Introduction
Acknowledgements
Key To Recording Chronology Entries
General Recording Chronology
Attack: 1988-1992
Sustain: 1993-1996
Decay: 1997-2000
Television and Radio Performances
Appendix A: Unreleased Live Recordings
Appendix B: Unsolved Mysteries and Otherwise
Online References
The Smashing Pumpkins are arguably one of the greatest American rock
bands of the 1990s. They initially-- and to this day-- made music for
themselves, as opposed to the Goth and Industrial scenes in Chicago
during the late 1980s, or even the Pop and Hair Metal that dominated
the nationwide charts. Despite composing music completely unique and
genuine, The Smashing Pumpkins were labeled as a psychedelic/grunge
band and were brought into the limelight in 1992, along with the rush
of other acts that were paradoxically labeled as "Alternative" bands;
the aforementioned labels would be oversimplifying The Smashing
Pumpkins' output, spanning over a decade and roughly 400 songs.
As well as a tremendous live act, The Smashing Pumpkins also
recorded albums of quality far superior to that of their contemporaries.
I personally maintain that The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the only
remaining rock bands who use the recording studio to it's fullest,
joining the likes of Radiohead and The Flaming Lips to create records
that defy conventional rock and roll and cross the inconceivable barrier
into Art-Rock. Only a musical group of this magnitude would make their
third studio release a conceptual, double-album! The Smashing Pumpkins Recording Sessions attempts to chronicle the
recordings of The Smashing Pumpkins, including: studio recording
sessions, home and studio demos, radio sessions, television
performances, and concert performances that have been officially
released. This document has been compiled from a number of sources, not
infrequently utilizing mere speculation; thus this document often
contains entries that are pure conjecture. Unless I am invited to
examine and document the band's mastertapes in the Virgin vaults
sometime in the near future, the conjecture will have to do! This
reveals the importance of the contributions by you, the dear reader; if
you have any information that could be useful in the SPRS, please e-mail
me-- of course you will be recognized for your bravery.
The Smashing Pumpkins Recording Sessions was originally compiled in
1996; it was finally uploaded onto the World Wide Web two years later,
in the January of 1998. The format of the SPRS was inspired the Nirvana
Recording Sessions and Song List, by John Loughney. The SPRS was last
updated in July, 2000. The latest version can be found at:
The following souls should be recognized for their contributions to the Smashing Pumpkins Recording Sessions, whether they like it or not:
Eric Agnew, Dave Asselin, Simon Coyle, Karl Daher, Steve Hemming,
David Mead, Josh Provost, and all others in the online Smashing Pumpkins
community; if were not for their enlightening sites and gracious
information, the community would not be where it is now.
Mark Ignoffo, Neil Perry, and Ron Roesing for providing the
desperately needed, first-hand perspective on the recordings of The
Smashing Pumpkins. I cannot accurately describe how important their
information has been, and I am honored to have had the chance to hear
from them.
And to all the others who have provided the vital information that
kept this document alive for the past two years: Carmen Diane Dodge,
Matt Galek, Mike Harmon, Christopher Hill, Marquis, Moonkids, Clint,
John, Tim, Ville, and Zach.
One final shout-out to Mason Butler for providing the webspace and
html editing for this document, as well as putting up with my constant
barrage of Smashing Pumpkins-related rantings, ravings, and theories
over the past five years. Rawk on, Stereo Sonic!
Date - Studio, Location (Producer/Engineer)
Released song
** Unreleased song
*C Unreleased song; available through commercial bootleg CDs
*T Unreleased song; available through tape trading
?* Unsure of exact information
NOTE: Additional information is sometimes provided.
1988 - Billy's father's home studio, Chicago
** Breathe
** It Suites Me Well [The Vigil]
** Heart / Cross
NOTE: An early demo called Nothing Ever Changes. The lineup
included: Billy, James, and Ron Roesing (formerly of The Marked) on
drums; this could be viewed as the very first recording that ceased
to be The Marked and became The Smashing Pumpkins. Heart and Cross
were originally two separate songs, but were joined together into
one. It Suits Me Well is actually The Vigil.
Although a tape exists as the aforementioned 3-song configuration,
The original Nothing Ever Changes was about 60 minutes in length and
was Billy's first attempt at a full-length album; it contained a
combination of songs, spoken word selections (recalled as "bad
poetry"), and instrumentals.
