SOUNDGARDEN “Superunknown“ DEMOS - Inside The Album with Michael Beinhorn

[@Producelikeapro]

What Is Your Favourite Soundgarden Song? Check Out The Full Blog Here: producelikeapro.com/blog/exploring-the-creative-process-behind-soundgardens-superunknown/

[@serratus9747]

The Day I Tried to Live, because how often it resonates with my own life along with the absolute powerhouse display from Chris Cornell 🤠 Fell on black days is my go-to reference track and a masterclass in drum production (along with the rest of the album). Really looking forward to Michael's books hopefully narrated by himself 🤩

[@compucorder64]

My favourite is Outshined, for the guitar. I wonder, is the main riff Gretsch Duo Jet into JCM800? the lead maybe the Guild Polara, into JCM as well? Last year, I even went out an bought an Gretsch Duo Jet, use it all the time for rhythm guitar. And also got one the reissue Guild Polara's - it's my main heavy / downtuned guitar now, into Orange Rocker 30. Other than Outshined, maybe Rusty Cage for vocal performance. And for the memories of growing up as a young teenager watching those kinds of videos, first getting into guitar music. Then maybe Fell on Black Days, just because it stands so well as just such a well written song. It has a life even beyond Soundgarden. You can imagine it bringing an ageing country star back to life at some point.

[@Darkroom69]

Like Suicide is a masterpiece, but it's hard to choose one.

[@I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

I can't even choose a favorite album, I can't imagine trying to pick one song.

[@somerandomhomeboy]

C'mon, not a fair question! Sometimes its "Bootcamp" , "Overfloater", or "Ty Cobb", "Nothing To Say" "Loud Love". But "Superunknown" is a go-to for a great representation of SG songs. Big big love to Michael Beinhorn for making Matt Cameron stand out in the mix!👍👍👍👍

[@demiurgoperez8749]

The definitive 90s album. A true masterpiece with no fillers only profound songs part of a bigger picture. The deep cuts are as good as the singles. Limo Wreck and 4th of july are my favourites but all are part of a sonically conceptual masterpiece. To me it's like an apocalyptic theme where I see red skies in every song

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@rodsimpson518]

Man I remember listening to this everyday in the summer 1994. Can't believe this was 30 years ago. Insane.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@misterwirez7731]

You and me both brother. I was 28 in '94. Now I'm getting to be an old man. I remember the day it went on sale. My buddy came over while I was out in the driveway washing my Harley. We sat and listened to it twice. I jumped on my bike and went and bought my own copy... 30 fkn years ago.

[@twitchgrass3849]

This is the nerdy nitty-gritty I needed! Such a fan of how it comes together. Thank you!! Also, OF COURSE the man destroyed microphones with his voice!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@billyhughes9776]

I couldn't click fast enough on this one! NERD ALERT! Thanks so much Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks ever so much!

[@marcdanielnelson317]

those demos could have gone out no question and it would have been MASSIVE still. Incredible magic. Nice Warren, Michael. Nice.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Marc! Agreed, amazing songs with with passionate performances!

[@luca4352]

So glad you did one of those Interviews again! I'd love to see more of those type of videos, maybe again with Dave Jerden to talk about Alice in Chains' Dirt Record this time? Thanks for making these Videos, they are so valuable!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much!

[@pjvideoguy]

So glad I stumbled into this interview, so much great info information on the recording process of an album I’ve been listened by to regularly since its release. Then to get multiple takes of a few songs from the album just took things to another level. Just wish there was Lino Wreck, Mailman and 4th of July. Thanks!!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@bradleyrembolt]

Thanks so much. One of my all time favorite albums and I've spent so many hours wondering what the studio sessions were like and how it went down. What a treasure. Amazing stuff bro. I remember i had "alive in the superunknown" written on all my notebooks jr yr of high school in 94. Still listen to it regularly.

[@OliChristenDrew]

Nothing, shows the genius of Chris better than the Black Hole Sun demo. All the elements were aleady there, it’s unfreakinbelievable..! Thank you so much Michael to make this accessible!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Christen!

[@clacala]

What a wonderful interview. Listening to those demos from Chris and all those previous versions was very exciting. Greetings.

