Outcesticide - In Memory of Kurt Cobain

LIVE NIRVANA BOOTOGRAPHY: Outcesticide - In Memory of Kurt Cobain

Label: Blue Moon Records
Catalog Number: (BMCD14)

Recorded performance:

Compilation / Various

Runtime: 69:59 / 23 Tracks
Matrix: CDA 00138 REDEYE MUSIC 22
Additional Artwork

Disc 1
01)	If You Must	3:46
02)	Downer	1:36
03)	Floyd The Barber	2:05
04)	Paper Cuts	3:50
05)	Spank Thru	3:17
06)	Beeswax	2:32
07)	Pen Cap Chew	2:47
08)	Blandest	3:39
09)	Polly	2:20
10)	Seed	2:20
11)	Sappy	2:22
12)	Do You Love Me	3:27
13)	Been A Son	2:21
14)	Token Eastern Song	3:26
15)	Opinion	1:39
16)	D-7	2:31
17)	Breed	3:03
18)	Stay Away (Pay To Play)	3:21
19)	Sappy	3:24
20)	Here She Comes Now	4:40
21)	Where Did You Sleep Last Night	4:58
22)	Return Of The Rat	2:59
23)	Talk To Me	3:21

Live Nirvana Bootography Rating: A 95%

Live Nirvana Bootography Review:
Though the title is "Outcesticide in memory of KURT COBAIN" this review often refers to the title as "Outcesticide 1". This review documents the original release of "Outcesticide 1",specifically the pressing with matrix "CDA 00138 REDEYE MUSIC 22" there is a second review for the "Remastered Edition."

The Outcesticide series is the best known bootleg Nirvana series in existence and carries a name recognition second only to Nirvana's official releases. Many collectors don't realize that Blue Moon Records produced multiple pressings of the Outcesticide series. This is probably the most difficult pressing to find. "Remastered" and counterfeited versions account for 99% of the market. The first pressing of Outcesticide I was released soon after Kurt Cobain's death in 1994 and quickly became a fan favorite. In 1996, Blue Moon released the Remastered Edition of Outcesticide I.

The first pressing of Outcesticide I had a run out groove code of "CDR 00081 PIGEON 00311." This pressing contained errors that made the disc jump towards the latter tracks. It was quickly reproduced with the code "CDA 00138 REDEYE MUSIC 22."

The "Remastered Edition" of "Outcesticide 1" is a significant sound quality upgrade from the original "Outcesticide I" release as the tracks were taken from better sources. The "Remastered Edition" also contains two extra tracks not found on the original release... Krist' and Courtney's eulogies. Unless you are a collector and desire the original pressings, there is no need to purchase an Outcesticide I other than the "Remastered Edition." The sound quality of the original Outcesticide I is now inferior to recordings that have surfaced since it was originally produced.

The "A" rating of this disc is due entirely to it's collectible appeal. Many compilation bootlegs have since surfaced with better sound quality. Blue Moon Records has been able to to compile tracks from various other bootleg CDs as well as surfacing new material. Blue Moon's reputation has come from it's knowledge of the band and ability to stay in touch with new material circulating in trader circles.

1 - If You Must
2 - Downer
3 - Floyd The Barber
4 - Paper Cuts
5 - Spank Thru
6 - Beeswax
7 - Pen Cap Chew
Reciprocal Studios 1/23/88 - This is a popular demotape that Kurt Cobain assembled and distributed to record labels. All sources for this demotape are off-speed. This problem was probably caused by Kurt's tape deck.

There is a different demotape that was assembled later, which also contains some of these sessions. That tape is the correct speed but it is not as common as this one (see "Into The Black: Disc Two"). Some of these tracks are different mixes than the ones that were released officially. The two songs that were originally released on "Bleach" were remixed during the "Bleach" sessions and 'Paper Cuts' also had additional backing vocals added. "Incesticide" and "With The Lights Out" used the rough band mixes made on the afternoon of 1/23/88 shortly before they left the studio.

The tracks on "Outcesticide 1" are the rough band mixes. While Endino mixed the songs that night, Nirvana played a show in Tacoma with the same setlist as the order the tracks were recorded during this session. This show can be found on the mis-titled "Tacoma 87" CD, and through trading in slightly better quality as well as on video. Endino's mixes of the session are not as common as the band's ones, they can be found on the "Reciprocal Studio Demos" CD.

Nirvana intended to record more songs but unfortunately they ran out of tape and couldn't afford more. The tape ran out during "Pen Cap Chew", which is why it fades out at the end. They also would have recorded "Anorexorcist" and "Raunchola". Both songs sound like they would have been amazing in the studio from the sound of that night's live performance. This live performance of "Raunchola" can be found on the official "With The Lights Out" box set in soundboard quality.

8 - Blandest
Reciprocal Studios 6/11/88 - This song was originally intended to be the B-side of the Love Buzz single, but it was abandoned. Kurt was reportedly embarrassed by some of the vocals. Kurt later had a change of heart and intended to release this song on "Incesticide," only to discover that he had ordered Jack Endino to destroy the master tape.

