Most people who know me, know that I am relgiously devoted to Pearl Jam, and I have been sicne I was about 12, so as a Christmas gift, I dished out loads of copies of this album which included an inlay booklet which I wrote - outlining my personal perspective to a lot of the songs. I fished it out to send to The Space Cadet, and decided that it would be quite fitting if I uploaded it to the blog.
The descriptions were written ina rush, and are shirt enough to include in an Inlay booklet, but they tell a few stories if anybodies interested.
1. Once from Ten
This is how the first Album started. What a start. Heavier than usual from Pearl Jam, but bursting with the power.
This was song two on the demo tape that Stone Gossard (Rhythm Guitarist) sent to the then unknown Eddie Vedder. Eddie then overdubbed the vocals to create a three track mini opera similar to his hero Pete Townsend of the who. The opera (Known as the mamasan trilogy), tells the story of a boy who find out his father is actually his step father and that his real father was a family friend who died when he was young. (See track 2.) He is confused, so goes on a killing spree (This track), then ends up on death row (Footsteps, and early B-side)
2. Alive from Ten
An absolute classic, and their first single. Usually in the top ten of greatest rock songs of all time, greatest guitar solos
etc. It deserves every merit, but as a result, it's hardly ever played by Pearl Jam (Although it was resurrected in the Vote
for Change tour)
This is Act 1 of the Mini Opera, and tells the story of Eddie Vedder's childhood. He hated his step father and didn't discover he knew his real father until after he was dead. The solo is unbelievable and single handedly sealed Pearl Jam a place in rock history. Mike McCready (Who was a heavy drug user throughout much of their early career), can be heard playing almost the same solo on track 2 of disc 2
3.Evenflow from Ten
Pearl Jam's third single. Another classic that MTV overplay to this day. One killer riff in a foot to the floor rocker makes sure that Ten (Their first album) still sells around 5,000 copies a week in the US alone. This is still a live staple. Along with Track 17 on Disc 2, this is an opportunity for Mike McCready to show off. It's an ongoing challenge to him to see how fast he can play the solo, any of the live bootlegs with this on will prove that he hits the mark most nights. (Glasgow being an exceptional example). In the Last live DVD he is in physical muscle pain afterwards.
4. Jeremy from Ten
A song destroyed by MTV. To this day(13 years after it's release) it is still played at least twice a day on American MTV. This is probably the least played live song in Pearl Jam's canon. This tells the true story of a school kid that was bullied and walked into school one day and shot himself in front of the class. Pre-Columbine, this proved from the onset that Pearl Jam were going to be political. The song sounds out of place now, but it did make sure that they never made a video ever again, to ensure that MTV couldn't get their music
5. State Of Love and Trust
One of the many songs not good enough to make it onto the first album, this is a favourite among many fans, mainly because it's the opening track to their MTV Unplugged performance, if not considered to be their best ever performance, certainly they're best ever videoed performance. MTV still refuse to release the DVD. This version finally surfaced in Cameron Crowe's (Of Jerry McGuire fame) “singles” movie. This was probably the first song I ever played live on the guitar. Unfortunately to many grandmother's horrors it was at a school Brass Band concert.
6.Animal from VS
The second single from their second album, this was actually a left over riff from even before Eddie was in the band. Eddie Vedder wanted the call this album “5 against 1”, but Sony thought it was too confrontational. (He didn't have enough clout in those days). Instead he wrote the lyrics to this song.
7. Go from VS
The first single from their second album, this did two things. It confirmed that the second album was going to be as powerful
and radio friendly as the first. It also showed the start of Pearl Jam's ongoing with the Music Industry, the single was released as a CD, a 7” Vinyl, a Tape and a 12” vinyl with free gift, ensuring that it wasn't eligible for the singles charts. In the UK, it came with a sticker which said:
“This release is not eligible for the Charts”
8. Dissident from VS
Fourth single from the second album, a fairly standard rocker. Pearl Jam wanted to release a live album, but Sony advised against it. Their contract allowed them to choose their B-sides, so the single came in four different versions (Ensuring that it couldn't get into the charts), each version had 8 B-sides to make up an entire concert. (Fox theatre Atlanta Georgia: April 4th 1994) Fox theatre is a classic concert which showcased much of the material from Vitalogy and Marked a turning point in Pearl Jam's career.
9 Rearviewmirror from VS
Another Classic, possibly my favourite rocker in their canon. The song is one riff played over and over again, yet the tension of the song builds and builds. Pearl Jam are very good at this, but its very difficult to achieve. (See also Track 1 Disc 2) The song also marks the departure of Pearl Jam's second drummer (They go through more drummers than Spinal Tap). The drum stick sound at the end of the track is his frustration after an argument with Eddie Vedder about how the drums should sound in the performance. I think the performance is fine! He refused to do another take.
“Saw things...clearer...once you...were in my...rearviewmirror!”