[@markredmond854]

I wish this was 5 hours long going through every single track.... what a masterpiece!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Me too!

[@serratus9747]

What a treat! I've been jonesing for another Beinhorn interview. Our species will remain forever grateful for the lightning in a bottle synergy captured with his vision and successful lion taming of some of the greatest artists to ever grace our planet. Thank you Warren, you guys have such a great accord and I'm hyped to listen after finishing this wall of text 🤠🖖 The video Korn made specifically to thank Mr. Beinhorn for elevating them to another level says it all.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Appreciate your comment

[@serratus9747]

@Producelikeapro A low end/drum production masterclass with the man would be amazing as well 🤠

[@dreve6358]

@@serratus9747 I got to work with him for a week the man is a genius.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@serratus9747 agreed 100%!

[@Producelikeapro]

@@dreve6358 very cool!

[@briangregory6303]

I could not have enjoyed this more. One of the greatest albums ever.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@shaneheff5244]

There's me scrolling through KZbin not seeing much I'd want to watch and then up pops this..wow! My favorite album and Cornell in my view the greatest rock singer and front man. Thanks so much.

[@austinmark1987]

This absolutely is just amazing! Thank you so much for these types of long form conversations and deep dive production videos!🙏🏽 For all of us die hard music fans, this is just the coolest thing ever! I loved listening to the sounds and mixes Micheal played down in my quality Sennheiser headphones and it really takes the experience level up a few notches!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate your support

[@bulletproofzest]

This is amazing. Hearing the various mixes it occurs to me what a huge impact the finished record had on my taste in what a rock record should sound like. So generous of Michael (as always) to share this stuff. One of my favorite GS threads of all time was him answering questions about the production of this album.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for the great comment!

[@Pickles-s5k]

Yeah Warren! I’m obsessed with the sound of drums recorded in a good room. Thanks for everything you do!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@compucorder64]

This is a great interview. I love this album, it's part of my youth. And just getting to grips with drum recording, so this is as good as it gets. I enjoyed the sessions with Nolly a lot too.

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks ever so much

[@mynusten]

I grew-up in the Seattle-area as a teeny bopper in the 70s & 80s and saw Soundgarden play a few shows in the area for $5. That Mr. Cornell mastered a lot of these songs in his home studio is mind boggling. What a Rock & Roll treasure and a Rocker that is sorely missed. FAV SOUNDGARDEN SONG: New Damage, Live from the Artist Den.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@AG-mz7vm]

Thanks Michael and Warren! This album is just awesome.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@TomasRosberg]

This is fantastic, thank you for making this happen. I was hooked the whole video! What a treat this hear the demos, the Scott Litt mix is so interesting to hear, the top end is so different than the final mix which is vastly superior. Thank you for sharing this

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Tomas!

[@GIBKEL]

So so into hearing more about this record from Michael. Cheers man!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@GIBKEL]

⁠@@Producelikeapro Fav… The Day I tried to live. It touches on my personal battle with disease.m, tue beginning corresponding with this track back in the 90’s just when I was beginning in the world post anthro degree. That second verse of his when he repeats “The Day I tried to live” was my favorite vocal take from the whole show-demo or produced-soul certified! The most defiant vocal I think I’ve ever heard from Chris. I went back again compared and I stand by that feeling he communicates in that demo. That part of his demo really touched me and the fight it inspires; reminds me of trying so hard and the disappointment of coming up short, no matter how hard you try. Agree-the Scott mix didn’t have the glue. Big thanks to you and Michael for circling back to what he had teased a couple(?) years ago. Ben and Matt’s swing is the best of that early era. Colin and Phil of Radiohead also really nailed it that “thang”

[@Producelikeapro]

@@GIBKEL thanks ever so much for sharing! Michael is marvellous, very blessed to have him on!

[@buddythecat4675]

Great interview! I had enjoyed your other Beinhorn videos from several years back. Though the band has made it known that they had many gripes about working on this album, Beinhorn had got the band to channel things that they didn't know that they were capable of, and along with Alice in Chains' "Dirt", "Superunknown" is the most three dimensional album of the Seattle bands. The other thing is that by this time in 1994, the other big three bands in Seattle had put out their defining albums, so the stakes were raised and Soundgarden needed to put out the best album of their career, and Beinhorn realized that and wouldn't let them accept anything else. The other thing that Beinhorn seemed to emphasize (if not, it was coincidental) was Chris' lower vocal range, and as the Temple Of The Dog album had shown, Chris' lower register was incredibly soulful, so it made sense to write material that highlighted that. As a result, his upper register tended to be used on the choruses and at the most dramatic times in the song and had way more of an effect.

