"Old Age" redirects here. See Old age.

With the Lights Out
Box set by Nirvana
Released	November 23, 2004
Recorded	March 1987-March 1994
Length	5:15:25
Label	DGC
Producer	Jack Endino, Greg Babior, Steve Fisk, Butch Vig, Craig Montgomery, Steve Albini, Lance Bangs
Professional reviews
AbsolutePunk.net (54%) link Allmusic link NME (7/10) link New York Times (Positive) link Paste (Positive) link Pitchfork Media (6.3/10) link PopMatters (Neutral) link Rolling Stone link Spin (A) link
Nirvana chronology
Nirvana (2002) With the Lights Out (2004) Sliver: The Best of the Box (2005)

With the Lights Out is a box set, containing 3 CDs and 1 DVD, from the American grunge band Nirvana. It was released in November 2004. The title refers to the line "with the lights out, it's less dangerous" from the hugely successful "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single.

History

Rumors of a posthumous Nirvana box set, or anthology, first surfaced in the mid-1990s, not long after the death of the band's singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain in April 1994. It was eventually announced that a 45-track box set would be released in September 2001, to mark the 10th anniversary of the band's breakthrough album, Nevermind, but a legal battle between Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, and surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, precluded this from happening.

The dispute - or much of it - centered around "You Know You're Right", a song recorded in January 1994 during the band's final studio session. Grohl and Novoselic had wanted it for the box set, but Love blocked the song's release, and sued them for control of Nirvana's legacy. Love's lawsuit asserted that "the parties have fundamentally different concepts of how to manage the musical and artistic legacy of Kurt Cobain", which resulted "in a stalemate of decision making." ^[1] She believed that "You Know You're Right" would be "wasted" on a box set, and instead belonged on a single-disc compilation similar to the Beatles' 1. ^[2]

In 2002, the legal battle was settled, and "You Know You're Right" appeared on the "best-of" compilation, Nirvana. This paved the way for what became With the Lights Out, which arrived in November 2004, over three years after its original release date but with far more music than had first been promised.

With the Lights Out received generally positive reviews from music critics^[3], many of whom saw it as a valuable glimpse into the band's musical evolution. However, several critics felt it contained too much second-rate material never intended for official release^[4][5].

With the Lights Out opened at #19 on the Billboard 200, setting a box set record for units sold during a single week with 105,760 copies.

Track listing

Disc 1

• From Nirvana's first show (March 7, 1987 in Raymond, Washington)

1. "Heartbreaker" (John Bonham/John Paul Jones/Jimmy Page/Robert Plant) – 2:59

• From Nirvana's first radio session (April 17, 1987 at KAOS 89.3 FM in Olympia, Washington)

2. "Anorexorcist" – 2:44
3. "White Lace and Strange" (Chris Bond) – 2:09
4. "Vendetagainst" (aka "Help Me, I'm Hungry") – 2:41

• From a boombox-recorded band practice demo tape (summer of 1987 in Washington)

5. "Mrs. Butterworth" – 4:05

• From Nirvana's first studio session (January 23, 1988 at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, Washington, produced by Jack Endino)

6. "If You Must" – 4:01
7. "Pen Cap Chew" – 3:02

• From a live performance (January 23, 1988 at the Community World Theatre in Tacoma, Washington)

8. "Downer" – 1:43
9. "Floyd the Barber" – 2:33
10. "Raunchola"/ "Moby Dick" ("Moby Dick" - John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page) – 6:24

• Cobain's 4-track home recordings (1987 and/or 1988 in Aberdeen, Washington)

11. "Beans" – 1:32
12. "Don't Want It All" – 2:26
13. "Clean Up Before She Comes" – 3:12
14. "Polly" – 2:30
15. "About a Girl" – 2:44

• From the studio session which yielded the Bleach recordings of "Love Buzz" and "Big Cheese" (June 6, 1988 at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, Washington, produced by Jack Endino)

16. "Blandest" – 3:56

• From Nirvana's first 24-track studio session (spring 1989 at The Evergreen State College Audio Studio in in Olympia, Washington, produced by Greg Babior)

