Nirvana - Lithium (early electric mix) from Smart Studio Sessions 04/1990

[@davesteiman]

bassline is so hypnotic

[@MS-eb8cf]

This has to be one of the most original and unique chord progressions ever made and yet it sounds so incredibly good - who else can stake a claim to that?

[@jeremyhead7546]

Thom Yorke, Paranoid Android. He might have one upped Kurt there, both awesome tho.

[@caprise-music6722]

Music isn’t a competition. Unless it’s pop idol or some shite

[@MS-eb8cf]

@@caprise-music6722 It’s not a competition no, but it sure has a hell of a lot of mediocrity. Exceptional talent should be celebrated.

[@sanctji]

@@jeremyhead7546 you are dumb

[@NellyGandhella]

​@@jeremyhead7546 the harmony part of PA was written by jonny Greenwood

[@DoppSkates]

It's such an amazing riff in all honesty, for just power chords it has such an upbeat feel good spun, and krists bass line is great cause he hits the octave notes every other set, this song is just genius

[@markxv2267]

@Goggle products lol no its nothing like that song. You are crazy.

[@gabrielbrown805]

@@markxv2267 the first four chords of lithium are the main chords in where is my mind, just with a different rhythm and tuned down a whole step

[@prefix253]

@@gabrielbrown805 true, and where is my mind is also full on barre chords whereas kurt uses power chords, although the order used is slightly different.

[@jeremyhead7546]

@@gabrielbrown805 yeah but the order is changed up a bit- G# swapped with the C#min. And Kurt doesn't play minor bar chords really, lol.

[@GregLopesArt]

His voice sounds so young.

[@LoekTheKing]

Yeah. Have you listened to Bleach? :)

[@Ohbubbano]

Or incesticide. Beeswax is incredible

[@meep9231]

I mean, he was young since he died

[@End-Result]

Yet so aged at the same time

[@markadairofficial]

wow, at 3:22... his voice was so powerful. A really harsh-sounding, beautiful melody.

[@Izaak247]

His voice was to die for

[@retiredchannel6854]

This was the last song recorded at the Smart Studio sessions because Kurt threw out his voice at the end of this song. It's not so hard to tell how!

[@The90sGamingGuy]

Lol. Kurt blew out his voice while recording Lithium for Nevermind and he got frustrated and went into singing Endless Nameless which is on the Come as you Are single. Just a little Nirvana history.

[@clarawalkslow]

PearlJammer07 i can’t find it do you know where i can i would really appreciate it🙂 thanks

[@SuzukiHalwende]

@@The90sGamingGuy Actually that's just not true. Chad was repeatedly going off beat, and Kurt got pissed off and created Endless, Nameless on the spot with Krist joining in. Afterward, Chad left, and Dave was recruited. If he blew out his voice, it literally wouldn't make any sense for him to start screaming, which Endless, Nameless has plenty of.

[@brandonkim2410]

@@SuzukiHalwende "The earliest known live performance of 'Endless, Nameless' was at the No More Wars anti-Gulf War benefit show on January 18, 1991 at the Evergreen State College Library 4300 in Olympia, Washington. The song was first recorded in the studio during the recording sessions for the band's second album, Nevermind, in May 1991 by Butch Vig at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. It was recorded following a failed attempt at recording the future Nevermind single, 'Lithium,' with a 'frustrated' Cobain instructing Vig to continue recording while he, Grohl and Novoselic began playing the song.[2] As Vig recalled, 'the rage and frustration in [Cobain's] voice was fuckin’ scary to hear, because he kind of lost it.' Vig remembered Cobain being 'really pissed off, thrashing and screamin' during the take." Taken off Wikipedia. No mention of Chad anywhere.

[@caprise-music6722]

@@SuzukiHalwende sorry to say, but you’re wrong mister

[@odiumimbues]

everytime i hear lithium, i imagine parks and that dark green blue hue of trees, the solo walk past unused swings, almost in the backyard of every neighbors house, only im up to no good, no bad. maybe a cig, or some weed. it is a very teenage song.

[@MichelGaiba1]

Amazing... Flooowwwww

[@jamesbarker7788]

Yes

[@enriquepastor3626]

Agree haha

[@jamesbarker2567]

Sure Is

[@psycoCrazy1]

damn he goes all out vocally.. great mixx..

[@dummytree]

Footnote : these old chrome UX Sony blank tapes ruled back in the day...

[@dwtestlabdwtestlab6741]

still rule. yesterday recorded Death "Symbolic" on A, Kreator "Cause for conflict" on B. sounds awesome!

