From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Live album by | ||||
Released | October 1, 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1989–1994 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 53:55 | |||
Label | DGC | |||
Producer | Shauna O' Brien, Diane Stata | |||
Nirvana chronology | ||||
|
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah is a live album by American rock band Nirvana, released on October 1, 1996. It features live performances recorded between 1989 and 1994.
The album debuted at number one on the
Background
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah was the second Nirvana album released following
The album's title refers to the Wishkah River in Aberdeen, Washington, where Cobain claimed to have spent nights sleeping under the Young Street Bridge as a teenager (as referenced in the song "Something in the Way", from Nevermind). This claim has since been refuted by Novoselic, who said, "He never lived under that bridge. He hung out there, but you couldn't live on those muddy banks, with the tide coming up and down. That was his own revisionism."[4]
Performances used
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah avoids all songs that appear on MTV Unplugged, with the exception of "Polly", using a heavier, electric version of the song from 1989, as it was originally performed live. It also avoids using any versions of songs previously released as B-sides, or on the home video Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!, which had been compiled by Cobain, and was released in unfinished form in November 1994.
London Astoria
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah uses three tracks from the band's show at the London Astoria on December 3, 1989, including "Intro," which features Cobain screaming at the start of the show over a distorted guitar as a vocal warm-up. It also uses "Polly" and "Breed," the latter of which then featured the working title "Imodium",[5] and a slower tempo than the version of the song which eventually appeared on Nevermind. These songs mark the only appearance of Chad Channing, the band's drummer from 1988 to 1990, on the compilation.
The London Astoria show was praised by the British music press at the time,[6] with the NME calling the band "Sub Pop's answer to The Beatles".[7]
Paramount Theatre
Only one song, "Negative Creep," appears from the band's performance at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on October 31, 1991, although the vinyl version features additional stage banter from this show on side four.[8] The Paramount concert was the band's first performance in Seattle since the release of Nevermind the previous month, and has retrospectively been described by English music journalist Everett True as "the end of an era" that showed that "incontrovertibly, Nirvana was now big news".[9]
"Negative Creep" became the eighth song from the show to be officially released, after "Drain You," "School" and "Been a Son" appeared as Nevermind b-sides in 1991 and 1992, and "About a Girl," "Breed," "Polly" and ""Endless, Nameless" appeared on Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!. The full show was released as Live at the Paramount on DVD in 2011, and on vinyl in 2019.
Teatro Castello
The version of "
Paradiso
Nirvana were originally scheduled to play at the Melkweg in Amsterdam on November 24, 1991, but due to the band's increasing popularity, the show was rescheduled to a night later at the larger Paradiso in Amsterdam.[10] The versions of "School," "Lithium," "Been a Son" and "Blew" on the compilation are all taken from this show.
As with the Paramount show, several other songs from the Paradiso concert appeared on Live! Tonight!! Sold Out!!. The full show was released in November 2021 on CD and Blu-Ray on the 30th anniversary "Super Deluxe" version of Nevermind.
Del Mar Fairgrounds
The versions of "Drain You," "
The full show was released in November 2021 on the 30th anniversary "Super Deluxe" version of Nevermind, which featured the complete concert on CD.
Reading Festival
Only one song, "tourette's," appears from the band's headlining set on August 30, 1992 at the annual
"tourette's" became the second song from the concert to be officially released, following "Lithium" on Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! The full concert was released as Live at Reading on CD and DVD in November 2009.
Springfield Civic Center
"
"Live and Loud"
"Scentless Apprentice" is taken from the band's "Live and Loud" show, which was filmed by MTV on December 13, 1993 at Pier 48 in Seattle. An abridged version of the show, which included "Scentless Apprentice," was first broadcast by the network on December 31, 1993.
The show was set to feature Pearl Jam and Nirvana as co-headliners, but the former band cancelled shortly before the performance, which led to Nirvana playing a longer set. The concert featured American hip-hop act
Great Western Forum
"
Seattle Center Arena
"Milk It" is the only performance from 1994, taken from the band's show at the
Release and reception
From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah became Nirvana's third consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, and fourth to top the chart overall.