17. "Dive" – 4:50

• From a studio session for "the Jury", a Lead Belly cover band featuring members of Nirvana and the Screaming Trees (August 20 and 28, 1989 at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, Washington, produced by Jack Endino)

18. "They Hung Him on a Cross" (Huddie Ledbetter) – 1:57
19. "Grey Goose" (Huddie Ledbetter) – 4:36
20. "Ain't It a Shame" (Huddie Ledbetter) – 2:01

• From the studio session which yielded the Blew versions of "Been a Son" and "Stain" (September of 1989 at Music Source Studios in Seattle, Washington, produced by Steve Fisk)

21. "Token Eastern Song" – 3:21
22. "Even in His Youth" – 3:12
23. "Polly" – 2:36

Disc 2

• From Cobain's acoustic performance on Calvin Johnson's college radio show (September 25, 1990 at KAOS 89.3 FM in Olympia, Washington)

1. "Opinion" – 1:24
2. "Lithium" – 1:49
3. "Been a Son" – 1:12

• From Cobain's boombox-recorded home demos (1990 in Olympia, Washington)

4. "Sliver" – 2:09
5. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (traditional) – 2:31

• From the studio session which yielded the Nevermind version of "Polly" (April 2 to 6, 1990 at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin; produced by Butch Vig)

6. "Pay to Play" (early version of "Stay Away") – 3:29
7. "Here She Comes Now" (John Cale/Sterling Morrison/Lou Reed/Maureen Tucker) – 5:01

• From a 4-track demo (April 1991 in San Francisco, California). Features Dale Crover on drums and Dave Grohl on bass.

8. "Drain You" – 2:38

• From the studio session which also yielded the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single version of "Even in His Youth" (January 1, 1991 at Music Source Studios in Seattle, Washington; produced by Craig Montgomery)

9. "Aneurysm" (Smells Like Teen Spirit single b-side) – 4:47

• From a boombox-recorded rehearsal demo (March 1991 in Tacoma, Washington)

10. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" – 5:40

• From the studio session for Nevermind (May to June 1991 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California; produced by Butch Vig)

11. "Breed" (Butch Vig mix) – 3:07
12. "Verse Chorus Verse" – 3:17
13. "Old Age" – 4:20

• From a John Peel radio session (September 3, 1991 at Maida Vale Studios, London, England)

14. "Endless, Nameless" – 8:47
15. "Dumb" – 2:35

• From a John Peel radio session (October 21, 1990 at Maida Vale Studios, London, England)

16. "D-7" (Greg Sage) – 3:46

• From Nirvana's first post-Nevermind studio session (April 7, 1992 at Laundry Room Studios in Seattle, Washington; produced by Butch Vig)

17. "Oh, the Guilt" – 3:25
18. "Curmudgeon" (Lithium single b-side) – 3:03
19. "Return of the Rat" (Greg Sage) – 3:09

• From the studio session for Nevermind (May to June 1991 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California; produced by Butch Vig)

20. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Butch Vig mix) – 4:59

Disc 3

• Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (May 1991 in Oakwood, CA?)

1. "Rape Me" – 3:23

• From Nirvana's second post-Nevermind studio session (October 25-26, 1992 at Word of Mouth Studios [former Reciprocal Recording Studios], Seattle, WA. Producer: Jack Endino).

2. "Rape Me" – 3:01

• From a band practice demo tape (Winter 1992 in Seattle, WA)

3. "Scentless Apprentice" (Kurt Cobain/Dave Grohl/Krist Novoselic) (rehearsal demo) – 9:32

• From Nirvana's final pre-In Utero studio session (January 19-21, 1993 at Ariola Ltda BMG, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Producer: Craig Montgomery)

4. "Heart-Shaped Box" – 5:31

5. "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" – 4:03

6. "Milk It" – 4:34

7. "Moist Vagina" (a.k.a. "MV") – 1:56

8. "Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip" – 7:33

9. "The Other Improv" – 6:24

• Cobain's boombox-recorded home demos (Fall or Winter 1992 in Seattle, WA)

