Rarities #1: Nirvana Singles Box Set (1995)

I've been busy over the past few days documenting my music collection. It's not complete yet, but I at least have some photographs now to showcase on this site. The stuff that will be featured here are many of my prized possessions and I hope to share them with you.

There will be 2 types of items featured here: Rarities and Collectibles. Rarities are, as the name implies, stuff that are rare and you cannot find them for sale anywhere in Singapore now, and I mean, anywhere in Singapore. Trust me, I've walked the whole Singapore to find out. Collectibles are stuff that are quite rare, but not that rare that you cannot find them now.

With that in mind, here's the first Rarity: the Nirvana Singles Box Set, released in 1995. As you know, Nirvana is the biggest grunge band ever and they marked the transition from pop to grunge with their Nevermind album in 1991, famously kicking Michael Jackson's Dangerous album off the #1 spot.

This box set contains 6 of the singles from their Nevermind and In Utero (1993) albums: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, In Bloom, Lithium (all from Nevermind), Heart-Shaped Box and All Apologies (from In Utero).

Of course, this box set is value-for-money as the singles contain previously-unreleased material and live tracks, unlike many of the singles today, which often contain dance remixes or B-sides that really deserve not to be released. Nirvana are at their best when they perform live, and here we get live versions of School, Drain You, Sliver, Polly and Been A Son.

There are also unreleased cuts of Even In His Youth, Aneurysm (then-unreleased), Curmudgeon, Marigold (written by Dave Grohl) and yes, Moist Vagina (code-named MV). In fact, the All Apologies single was banned in Singapore I believe as it contains the aforementioned track (MV) as well as the song Rape Me. Rape Me appeared on the In Utero album and likewise, the album was banned in Singapore for many years.

Of course, many of the tracks are now available on the With The Lights Out box set (2004), which takes a complete look at Nirvana's history, including a DVD of super rare performances.

This Singles box set contains Nirvana's biggest hits and it is one of my most treasured possessions, thus explaining it being the first featured item here. Nirvana was the first band that I listened to seriously and it's a pity Kurt Cobain committed suicide in April 1994. Who knows what the music scene would be like if they're still around now?