. |
| Serve The Servants (home demo) | Fall/Winter 1992 - Cobain residence, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes claim this demo was recorded in 1993 but we suspect this is incorrect. |
| Very Ape (home demo) | Fall/Winter 1992 - Cobain residence, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes claim this demo was recorded in 1993 but we suspect this is incorrect. |
| Pennyroyal Tea (home demo) | Fall 1992–Early 1993 - Cobain residence, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes claim this was recorded in 1993 but this seems unlikely as the song was played live from 1991 and the lyrics are closer to live versions performed in late 1992/early 1993. |
| Marigold (studio) | February 12–26, 1993 - Pachyderm Recording Studio, Cannon Falls, MN, US | No | This track was available prior to release of the boxset on the Heart-Shaped Box single. |
| Sappy (studio) | February 12–26, 1993 - Pachyderm Recording Studio, Cannon Falls, MN, US | No | This track was available prior to release of the boxset on the No Alternative compilation. However the boxset version does include a "count in" not present on the compilation release. |
| Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam (live rehearsal) | February 5, 1994 - Pavilhão do Grupo Dramático e Sportivo de Cascais, Cascais, PT | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: close listening suggests that unfortunately the track is either sourced from a lossy source or has been poorly mastered (which is more likely). |
| Do Re Mi (home demo) | Early 1994 - Bedroom, Cobain residence, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| You Know You're Right (home demo) | Mid 1993–Early 1994 - Cobain residence, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes claim this was recorded in 1994 but 1993 seems more likely as the lyrics are similar to the live rendition played in Chicago on 10/23/93. |
| All Apologies (home demo) | 1991–1992 - Cobain residence, Olympia, WA, US/Los Angeles, CA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! NOTE: the liner notes state this is undated: collectors summise this was probably recorded in 1991 or 1992. |
DVD
| Track: | Date / Location: | Exclusive? | Comments |
| Love Buzz (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Scoff (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| About A Girl (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Big Long Now (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Immigrant Song (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Spank Thru (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Hairspray Queen (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| School (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Mr. Moustache (home demo) | December, 1988 - Novoselic residence, Aberdeen, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! |
| Big Cheese (live) | 06/23/89 - Rhino Records Westwood, Los Angeles, CA, US | No | Two different video shots of this show were circulating amongst traders prior to release of the boxset (one complete, one incomplete). This is sourced from the incomplete video source and is much better quality than the trading circle version. |
| In Bloom (Sub Pop video) | April 25-26 - New York, NY, US | No | This music video for In Bloom was filmed whilst NIRVANA were still signed to Sub Pop and was offically released on the compilation Sub Pop Video Network Program 1. NOTE: this particular version of In Bloom was recorded by the band at Smart Studios in April 1990. |
| Sappy (live) | 02/16/90 - Bogart's, Long Beach, CA, US | No | Two different video shots of this show were circulating amongst traders prior the release of the boxset (one complete, one incomplete). This is sourced from the complete video source and is much better quality than the trading circle version. |
| School (live) | 09/22/90 - Motor Sports International and Garage, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Boxset exclusive! Prior to the release of the boxset no video was circulating from this show amongst collectors! |
| Love Buzz (live) | 10/11/90 - North Shore Surf Club, Olympia, WA, US | Yes* | Whilst a single-camera video shot was circulating amongst collectors prior to the release of the boxset this version is a superior-quality multi-camera shot! |
| Pennyroyal Tea (live) | 04/17/91 - O.K. Hotel, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Whilst a video of this show was circulating amongst collectors prior to the release of the boxset it only featured 5 seconds of 'Pennyroyal Tea'. |
| Smells Like Teen Spirit (live) | 04/17/91 - O.K. Hotel, Seattle, WA, US | Yes* | Whilst a single-camera video of this show featuring 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was circulating prior to the release of the boxset this is a superior quality multi-camera shot. |
| Territorial Pissings (live) | 04/17/91 - O.K. Hotel, Seattle, WA, US | Yes* | Whilst a single-camera video of this show featuring 'Territorial Pissings' was circulating prior to the release of the boxset this is a superior quality multi-camera shot. |
| Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam (live) | 10/31/91 - Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Whilst video footage from this show was circulating amongst collectors this particular song was not available on video prior to release of the boxset. NOTE: some portions of the video are out of sync with the audio. |
| Talk To Me (live) | 10/04/92 - Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA, US | Yes | Whilst video footage from this show was circulating amongst collectors this particular song was not available on video prior to release of the boxset. |
| Seasons In The Sun (home video) | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR | Yes* | Whilst this song was circulating in audio format amongst traders prior to release of the boxset the video footage it is set to is all exclusive! |
The menus of the DVD also contain a further 25 minutes of interesting audio and video material as follows:
Special thanks to David Willhauk, Daniel Bar and Merv Gaving for their contributions to this guide.