10. Spin the Black Circle from Vitalogy
I remember getting this single on the day it came out. We were in deep shock. Suddenly Pearl Jam had allowed Eddie Vedder to play guitar, and they had become a punk new wave band. I was forced to move my devotions from 70's rock to punk over night. It required reacquainting myself with my Who collection. This is the 3rd album, and possibly the greatest 3rd album since Led Zep III. This transformed the band from Radio friendly High Quality rockers to something altogether different. This halfed their fanbase, and provided them with Major longevity. Some fans call this their first album.
11. Corduroy from Vitalogy
Another Vedder penned live staple. How they get from haunting intro to angry shouting is quite bizarre. It shouldn't work but
for some reason it does. This is possibly due to long time producer and friend Brandan O'Brien. This was played almost every nigt on the tour. Eddie loves it but Mike is bored with it. Its an ongoing joke in the band.
Mike's only allowed to play Yellow Ledbetter if Eddies allowed to play corduroy.
12. Not for You from Vitalogy
“Restless souls enjoy your youth” This is from the bible. I remember once the school chaplain quoted it in assembly, a lot of good it did, cos at the same time Eddie was telling me it was not for me. Sony got this as the single. They wanted Nothingman and Betterman. If they thought the second album was too confrontational then they must have given up by this point. This is Eddie's message to the press and media, who were getting on his back a little.
13. I got Shit
Now we're talking. This is the result of a drunken night between Ed and Neil Young during the recording of Neil Young's mirrorball album, it was released as a double B-Side (as opposed to a double A side), called Merkinball. The song, as with many, is made up as they go along. Neil Young's guitar, is just phenomenal, the passion, the power, you can almost smell the dust on this very old guitar. Eddies lyrics are some of the best ever. (Could be the Brandy)
“If just once I could feel love stare back at me.”
14. Hail Hail from No Code
A rare heavy number from No Code. The album is actually full of Code. An in joke in the Pearl Jam camp. It contains Morse
code of Pearl Jam, Polaroid photos on the cover which come together to make a huge “No Code Logo” Backwards singing overlaid on the track. The CD has some ouja board style coding system etc. Following the tradition laid down by Led Zeppelin, the cover doesn't contain the name Pearl Jam, except in various coded forms.
15. Do the Evolution from Yield
Another rocker, from the fifth album, and the second Pearl Jam song to have a video(This time it was a controversial video by famous cartoonist Todd McFarlane, so MTV couldn't play it) Here Eddie takes the persona of a Dumb white American.
“I'm the first mammal to wet my pants, Its evolution baby”
16. Save You from Riot Act
This is one of only two songs from their seventh Album. Most of the album is a tribute to Eddie's favourite Politician George
W. Bush, but this is him working out some frustration after his wife left him. He manages to quote himself on this song, possibly a reference to how times have changed:
“don't go on me now”
See Track 7 Disc 1.
1. Black
If Alive put them in rock history, Black ensured they're longevity. Black is a contender for greatest song of lost love ever
recorded. The song remains as heart felt and fresh today as it always has.
The song like rearviewmirror(Track 9. Disc 1.) is a slow build with very little song. The money shot within the beautiful lyrics is:
“i know someday you'll have a beautiful life, i know you'll be a star, in somebody else's sky, but why
why, why can't it be, why can't it be mine? “
OUCH!!!
2. Breath
This song wasn't goods enough to make it onto Ten. It was used on the “singles” soundtrack instead. The killer line is:
“oh, if i knew where it was i would take you there”
The intro to the song is so difficult that Stone Gossard won't play it live. As Eddie once said
“He hasthe balls to wear plaid trousers and a cowboy hat, but won't play Breath live”
3. Daughter from Versus
A great quiet number from the second album, this is a live staple, played at almost every full show.
The outro becomes a Jam every night, where Eddie improvises words, sings words to a cover or uses it as a political platform, possibly the most bizarre being War by Edwin Starr.
4. Elderly Woman behind the counter in a small Town from VS
This waltz in 3/4 time is probably the first purely acoustic song that Pearl Jam wrote. The song was made up as they went along while Stone Gossard was playing the chords to tune up. It was the start of the songs, like much of No Code and the later albums where Eddie is lost in some small town, not sure who he is anymore or who he knows. Its also officially the longest title in the pearl jam song book.
5. Immortality from Vitalogy
A wonderful acoustic number in an album which only a die hard fan can listen to all the way through. This was possibly the
first time we had rootsy acoustic soloing from Mike McCready which would resurface on the later albums. When played live, especially acoustic, the outro is extended and is absolute genius. The lyrics tell of Eddie's frustration at life in the public eye and the death of Kust Cobain, ironically, this was the album that took them out of the public eye:
“as privileged as a whore...victims in demand for public show “
6. Betterman from Vitalogy
This was written in 1988, when Eddie was a teenager fighting with his wife-beating step father. The song has since become a classic. Its first performance was at the famous Fox Theatre Atlanta show, (See Track 8, Disc 1.) where it was introduced as:
“This is a new song….., but eh, it was written a long time ago. This is dedicated to the bastard that married my mother”
7. Nothingman from Vitalogy
Word and music written by Jeff Ament( Bass Player), this is everything a beautiful song should be. Simple, wonderful lyrics,
rousing chorus. I think song tells the story of Andy Wood who was the singer of Mother Love Bone (Jeff and Stones previous band), who died of a heroin overdose.