10. "Serve the Servants" – 1:36

11. "Very Ape" – 1:52

• Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1993 in Seattle, WA)

12. "Pennyroyal Tea" – 3:30

• From the studio session for In Utero (February 12-26, 1993 at Pachyderm Studios, Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Producer: Steve Albini)

13. "Marigold" (Dave Grohl) (Heart-Shaped Box single b-side) – 2:34

14. "Sappy" – 3:26

• From a band practice demo tape (February 5, 1994 at Pavilhão Dramatico, Cascais, Portugal)

15. "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" (Eugene Kelly/Frances McKee) – 3:57

• Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1994 in Seattle, WA)

16. "Do Re Mi" – 4:24

• Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1993 or 1994 in Seattle, WA)

17. "You Know You're Right" – 2:30

• Cobain's boombox-recorded home demo (1991 or 1992 in Olympia, WA or Los Angeles, California?)

18. "All Apologies" – 3:33

Disc 4: DVD

• Rehearsal at bass player Krist Novoselic's mother's house, Aberdeen, Washington in 1988.

1. "Love Buzz" – 2:32

2. "Scoff" – :47

3. "About a Girl" – 3:05

4. "Big Long Now" – 4:22

5. "Immigrant Song" (Jimmy Page/Robert Plant) – 1:57

6. "Spank Thru" – 3:03

7. "Hairspray Queen" – 3:37

8. "School" – 2:53

9. "Mr. Moustache" – 3:47

• 23 June 1989 Rhino Records, Los Angeles, California

10. "Big Cheese" – 3:13

• 16 February 1990, Bogarts, Long Beach, California

11. "Sappy" – 4:27 [mislisted as track 12 on the cover]

• Early version of song/early music video, while on Sub Pop

12. "In Bloom" – 4:28 [mislisted as track 11 on the cover]

• 22 September 1990, the Motor Sports International Garage, Seattle, Washington

13. "School" – 2:33

• 11 October 1990, North Shore Surf Club, Seattle, Washington

14. "Love Buzz" (Robbie van Leeuwen) – 3:40

• 17 April 1991, OK Hotel, Seattle, Washington

15. "Pennyroyal Tea" [First ever performance] – 1:55

16. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" [First ever performance] – 6:16

17. "Territorial Pissings" – 2:45

• 31 October 1991, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington

18. "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" (Eugene Kelly/Frances McKee) – 3:32

• 4 October 1992, The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle Washington

19. "Talk to Me" – 3:35

• 22 January 1993 BMG Ariola Studios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

20. "Seasons in the Sun" (Terry Jacks) – 3:40

Alternate versions of "Lounge Act" and "All Apologies" are also featured on the DVD menus.

Chart positions

Sales

• American Sales 1 million, (Certified 1x Platinum 12/17/04)
• Japanese sales 5 December 2004, 9 weeks, 54,823.

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2008)

• Additional music is featured in the DVD menus, including: a working rough mix of Lounge Act recorded during the Nevermind sessions; a jam recorded at the October 1992 session which yielded Rape Me from Disc 3 of the boxset; two separate portions of a 20-minute jam recorded at Nirvana's final recording session on January 30, 1994 at Robert Lang's Studios in Washington; a sped-up version of the acoustic demo of All Apologies from Disc 3 of the boxset; and the audio from a short jam featured in the 1988 rehearsal on the DVD.
• Additional video is also included in the DVD menus and credits, specifically, pre-Nirvana footage Cobain made of himself, the band traveling on the road, home video recorded by Cobain of his art, the band playing an October 1990 concert in the UK, outtakes from the video shoots for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Come as You Are", and footage of a January 1992 photo shoot of the band.
• "Easter eggs" are hidden throughout the DVD with even more video footage.
• The box for With The Lights Out incorporates Thermo-Chrome printing. The back and inner fold of the box appears to be almost black, but changes to reveal a picture full of reel tape boxes and recording sheets when exposed to heat

References

External links

• Nirvanabox.com - The official site promoting the release of With the Lights Out.
• The Internet Nirvana Fan Club's report on the settlement of the Nirvana lawsuit, September 30, 2002