No commercial
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [29] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[30] |
The Guardian | [31] |
Los Angeles Times | [32] |
NME | 9/10[33] |
Q | [34] |
Rolling Stone | [35] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [36] |
Spin | 8/10[37] |
The Village Voice | A[38] |
Lorraine Ali of Rolling Stone described From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah as the "emotional, visceral flip side" of MTV Unplugged in New York, and as "riotous and liberating", showing the band "in their most natural state, smashing instruments and inducing irreversible tinnitus."[3] Johnny Cigarettes of the NME called it "a gloriously electrifying aural photo-book of a truly legendary rock’n’roll band, the like of which burns across our skies all too rarely in this sterile, cynical and safely post-modern age."[39]
The album was ranked at number nine in Rolling Stone's 1997 critics' poll of the top 10 albums of 1996,[40] and number 14 in Spin's "20 Best Albums of 1996" list.[41]
Legacy
In his
Keith Cameron welcomed the compilation's emphasis on the "positive...versions of 'Polly' and 'Breed' from the Lamefest gig at London's Astoria in December 1989, [the night] Nirvana opened for Mudhoney and Tad at a two-thirds empty theatre, [and] served notice that they were the band destined to redirect the gaze of the pop world onto a town called Seattle."[This quote needs a citation]
Radio & Records described the 1996 documentary Teen Spirit: The Tribute to Kurt Cobain as the "video scrapbook companion to Nirvana's From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah LP".[43]
Track listing
All tracks are written by
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
18. | "Untitled" (various concert outtakes and stage banter on side 4) | 5:47 |
Notes:
- The four Amsterdam songs and three California songs above were later released as part of the 30th Anniversary edition of Nevermind.
- Both live performances of "Milk It" and "Heart-Shaped Box" were later released as a part of the 30th Anniversary edition of In Utero.
Personnel
Nirvana
- Kurt Cobain – vocals, guitar
- Krist Novoselic – bass guitar
- Dave Grohl – drums (except on "Polly" and "Breed"), background vocals on "Drain You", "Aneurysm", "Been a Son", "Sliver" and "Heart-Shaped Box"
- Chad Channing – drums on "Polly" and "Breed"
- Pat Smear – rhythm guitar on "Sliver", "Scentless Apprentice", "Heart-Shaped Box" and "Milk It", background vocals on "Sliver" and "Heart-Shaped Box"
Production
- Scott Litt, Craig Montgomery, Craig Overbay – engineering
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Shauna O'Brien, Diane Stata – production, production coordination
- Andy Wallace – engineering, mixing on tracks 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, and 13
- Krist Novoselic – liner notes
- Robert Fisher – design
- Lisa Johnson, Kevin Mazur, Charles Peterson – photography
- Mark Kates – photography
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF)[80] | Gold | 30,000^ |
Australia (ARIA)[81] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[82] | Gold | 25,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[83] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[84] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
France ( SNEP)[85]
|
2× Gold | 200,000* |
Japan (RIAJ)[86] | Gold | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[87] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[88] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[89] | Gold | 100,000* |
United States (RIAA)[91] | Platinum | 1,300,000[90] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Sakamoto, John (October 9, 1996). "Death can't stop Nirvana". Archived from the original on 1999-11-09. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- MTV.com.
- ^ a b Ali, Lorraine (1996-10-17). "One last blast". Rolling Stone. No. 745. pp. 129–130.
- ^ "Pacific Northwest Magazine". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
- ISBN 9780760748930. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
Imodium
- Louder Sound. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (April 15, 2015). "Nirvana Concerts Could be Beautiful Wrecks". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ "The Live Nirvana Companion to Official Releases: From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah (Geffen Records)". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-306-81554-6.
- ^ "November 25, 1991 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands". livenirvana.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Moltisanti, Sean (April 27, 2020). "Quarantine Classic Concerts: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Pearl Jam's December 1991 Tour". Spin. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ISBN 0-385-47199-8.