The sound fluctuates somewhat and is too quiet. The remastered edition contains an A+ recording but this is somewhat redundant now the track has been officially released on "With The Lights Out"

9 - Cracker (Polly)
10 - Seed (Misery Loves Company)
11 - Sad (Sappy)
4-track Recordings 1988 - These three tracks also come from a Cobain demotape. They were sub-titled as "Mellow 4-track shit" on these demotapes by Cobain. They were recorded at home on his 4-track and he plays all the instruments.

More of these demos appear on Outcesticide IV. There is a better-sounding copy circulating among traders, with some additional experimenting right before "Seed".

These tracks were lifted from a vinyl bootleg. They have been cleaned up, but there may be some extra crackle compared to other discs with these tracks. The tracks are still good, but are limited by the original source.

12 - Do You Love Me
Evergreen Studios 6/89 - Released officially on the Kiss "Hard To Believe" tribute. This is the only studio appearance of Jason Everman on guitar! This track seems to be sourced from the vinyl release and it's slightly sped up.

13 - Been A Son
Music Source Studios 9/89 - Released officially on the "Blew" EP. This version has the bass solo brought forward in the mix. Sound quality is a little inferior to the official CD. The noise level is better on the remastered edition verses the original release.

14 - Token Eastern Song (labeled as Junkyard)
Live at Leeds, England 10/25/89 - This is the best available audience recording of this song. There is only one live soundboard version, which is from Omaha, that will hopefully appear on a future Outcesticide. This song was recorded in the studio twice but was not completed either time, both recordings are available in trading circles and one of them was put on "With The Lights Out". As with track 13, the noise level appears to have been raised on this track on the remastered edition.

15 - Opinion
KAOS Radio 9/15/90 - Kurt makes a visit to a local radio session. This version lacks the opening conversation and the ending "taxman" comment. In the conversation, he explains that he wrote the song on the way there... it's a shame it's missing. After the song performance, Kurt asks the DJ "Don't you think that song sounds like 'Taxman'?" (the comment can be heard on the remastered edition). This track's sound quality was drastically upgraded on the remastered edition, this version is muddy in comparison.

16 - D-7
BBC Session 10/21/90 - This is an incomplete "test mix" that somehow leaked out to collectors and is somewhat useless. It starts with the song in progress… the engineer removes the guitars and changes the equalization… then it ends abruptly. The final mix was released officially on the European "Lithium" single and on the "Hormoaning" EP. This track was taken from a vinyl bootleg and on the remastered edition had some noise reduction applied.

17 - Imodium
18 - Pay to Play
19 - Sappy
Smart Studios 4/90 - These tracks were recorded for Nirvana's second album but were scrapped when they signed with DGC. They ended up serving as high-quality demos. "Pay To Play" was released officially on "DGC/Geffen Rarities". The original release took these songs from vinyl bootlegs and has an editing error - the first second of 'In Bloom' from the same session can be heard right before 'Sappy'. The remastered edition apparently took the tracks from "Into The Black".

20 - Here She Comes Now
21 - Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Tracks 20 and 21 come from the VPRO Radio Sessions 11/25/91. Very good sound quality. The original tracks are arguably better because they don't fade in and out like on the remastered edition and they sound nearly identical, the original ones are just very slightly distorted. In late 2002 the VPRO website posted a longer version of this session, in Real Audio format, that includes complete versions of both songs, an unknown song and a short jam.

22 - Return of the Rat
From the Laundry Room Sessions 4/92. Wipers cover released officially on "8 Songs For Greg Sage And The Wipers" (vinyl) and "14 Songs For Greg Sage And The Wipers" (Compact Disc). As with track 12, it seems to be sourced from the vinyl release and it's slightly sped up.

23 - Talk To Me
Likely taken from the Europe 1991 disc which contains the best known recording of this song. This song was given to Iggy Pop after Kurt died. It is not known if he will ever record it. The noise level appears to have been increased and the drums are not quite as over-driven on the remastered edition.

** Thanks to JWB and Vince Dome for making major contributions to this review.

Known Matrices:
CDR 00081 PIGEON 00311
CDA 00138 REDEYE MUSIC 22

It is Interesting to note that the matrix number uses the name of some known music labels / distributors in the USA / UK.
It has been confirmed that some "Outcesticide I" releases were found with the correct disc matrix but with scanned artwork. As it may be too expensive for a company to decide to make a perfect counterfeit (including the matrix) due to the amount of counterfeits on the market, this can probably be explained by:
- missing original artworks. Blue Moon decided to repress artworks using scans of the inserts (this is doubtful, but maybe some stocks of artwork were destroyed or lost during shipment to retailers?)
- repressing during the diffusion of the disc, ie: they were able to repress at the same pressing company, so they could use the same matrix number.

There are four easy ways to check if you have an original pressing:
- the matrix number (it can't lie, but even then check the artwork)
- the design of the disc (be careful, many counterfeits are almost perfect copies)
- the back inlay: the text is in white, this is easy to spot the counterfeited repressings due to the very blurred letters.
- the back of insert: if you can read without any problem the first leg of "N" of "(in memory of KURT COBAI)N", this is an original. If the "N" and the head of Kurt are white, this is a counterfeited repressing.