“walks on his own...with thoughts he can't help thinking... “
This is another one Sony wanted to be a single.
8. Who you are from No Code
Another first single. This one was another shock, after the change of style that was Vitalogy, this single gave us the rootsy acousticness that would be most of the fourth album.This song has never been played live, possibly because of it's reliance on harmonized vocals.
9. Off he Goes from No Code
Second single from NoCode, their fourth album. This is Eddie in Neil Young mode.
No Code is probably my favourite Pearl Jam album, its the least accessible and that may be why, its the most bare and honest. This style of song has become standard Vedder fare, around the campfire, beautiful songs about being lost somewhere on a road.
10. Given to Fly from Yield
First single from the 5th album, and the first song I managed to get on mp3 before it was released. This marked the beginning of Pearl Jam's relaxed adult stage. The music is supposed to be like a wave. I remember this vividly live, jumping up and down at the correct times etc, Eddie made sure we were okay:
“Everybody up, no one down”, then managed to forget the words. 27 days later 9 people died in Denmark during the same tour. The intro is almost a direct homage (French for rip off) of “Going to California” by Led Zeppelin
11.Wishlist from Yield
The second single from the 5th album. Another bizarre song from Eddie, this is now used a political platform. At the time I couldn't really work out what point there was in wishlist, but you learn to trust Pearl Jam. The song now usually contains ad lib about the president.
“I wish I was the president, I would stand down”
“I wish I was the president, I would bring the troops home”
12. Last Kiss
Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament found the original (Written by Wayne Cochran) on a 45” in a jumble sale. He decided it was such a heart felt song that PJ covered it and released it for Kosovan Refugees.It tells the story of the Last Kiss between a teenager and his dying girlfriend, and how he will have to be good, so that he can meet his baby in heaven.Despite being the least Pearl Jam song of all time, this is Pearl Jam's best selling single of all time. (Selling even more than Alive)
13. Nothing as it seems
The first single from Binaural (Album 6.). This is one of the few songs written solely by the Bass player Jeff Ament.
The song sounds like dirge to me, the muddy production doesn't help. I was studying hard in third year when this first came
out, and I played it over and over till I liked it. Its only got two chords, but the string bending mastery of Mike McCready
would even make B.B. King jealous.
WARNING! PINK FLOYD MOMENT: To the naysayers of Binaural technology, listen to this on head phones. The solo's are placed in the centre of your head.
14. Light Year from Binaural
This was the second single from pearl Jam's sixth album. Binaural was the worst received album that Pearl Jam made, and the
hardcore fans continue to discus what is “Wrong” with it. The answer is that it was recorded binaurally, so should be
listened to on headphones. When it is listen to on speakers it sounds a little muddy. I don't have a problem with muddy, they
are a grunge band after all.This is a pretty standard Stone Gossard written slow number, it contains the wonderful line:
“we were but stones, your light made us stars”
15. I am mine from Riot Act
Eddie Vedder's first response to 9/11, and the first single from their 7th album. This returns to the sentiments of Alive (Track 2 Disc 1). The only thing that we own is our mind, and no one has any rights to change it. As always with the first hint of a new album, this took a while to grow on me, but now I love it. Yet again it's a new style for Pearl Jam, who manage to grow with every album. It approaches Irish Drinking song in places and is the most radio friendly they've been in years, but the profound subject matter proves that the same Pearl Jam is never far away.
16. Man of the hour
The newest track on the whole compilation, this was written for Eddie's friend Tim Burton after seeing the last mix of his film “Big Fish” It should be apparent by now that Eddie has “father issues”. It's a pretty nice song, and was the first material released outside of the Sony Label. Pearl Jam at time of writing don't have a record contract, so watch this space.
17. Yellow Ledbetter
Probably Pearl Jam's most popular song. Eddie Vedder couldn't finish the lyrics in time to put it on the first album. This recorded version had only ever been released as a B-side until this year. Despite not existing in Mainstream release, this
song has been requested at almost every performance Pearl Jam have ever made, usually closing the show. The version played in Glasgow in 2000 last about 12 minutes.
The song is loosely based/stolen from Little wing by Hendrix, who is Mike McCready's (Lead Guitar) hero. Eddie Vedder still
hasn't finished the words, they are constantly changing, recently they have included the line:
“You don't know if your sons and daughters are coming home in a box or in a bag” - A reference to Iraq.
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