''Singles'' is a

box set A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists ...

by the American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band

Nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...

, released in Europe in November 1995.

Background

The box set was produced in response to unofficial versions of it that had been released previously.

Content

The box set contains all six

CD single A CD single is a single (music), music single in the form of a compact disc (CD). Originally the ''CD single'' standard (as defined in the Rainbow Books, Red Book) was an 8 cm (3-inch) "mini CD" (''CD3''); later on the term referred to any si ...

s from the band's two

Geffen Records Geffen Records (formerly The David Geffen Company from 1980 to 1992 and Geffen Records Inc. from 1993 to 2004) is an American record label, founded in late 1980 by David Geffen. Originally a music subsidiary of the company known as Geffen Pi ...

-released studio albums, ''

Nevermind ''Nevermind'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana (band), Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991, by DGC Records. It was Nirvana's first release on a Record label#Major versus independent record labels, major label an ...

'', released in September 1991, and ''

In Utero The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until bir ...

'', released in September 1993.Nirvava- Singles Boxset Review
sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013. It includes "

Smells Like Teen Spirit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, '' Nevermind'' (1991), released on DGC Records. Having sold over 13 million units worldwide, it i ...

", " Come as You Are", "

Lithium Lithium (from , , ) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard temperature and pressure, standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the ...

" and "

In Bloom "In Bloom" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the second track on the band's second album, ''Nevermind'', released by DGC Records in September 1991. The ''Nevermind'' version ...

", released from 1991 to 1992 to promote ''Nevermind'', and "

Heart-Shaped Box "Heart-Shaped Box" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the third track on the band's third and final studio album, '' In Utero'', released by DGC Records in September 199 ...

" and the

double A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...

All Apologies "All Apologies" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the final track on the band's third and final studio album, '' In Utero'', released by DGC Records in September 1993. The song ...

"/"

Rape Me "Rape Me" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the fourth song on the band's third and final studio album, '' In Utero'', released in September 1993. Often interpreted as a commenta ...

", released in 1993 to promote ''In Utero''. It does not include the planned third ''In Utero'' single, "

Pennyroyal Tea "Pennyroyal Tea" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the ninth track on the band's third and final studio album, ''In Utero'', released in September 1993. In November 1993, the song w ...

", which was canceled after the death of vocalist and guitarist

Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – ) was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana (band), Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establis ...

in April 1994. Although released in Europe, the ''Nevermind'' singles are the American versions, with the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single lacking the studio version of "

Drain You "Drain You" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It is the eighth track on their second album, ''Nevermind'', released in September 1991. The song was released as a promotional single in late 19 ...

," and the "Lithium" single lacking the band's cover of

the Wipers Wipers was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Greg Sage, along with drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. The group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion were hailed as e ...

song "D-7," both of which appeared on the European versions of those singles. "In Bloom" and the two ''In Utero'' singles were not released in the US. All singles appear in slimline jewel cases.

Promotion

The song " Marigold" received some airplay on US alternative and

active rock Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock stations play a balance of new hard rock songs with valued classic rock favorites, normally with an emphasis on the harder edge o ...

radio in 1996, after it appeared on the

import An importer is the receiving country in an export from the sending country. Importation and exportation are the defining financial transactions of international trade. Import is part of the International Trade which involves buying and receivin ...

release of the ''Singles'' box set as the B-side to the "Heart-Shaped Box" single. KROQ Music Director Lisa Worden, introduced “Marigold” to the radio waves after discovering the B-side on the single in the import box set. The song was then picked up by alternative radio stations in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. Despite the spontaneous success of the song, Geffen Records and the song writer, Nirvana drummer

Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...

, refused to capitalize on it and made it known that copies of the song would not be sent out to radio stations to promote airplay.

Track listing

All tracks written by

, except when noted. CD1: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" #"

" (edit) (Cobain/ Grohl/ Novoselic) – 4:39 #"Even in His Youth" – 3:06 #"

Aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward :wikt:bulge, bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also b ...

" (Cobain/Grohl/Novoselic) – 4:46 CD2: "Come as You Are" #" Come as You Are" – 3:39 #" Endless, Nameless" (Cobain/Grohl/Novoselic) – 6:43 #"School" Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington">Paramount Theatre (Seattle, Washington)">Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington; October 31, 1991] – 4:18 #"

" ive, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington; October 31, 1991– 5:01 CD3: "In Bloom" #"

" – 4:14 #" Sliver" (Cobain/Novoselic) ive, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California">Del_Mar_Fairgrounds.html" ;"title="ive, Del Mar Fairgrounds">ive, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California; December 28, 1991] – 2:15 #"Polly (Nirvana song), Polly" [live, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California; December 28, 1991] – 3:00 CD4: "Lithium" #"

" – 5:02 #" Been a Son" ive, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington; October 31, 1991– 2:02 #"Curmudgeon" – 1:31 CD5: "Heart-Shaped Box" #"

" – 4:38 #" Milk It" – 3:54 #" Marigold" (Grohl) – 2:34 CD6: "All Apologies/Rape Me" #"

" – 3:47 #"

" – 2:51 #"Moist Vagina" – 3:59

Chart performance

Despite being a box set of six separate

s the release was eligible to chart on the

Danish Singles Chart Hitlisten (), formerly known as Tracklisten, is a Danish top 40 record chart that is updated every Wednesday at midnight on the website hitlisten.nu. The weekly Danish singles chart combines the 40 best-selling tracks from streaming and legal mus ...

, remaining in the Top 20 for 11 weeks and peaking at number 5. The release was also eligible to chart on the

French Singles Chart SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

, remaining on the chart for 8 weeks and peaking at number 17. The release peaked at number 15 on the Australian Kent Music album chart and remained on the chart for a total of twelve weeks.

Charts

''Singles'' was eligible to chart on the singles chart in

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

and

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, and on the albums chart in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. Singles charts Album charts

References

{{Authority control Compilation albums published posthumously Nirvana (band) compilation albums 1995 compilation albums Geffen Records compilation albums