[@guitaristssuck8979]

They just started writing better songs at that point. Anyway, 'Dirt' didn't age well.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@guitaristssuck8979 I think it's important to recognise that Dirt was not a typical 'grunge' album, AIC first album 'Facelift', previous EP 'We Die Young' all were pre the grunge explosion, they owe more to Rock than 'grunge'.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Buddy for the great comment!

[@guitaristssuck8979]

@@Producelikeapro to be precise, "grunge" is not even a genre, it's more like a movement, those bands were all so different. Biggest misunderstanding in music history ever, lots of people put non grunge and non Seattle bands under that term, it's ridicolous.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@guitaristssuck8979 talking with Dave Jerden about AIC, he maintains that they were associated with the grunge movement but didn't at that time consider themselves part of it, however, of course it would have been very beneficial.

[@KevinMarquezRocks78]

Thank you very much Warren and Michael... The Day I Tried to Live holds a special place in my heart... Love the whole record though...

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing Kevin!

[@thegoatchild3545]

This was so cool, hearing the evolution of the songs. Thank you, gentlemen!🙏

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@CEddy10165]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Powerful stuff.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Eddy!

[@rodross9625]

Just when I think you’ve topped out you bring this out, amazing insight, thx

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jannetestailee]

Wow this was totally amazing episode! Thank you very much!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@misterwirez7731]

Awesome video. Job well done is an understatement. Masterpiece is a better description. However it reminded me and makes me sad all over again Chris was gone waaay too soon. He was the dude.

[@Azwel]

my favorite on the album will always be Limo Wreck

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JohnA27]

Thanks Warren, this information is priceless, good job bruh ✌️

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks John!

[@chadfayrobinson7537]

The greatest ever!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@GIBKEL]

So nice, had to listen twice! I loved the psychedelic (twinkly bits) on Chris’s demo ‘The Day I Tried To Live’.

[@Kirk1795]

Best video ever. Wow so much here. ❤ Freaking love Chris Cornell what a power

[@Producelikeapro]

Thais ever so much

[@HAUNUI3]

Thank so much for this!!!! 🙏☺

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome!

[@reaganbrowneofficialyoutube]

I’ve chatted with Michael multiple times on Facebook. Nice guy and always willing to share his knowledge and feedback regarding music. 🙏

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed 100%’

[@reaganbrowneofficialyoutube]

@@ProducelikeaproWarren where is the link to possibly work with Michael? Sorry I couldn’t find it. Thanks 🙏

[@Producelikeapro]

@@reaganbrowneofficialyoutubemichaelbeinhorn.com

[@JohnnyC30773]

Loved it!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@meanmr.mustard]

Wow, that BHS demo... You can hear things out of tune or not in time, but greatness oozes from it from the get go. Again, ..WOW!

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed! Absolutely amazing!

[@Mister_Jahn]

Rad episode. Kim Thayil's mom was my GF's writing teacher in HS... she went on to become a respected contemporary artist. Not certain if this is germane but... interesting.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SirTSP]

This is AMAZING, I can't find any ohter word. Thanks

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@popolokross444]

Yeeees!!! Another one from the prog music duo!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous! Thanks!

[@barneygroom3431]

Michael is literally a genius.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous!

[@stevenmonte7397]

How he worked with Herbie Hancock and Soundgarden is amazing! Love hearing his journey.

[@Producelikeapro]

Connect with Michael Here: michaelbeinhorn.com

[@KreativeDevices]

Oh Yeah! 🙌

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@guitaristssuck8979]

7:43 is it 'The Day I Tried To Live'? 8:50 is it 'Let Me Drown'?

[@Producelikeapro]

Michael?

[@nolarocks]

To your point about Ben's bass - SG always had THUNDEROUS bass from Louder than Love onwards. They played at Tip's in New Orleans and Jason came out - bonked his low string (D??) and nearly destroyed all of the windows in the venue.