[@casperguylkn]

Metal too

[@petvirus]

the tape spinnin is so relaxing.. thanks for the upload

[@paulisdeceased]

If they kept this version and put the lyrics from the Nevermind version into this one, it would be a song to die for. Also if he extended that one "yeah" on that part. You know what I'm talking about 😂

[@khaaleliilighntingcoronado9009]

My goodness, so many what ifs with Kurt. My biggest what if is him and John Lennon meeting and writing music together. Him and John screaming YEEEAAAAAAAHHHH together while their guitars fuse together like two solar systems forming together in this violent beautiful birth

[@oliverb.8995]

John Lennon died in 1980.

[@rodrigombia73]

Keep going with the tracks man, this is a dream come true

[@hanekawaenj0yer]

the best version ever

[@catherinemccurry2670]

Love the song! Very mindblowing

[@elvicare35]

Catherine Mccurry Oh yeah!!!!!

[@jackpfeiffer4485]

Roger Waters. Syd Barret. The front cover for Animals. Do I smell Foo Fighters or what?

[@ashscott6068]

You're not a true Nirvana fan unless your favourite song is an unintelligible mess recorded on a wax cylinder. This version is too commercial! You can hear the instruments, and they're mostly in tune! The purists would be shocked! And God forbit you actually like anything off Nevermind, cus Saint Kurt told us not to!

[@tmorelli1982]

@@ashscott6068 The endless layering of guitars and double-tracking vocals on nevermind was god-awful for their sound.

[@PlaceholderOne]

Yeah this version is incredible, thanks for posting! I subbed

[@Quarker]

I like this version! The Cobain's vocals sound awesome in the chorus. I think this song's better in this higher pitch.

[@ozanoutcast]

Beyond cool. Bless you for bringing it here.

[@clarawalkslow]

i love the fade out at the end 💙

[@ThriftyGamerG]

His voice in this version is like an emo, post hardcore genre...

[@southernfoods7302]

Pure Gold😍😎💓

[@Diecastbuffet]

God I love Nirvana!! Can imagine this blaring in a mid 80’s sedan back in the day

[@caprise-music6722]

Haha it’s a bit too forward thinking and modern for mid 80’s, but I catch your drift

[@patrickdearing4083]

I 1st heard this version on a boot leg box set bk late 90's. My fav version.

[@rasputozen]

The cool thing about this song is the key actually switches from Emaj to Emin halfway through each measure, but it comes off completely seamless and remains a simple pop song. Definitely one of my favorites.

[@vexide8497]

rasputozen pop?

[@kevingislon2310]

rasputozen this is not a pop song mate

[@dabob878]

rasputozen pls don't insult Kurt by calling it pop *punk Nirvana is a grunge band listen bleach by them

[@roseblack6342]

yall needa chill kurt basically said these were pop songs. pop melodies and sensibilities.

[@caprise-music6722]

This is one of the most poppy songs Nirvana have. They always said so themselves. BUT.. they don’t play it in a pop way. Especially not live. That’s one of the things that makes Nirvana so freakin awesome. They play everything heavy. Apart from the obvious calm songs

[@clarawalkslow]

i’m not gonna cry

[@vadimustinov9025]

Oh my God, man, indeed, does his performance rule on this one!

[@HaohanH7BranDy]

crying

[@Frankool86]

ride cymbal match with tape spins... whoaa so hypnotic :P

[@midkills]

?

[@kiyotaka88]

love this

[@sfrontine]

pretty cool... i love it

[@maxswellavelinooficial2222]

I miss you kurt

[@aran_is_leannnn1025]

This is so cool he has the voice of an angel even before he was famous

[@RadicalSharkRS]

reminds me of heart shaped box a little

[@hooray4everythingkid]

I feel like this may be controversial, but I think the fade-out works.

[@StephenAndrew777]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@matthewcamp915]

Fucking awesome

[@joshmartins560]

Grohls drumming was such a massive upgrade from the drumming of Channing. Channing drumming on this demo doesn't give the chorus the lift that Grohls playing did.

[@andyfaithnomoreguitarist5444]

Sorry,but my favorite Nirvana drummer is definately Chad,he has the grounge drum sound,and he is totaly original,he is himself when he bangs the shit outta the drums,and he is Better than Dave,Dave is to fast and sometimes aritmic,learn more music and after that,tell me if I'm right or wrong,mister Martins

[@j2martnz348]

+Andy Stooges a hahaha ..that's hilarious.