1988 - Billy's father's home studio, Chicago
*T Break [My Dahlia]
*T There It Goes
*T Under Your Spell
?* Armed To The Teeth
?* Screaming
?* Sun
?* Holiday
?* I Fall
NOTE: About 12 songs were recorded by Billy and James, using a drum
machine. My Dahlia was at this time titled Break; Sun was called
Death of a Mind and featured an alternate chorus.
Late 1988 - Reel Time Studios, Chicago (Mark Ignoffo)
Sun
My Dahlia
*T East
NOTE: The first of many recordings with Mark Ignoffo, as the
sessions were described as an "on-going project." Sun and My Dahlia
were recorded and put on the Light Into Dark compilation. This
recording of Sun was later remixed by Quentin Sanbria and put on the
first demo tape.
Late 1988 - Schwa Productions, Chicago (Quentin Sanbria/Paul Chabala)
*C East
*C Jennifer Ever
*C Nothing and Everything
*C Spiteface
NOTE: Sessions for the first demo tape, aptly titled The Smashing
Pumpkins. Also included was a live version of She, and a remixed
version of Sun from the Ignoffo Sessions. The master tapes of this
session have apparently been lost, as they are no longer in the
band's possession.
1989 - Reel Time Studios, Chicago (Billy Corgan/Mark Ignoffo)
Bye June
Daughter
Honeyspider
Honeyspider (alternate)
I Am One
Not Worth Asking
*C Bury Me
*C C'mon
*C Daydream
*C Egg
*C Love (old demo version)
*C Psychodelic
*C Rhinoceros
*C Rhinoceros (alternate)
*C Snap (If I Could)
*C Stars Fall In
*C With You
** Cinnamon Girl
NOTE: These sessions spawned both the second demo tape Moon, and
what is known as the Gish Basement Tape, a promotional cassette used
for bookings and label solicitation in 1989 and 1990. A few others
were officially released elsewhere: I Am One and Not Worth Asking
appeared on the Limited Potential 7"; Bye June was officially
released on the Lull EP and was also included on Moon; Daughter was
released on the Reflex Magazine flexi-disc and also included on
Moon. Two versions of Honeyspider were recorded: a distorted,
rocking version was released on the Tristessa 12" and a quieter,
clean-toned version was put on Moon, but remains officially
unreleased. Just as well, two unreleased versions of Rhinoceros
were recorded: an odd version with an organ solo played by Mark
Ignoffo was put on Moon, and a version closer to the Gish album
version was put on the Gish Basement Tape.
There is apparently a 21-song tape of this session, containing an
edit of Honeyspider (minus the feedback ending), and a version of
Daughter (with an additional minute and a half of feedback).
1989 - Reel Time Studios, Chicago (Billy Corgan/Mark Ignoffo)
*T A Trip Unto Bountiful [Mother/Waiting]
*T Fat Man Blues
*T I Am One Part II
*T Vanilla
** Bleed
** Waiting For You Know
** Sun (abandoned)
** My Dahlia (abandoned)
** Stray Cat Blues
NOTE: This session was booked to record live-only favorites such as
Razor and I Am My End. Unfortunately Jimmy didn't show up and,
since the studio time was prepaid, it morphed into an acoustic
session. This was noted as a sloppy session with many false starts.
D'Arcy was present but did not perform.
1990 - Chicago demos [?]
*T Jesus Is The Sun
*T Translucent
NOTE: Unsure of exact recording information. May be demos recorded
at home or at rehearsal, rather than at a studio.
1990 - Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin (Billy Corgan & Butch Vig)
La Dolly Vita
Tristessa (Sub-Pop version)
** La Dolly Vita
Summer 1990 - Smart Studio, Madison, WI (BC and Butch Vig)
Jackie Blue
Dec 1990-Mar 1991 - Smart Studios, Madison, WI (BC and Butch Vig)
Blue
Bury Me
Crush
Daydream
I Am One
I'm Going Crazy
Obscured
Rhinoceros
Siva
Slunk
Snail
Suffer
Tristessa
Why Am I So Tired
Window Paine
** Jesus Loves His Babies
** La Dolly Vita
NOTE: Gish was recorded to analog 16-track. To cut costs, each
instrument was recorded separately--drums, bass, then guitars, etc.