- ^ "Remembering Nirvana's legendary Reading Festival performance". Sky News. April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ISBN 9781781580059. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "The Live Nirvana Companion to Official Releases: From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah (Geffen Records)". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Deaux, John (September 5, 2023). "Nirvana In Utero: 30th anniversary multi-format reissues arrive October 27, 2023". allabouttherock.co.uk. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Montgomery, James (September 20, 2013). "Nirvana's Legendary 'Live and Loud' Concert: The Stroies You Don't Know". MTV News. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Armoudian, Maria (January 3, 1994). "Nirvana (Great Western Forum review)". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Nirvana: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". NME. September 28, 1996. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Borzillo, Carrie (April 23, 1994). "Cobain Death Spurs Rush at Retail" (PDF). Billboard. p. 102. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ "The Live Nirvana Companion to Official Releases: From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah (Geffen Records)". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "live nirvana concert chronology december 30, 1993 - great western forum, inglewood, ca, us". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "live nirvana concert chronology december 30, 1993 - great western forum, inglewood, ca, us". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "The Live Nirvana Companion to Official Releases: From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah (Geffen Records)". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "live nirvana concert chronology january 07, 1994 - seattle center arena, seattle, wa, us". Live Nirvana. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "FROM THE MUDDY BANKS OF THE WISHKAH promo cd singles". nirvana-discography.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "M & M Charts Airplay - Spain" (PDF). Music & Media. December 7, 1996. p. 23. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah - Box Set (promo)". livenirvana.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah – Nirvana". AllMusic. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ Sinclair, Tom (October 4, 1996). "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam (October 11, 1996). "Past, not gone". The Guardian.
- ^ Hilburn, Robert (September 29, 1996). "Alive and Screaming". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ Cigarettes, Johnny (September 29, 1996). "Nirvana – From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah". NME. Archived from the original on October 15, 2000. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ "Nirvana: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Q (122): 131. November 1996.
- ^ Ali, Lorraine (October 17, 1996). "From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Sutton, Terri (November 1996). "Nirvana: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Spin. 12 (8): 119. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (October 8, 1996). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ Johnny, Cigarettes. "Nirvana : From the Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah". NME. No. 26 September 1996. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Kemp, Mark (1997-01-23). "Critics poll 1997". Rolling Stone. No. 752. pp. 43–47.
- ^ "Nirvana, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Spin. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ Peacock, Tim (1 October 2019). "FEATURES'From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah': Nirvana's Ferocious Live Album". uDiscover. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ "Show Prep - Video - New This Week" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 22, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ARIA Report. No. 348. October 24, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. November 2, 1996. p. 18. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9909". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Hits of the World - Canada" (PDF). Billboard. November 2, 1996. p. 54. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Hits of the World - Canada" (PDF). Billboard. November 9, 1996. p. 50. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. November 2, 1996. p. 54. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. October 26, 1996. p. 18. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. October 26, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ISBN 951-1-21053-X.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste" ((The user has to select "Nirvana" from the drop down list)). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1996. 41. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "M & D". musicaedischi.it (in Italian). Retrieved March 21, 2023.
User must do a "albums" search for "Nirvana"
- ^ "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ^ a b "Hits of the World - Continued" (PDF). Billboard. November 2, 1996. p. 55. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Nirvana | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "Nirvana Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums of 1996". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
- ^ "Year End Sales Charts - European Top 100 Albums 1996" (PDF). Music & Media. December 21, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Classement Albums - année 1996" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- ^ "UNITED KINGDOM (CIN) BEST ALBUMS OF 1996". Retrieved 2011-09-24.
- ^ "1996 Year-end Charts" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. December 27, 1997. p. 70. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the originalon July 6, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1996". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Music Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ "Certified Awards (February 2000)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ "British album certifications – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ Ask Billboard: Rihanna's (Quirky) Record in the Hot 100's Top 10 With 'Needed Me' Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "American album certifications – Nirvana – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
- From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah at MusicBrainz (list of releases)