[@Aethrius]

I really hope english isn't your first language because that entire comment is incoherent as fuck. Chad is not the better drummer. He's a great drummer but just no. If you think "too fast" is a bad thing (which by the way makes absolutely no sense) and that Dave lacks rythym, you're the one who needs to broaden their musical horizons.

[@Ratelzwatel]

Chad Channing is a very creative drummer. Grohl mostly copied what Channing did for 'Nevermind'. Also listen to 'In Bloom'. Grohl might be a better performer, but Channing is more original. Grohl has praised Channing's work for Nirvana.

[@jongauthier9289]

I actually like Chad's tom hits on the "I'm not gonna cry" parts as opposed to Dave's snare hits. Sounds better than way to me, but it's all subjective.

[@fentgawd]

this song sounds like teenagers performing in a friends basement for 30 other misfit kids, and the infectious energy of slam dancing, and naturally ripped jeans, and cheap guitars, and used marshall cabs. this song sounds like how i want my life to be.

[@wwffan2000]

Thanks a lot man!

[@tfox32101]

woah i dont remember ever hearing this and i feel liek ive heart most?

[@AzraelAries]

Nevermind just couldn't capture the energy and guitar tone that makes this version special... minus the fade out😁

[@christinejautee2308]

Merveilleux!!!

[@PaulisVidal]

Not much of a difference, more powerful though and energetic. Im not gonna say I like the Nevermind version but this take should also be in circulation in the rock stations.

[@xavierdejesus6198]

This version is better than the released one

[@kevingislon2310]

I think this is the recording that caused his voice to sound less charged in nevermind and in utero. You can totally tell he threw out his voice after this.

[@JeremyB1993]

your profil picture is awesome dude! haha

[@kellylyimo5918]

Seems much more raw

[@gopher44]

What is your best form of contact?

[@ZBrothersTV]

Where are you getting from these rare versions of Nirvana's songs?

[@Emptidiot]

01:12 - [...] "I saved your head"?

[@wearethehappyones18]

What u r right lol😂

[@327LZE]

thx

[@keithbeckett1349]

sounds extra warbly, is that an effect from the tape ?

[@kphoenix137]

Okay, so it is cry and not crack?

[@antlawrir4623]

i have to correct you on a point...this version is on the grunge is dead-nirvana cd bootleg on seattle sounds cd001from the early/mid 90's i have 1st edition and re-issue(re issue cuts of verse chorus verse early)

[@wakattacj]

foda bicho

[@Quarker]

HAHA it's Snoop Dogg bro :P

[@cooliofoolio]

"High quality rip"

[@yungforeverboy]

does this have chad channing on drums or dave grohl?

[@andyfaithnomoreguitarist5444]

He was way better than Dave.No offenc,but it's true.Dave turned out to be a wanna be ''rockstar'' and that's the truth.Chad Channing will always be the real Nirvana drummer,always! Also,Jason Everman was the best rythm guitarist Nirvana ever got,Pat Smear was very sloppy,a bad guitar player,not good for grunge rock.Good for punk,but not grunge.Fuckin' period

[@kphoenix137]

@@decipherable that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard

[@sethreid7736]

@@andyfaithnomoreguitarist5444 You are f'n insane. Chad was weak compared to Dave. And Jason Everman fucked his parts up all the time Live, and was always doing extra licks that didn't match the Nirvana mold. Pat smear was always right on, AND could sing stellar backup vox, which jason, or chad didn't do at all. Pat might look sloppy playing due to his moving and thrashing, but he served the songs and didn't try to be overbearing or add anything that wasn't already in the compositions. If anyone was sloppy it was Chad. And Dave being a "wannabe rock star" is superficial to the point you were trying to make. It literally means nothing.

[@anasazilespider5574]

@@andyfaithnomoreguitarist5444 this is way fetuses should not use the internet

[@acoustictie8907]

is this "mix 6"?

[@paulwblair]

+AcoustcTie No. This is a different mix from "Mix 6"

[@scottistrad]

+AcoustcTie No mix 6 has acoustic guitar during the verses. No one knows the title of this mix.

[@MikeSparksMusic]

@@scottistrad”electric mix”

[@сергейс-э8ж]

класс

[@michaelharrington75]

Silverchair must have been a big influence on these guys.

[@tfox32101]

can kind of hear him say here more 'my willy's good'

[@heron8875]

yehhahahahheyy

[@pandachips17]

Hmm interesting

[@chillykaia]

Did you know Kurt?

[@YelloHowAreYou0706]

Bleach era vibes.

[@daremcadams630]

Best version....nevermind is too polished

[@Facert3213]

Ta nitida esta wea

[@wearethehappyones18]

Sooooooo weird at 2x speed