In Utero is easily my favorite Nirvana record. I have always been a fan of melodic noise and this record really has it all. The vinyl is very common and I would like to share my experience in acquiring this wonderful record and breaking down it's many formats and versions.First off, this was my very first Nirvana vinyl. I hunted it down by calling numerous record stores throughout the Dallas metroplex. I basically called asking the retailers if they carried Nirvana records. All of them said yes... so I was ready to pounce. Then I realized I needed to be very specific and say either vinyl or LP. Then my search started to dry up. This was the summer of 1994. And In Utero had been out for over 6 months and Kurt had just passed. So not only was I behind the ball on this one, but most the stores in Dallas only carried CD's or Import Bootlegs. No vinyl.
Luckily I found a small mom and pop store that carried a few pieces of vinyl. I spoke to the own and he said he actually had a few Nirvana "records". So my friend Michael and I halled over their with his mom to purchase something... we were only 14. Sure enough the owner had a few records. Well In Utero was the only one I purchased. I can't remember if he had Bleach or Nevermind. But I was all about the In Utero release. It was the import version from Holland. I remember the sticker and everything. It was black vinyl and it was officially the first vinyl LP I ever bought. Great score!
Fast forward to a few years ago. Maybe 2004. I really start picking up my collecting again... I was working for a record label and it really spawned my interests in vinyl again. CD's are pretty much dead and downloading is the hot thing. During this year I toured a bit for my own project Dogme 95 (just a small solo thing). But this did take me across the USA twice and the UK once. Loads of down time to shop for records.
While I was in New York I stopped at a record store on Bleeker Street and found an interesting version of In Utero. It was the "10th Anniversary Picture Disc". I was most excited about seeing the bonus track listed on the vinyl. "Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flowing Through the Strip." I had heard the song before, but had no idea it was released on vinyl at the time. Unfortunately, I realized this was a bit of a scam... because the picture disc does not include the track. But the disc is nice and I believe it was made in Mexico. I paid $19.99.Fast forward to the end of last year, I start reading more and more about the legendary "Albini Mix" of In Utero. Supposedly "Heart Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" were pulled from a different master during a German repressing in 2003. I dig around online to find a few people selling this mix. It was a risky purchase because I thought there was no way just two songs fell under a different mix from the rest of the record. Anyways I scored one for around $50 on ebay and waited to hear it.
Once I got the vinyl in the mail. I rushed to open it. I started the record at the beginning and it sounded the same as the original release. But then as it played out to "Heart Shaped Box" the sound changed drastically. It is still the same song. But the guitar's volume starts out lower and the drums have a very "live room" sound. It actually sounds entirely live with very little over dubs. Hence the Albini Mix. The most exciting part is the solo... it rips and the tremolo distortion sounds amazing! I was happy. Then I progressed to the end of the record to "All Apologies". This version is still different but not quite so drastic. The most noticeable changes come towards the end... "the all in all is all we are part". The noisy guitar is nasty and the cello is louder and warmer. Granted this is just a different mix, but it is kind of nerdy difference. Much like finding old Beatles albums in Mono.
I hope you enjoy In Utero as much as I do. And feel free to ask any questions in regards to these releases. This record also comes in Clear vinyl as well. You should pay anywhere between $20-50 for this release.
Enjoy!
Nick
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Hey Nick... I enjoyed your post on the "In Utero" LP. I've been wandering the web looking for info on the Albini mixes, when halfway through your post, I realized that I think we've met, briefly, at SCD in Bloomington for a label summit when you were working for that record label. I was the account manager for the manufacturing arm of that company. Anyway, I dig the blog... good stuff!
ReplyDeleteIt is an incredibly good album, it was one of my first albums that I bought. The first was the bleach.
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