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@TrueFallacy]

Alive!! In the SuperUnknown!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous!

[@chrisbennett8720]

Man I live for this stuff

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@lucasstoll5387]

This was fantastic! Only thing is I wish Michael Beinhorn would talk about “Mailman” sometime…perhaps even do a treatment like this. All of Chris’s guttural vocal transients that Michael talks about are really apparent on that track.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous! Glad you enjoyed it! Maybe we will get him back again to talk more!

[@TVoltG]

The album that changed me. This is great.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@TheChipMcDonald]

Matt Cameron doesn't get the attention he should. Every 4 measures there is a fun detail or variation, without losing the driving intensity and pocket. And incorporating technical finesse. Like listening to a Neil Peart or Stewart Copeland track, brilliant detail - little bell hit in a corner, accent ahead of the beat, hat accent on an unexpected beat, dropped/skipped accents, linear patterns,... Pearl Jam isn't exploiting his potential! Ahrhg...

[@myyt4382]

Cant agree more!

[@Producelikeapro]

Matt Cameron has always been the drummer of that period for me! Huge fan!!

[@Producelikeapro]

@@myyt4382absolutely

[@CEddy10165]

I was thinking of Neil Peart’s sense of variation too. I love Matt’s playing - in Soundgarden more than anything - and agree, he hasn’t been able to flex in quite the same way in PJ.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@CEddy10165 he's a phenomenal drummer!

[@doctorjoyboylove]

I'd love to hear him talk about the production of Social Distortion's "White light, white heat, white trash", because that record sounds like the band just went into the studio and started to play (but I'm sure, there was a lot more to it).

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

On the point of Chris Cornell liking Beatles and Cream; it's looks most likely that "Deserted Cities Of The Heart" of Wheels Of Fire is closest to be called directly influencing "Black Hole Sun". Most noticeable, the song has a line "On this dark street, the SUN IS BLACK." But the very unorthodox chords progressions, arrangements, and instrumentation; and the tension and unease that projects; it's reminiscent in many ways. I loved the song before this occurred to me it because I am nearly sure it's a D standard acoustic guitar, and like much Nick Drake (mostly drop tuning) has that woody darkness that wheighs so heavy. Wheels of Fire has more of that in "As You Said". Jack Bruce is also such an active singer with daring freaky choices. Chris Cornell became a little like him, I feel. And I don't know how much this should be emphasised again, but I also know about Micheal wanting to make Chris a little more active or nuanced and expressive, like Sinatra. And Jack is a little Sinatra-like; maybe most of all rockers. It was an easy influence when Jack already was there before maybe. (I just have thought about this for a while and don't really know how relevant it is to the video... yet. Let's see if Cream is mentioned again (yeah, I binged some Micheal Beinhorn interviews and podcast recently). Now I will rewatch some minutes it took to write this)

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing your opinion!

[@mlwsf]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. One of the few times that I have heard that adage stated correctly.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks! I do love that adage!

[@dokma_eu]

This guy, Michael Beinhorn, is a absolute legend - check out his biography on Wikipedia!

[@Producelikeapro]

Absolutely! Michael Rules

[@stephanemelo]

Am I the only one to hear that Scott Litt went so hard on the De-Esser that it gave Chris Cornell a lisp ?

[@Producelikeapro]

Interesting! I'll listen to it again!

[@stephanemelo]

@@Producelikeapro (Or not hard enough on the De-Esser, but those "ss" sounds sound weird)

[@Producelikeapro]

@@stephanemelo will check!

[@thedrunkenguitarist]

I always had a problem with that when listening to the album with headphones. Hopefully a remaster is in order to fix the issue.

[@HarryDinesOut]

Back in the 90s when I was a teenager, one of the engineers who worked for Soundgarden invited me to his expensive house in Seattle, and tried to get me to sleep with him even aftter I told him no.

[@myyt4382]

This interview makes me want to pick up my drum sticks again! That is why it is so important

[@Producelikeapro]

That's very cool!

[@adee2569]

BHS might be the greatest rock song ever written!

[@Producelikeapro]

It's definitely up there!

[@thepercussiveinternational9188]

Seminal vintage & super pivotal in regards songwriting 4 me… Oh, look, Warren has a new lava lamp!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha YES! Lava lamp! Courtesy of a PLAP Academy member!

[@RicoLee27]

That album, musicality and production is so cool. Music is not like this anymore sadly. Now everything is robot

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@frankhardenbol9998]

Scott Litt's mix sounds more European almost. Would love to hear his complete album mix, not better but a great alternate version that would be imo.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing!

[@CashMattock]

34:10 I did not realize that he recorded the demos by himself 🤯

[@Producelikeapro]

I know! Absolutely fantastic

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous even!

[@Mono_8080]

@@Producelikeapro Although Michael said that the demos were entirely recorded by Chris, I think that in the case of "The day I tried to live", the drums are played by Matt. It has some signature Matt Cameron chops in there that are unmistakable. Unless the two had that godly touch, which I don't think is possible. :)

[@Producelikeapro]

@Mono_8080 I’m sure you’re right

[@alexbooyse9053]

The Scott Litt’s mix is more 2020’s sounding. Modern rock seems to be missing space and room

[@Producelikeapro]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@TenderBranson01]

🙏 🙏

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@tjdivers4716]

Incredible insights,thank you Michael thank you Warren. Just one thing -- Jason Evermans short tenure was long gone by Superunknown , why so many photos featuring him? Doesn't sit right.

[@jn5122]

I was wondering the same thing

[@splashesin8]

1:02:39 Bookmarking. In case phone quits. 😊

[@Producelikeapro]

Nice!!

[@Armakk]

UN.. BEE.. LEEVE.. uhBULL... OMGomgOMG... brain exploding!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks!

[@supabass4003]

Fresh Tendrils is the best!!!

[@billyhughes9776]

One of my favs on the record.

[@myyt4382]

Approved!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing!

[@billyhughes9776]

Matt Cameron wrote that one.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@billyhughes9776 marvellous

[@cdprince768]

How in the world is Michael 68?!!

[@Producelikeapro]

I know! Crazy!

[@user-yk4gd1fl4z]

Michael is 68????? Surely wikipedia is lieing to me ! 68?

[@Producelikeapro]

I know! I thought he was 47!!

[@chavernac]

🤴🤴

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks!

[@truegent68]

Warren, I get all kinds of malware and secure windows connections when trying to go to your website? any idea?

[@Producelikeapro]

It's passes all Google site tests etc. Do you have one of those apps that gives false positives etc? You can report the false positive to them and they will note it. I've seen this issue before. Feel free to write to us if you like [e-mail] many thanks, Warren

[@RunOfTheHind]

It's an album I love...and yet I could never fully take it into my heart, if anyone knows what I mean? And it's a few songs too long to be a flawless classic.

[@AG-mz7vm]

It's perfect as it is.

[@RunOfTheHind]

@@AG-mz7vm Nah. Even the band admitted that no one's ego would let songs be taken off, so there are too many. And too many dirge-y ones.

[@mikerichmond6308]

This is when they stopped being Soundgarden, and became Chris's solo band. Sorry, not sorry. Love the early stuff, not so much from this point on.

[@AG-mz7vm]

Ben Shepherd wrote 6 Songs on "Down on the upside" Cornell wrote 7, Cameron and Thayil each wrote 1 song.

[@joshbuma9517]

What a stupid take

[@irawangani1]

This is when you announced your idiocy

[@user-yk4gd1fl4z]

@@joshbuma9517 yep, Superunknown is PEAK Sound Garden, PEAK.

[@robertfoshizzle]

I get what you're saying, but I mean... I'm listening to the demo Chris did all the instruments and engineering on for "The Day I Tried to Live" and it's obvious he had a very clear vision for the songs he was writing around this time. Much like who I assume is one of Chris Cornell's musical heroes, Pete Townshend, Chris was a multi-instrumentalist who could put together his own high-quality demos and build a song from start to finish. I think the results are fantastic, but there's something to be said for having everyone in the band write their own parts around a very basic shell of a song idea as well. I think Soundgarden sounds fantastic regardless of which approach they took, but they definitely became a lot more polished their last two albums, and if you're a fan of their earlier stuff, I understand why that sound may not match your preferences.