It is my guess that Why Am I So Tired is a Gish outtake/jam, based
on the stereophonic division and the general feel of the song. Jesus
Loves His Babies was a Gish outtake, and almost a B-side. A version
of Smiley may have been recorded during this session. Purr Snickety
might have been recorded at this time, rather than during the
Siamese sessions.
1991 - Chicago demos [?]
*T Luna
*T Wave Song
** STP
NOTE: Unreleased demos that all date from this period, although
exact recording information is unknown. "Wave Song" was written and
sung by James.
Spring 1992 - Waterfront Studios, New Jersey
** Drown
NOTE: The band's first of three attempts to record Drown. This one,
recorded at Lenny Kravitz's studio, was scrapped as the output
sounded more like a Kravitz recording!
March 1992 - Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin (BC & Butch Vig)
Drown
** Drown (unfinished)
NOTE: The second attempt to record Drown proved useless, as Jimmy
began drinking as Billy & Butch set up and adjusted the sound; by
the time the band was ready to record, Jimmy was literally falling
of his stool drunk!
Spring 1992 - Billy's old apartment, Chicago (Billy Corgan)
Soothe
** Plume
Spring 1992 - Soundworks, Chicago (Billy Corgan and Kerry Brown)
Bullet Train To Osaka
Hope
Plume
Starla
?* Moleasskiss
Fall 1992 - a Chicago studio [?]
** Quiet
** Kitty Kat [Hello Kitty Kat]
** Cherub Rock
** Suicide Kiss
** Today
** Disarm
** Rocket
** Spaceboy
** Set the Ray to Jerry
** Soma
** Whirl
** Doorstep [Meladori Magpie]
** Pissant
** Tulips
** Hummer
** French Movie Theme
NOTE: This is a tape of Siamese Dream demos submitted to Virgin
Records in 1992, called "Quiet and Other Songs: A Collection of
Songs for Album II." Doorstep is an early version of Meladori
Magpie and featured a full-band arrangement. Suicide Kiss was said
to have evolved into a number of different songs, including Geek
USA. Hello Kitty Kat was at this time simply titled Kitty Kat.
Dec 1992-Mar 1993 - Triclops Sound Studios, Georgia (BC & Butch Vig)
Apathy's Last Kiss
Cherub Rock
Disarm
Frail and Bedazzled
French Movie Theme
Geek USA
Hello Kitty Kat
Hummer
Infinite Sadness
Luna
Mayonaise
Mayonaise (acoustic click track)
Pissant
Pulseczar
Purr Snickety
Quiet
Rocket
Siamese Dream
Silverfuck
Sinfony
Soma
Spaceboy
Spaced
Sweet Sweet
Today
Whir
** Bullet with Butterfly Wings (unfinished version)
** Disarm (electric version)
** Doorstep
** Set the Ray to Jerry
** She Says
** Suicide Kiss
** Tulips
?* Spaceboy (alternate)
NOTE: Despite it's layers of guitar, Siamese dream was recorded more
in a live-band fashion than Gish was. I am guessing Pulseczar and
Sinfony are Siamese outtakes, although they could have been recorded
anytime. Purr Snickety might be a Gish outtake because it was
performed live on 7/21/91, although released as a Siamese B-side and
also registered with BMI during the Siamese Dream period. Contrary
to general belief, Infinite Sadness was recorded during the Siamese
sessions and at that time it was called Mellon Collie! An alternate
acoustic version of Mayonaise (erroneously dubbed a demo) was
included on the 1991-1998 promo; this is actually an alternate mix
of the released studio version, featuring the slightly phased
acoustic click track (which can be heard on the album version
notably at 3:35) and a tambourine. An alternate mix of Hello Kitty
Kat was included on the promo cassette of Siamese Dream, but was
subsequently stricken from the sequencing of the album when that mix
was lost.
Spring 1993 - Soundworks/Smart Studios (BC with B. Vig & Kerry Brown)
Blew Away
Glynis
Summer 1994 - Gravity Studios, Chicago
*T Jellybelly
*T Beautiful One [Ugly]
*T Bullet with Butterfly Wings
*T No Escape [Weeping Willowly]
*T To Forgive Nothing Less
*T Blast
*T Descendo [Mouths of Babes]
*T And I Stumbled [Pennies]
*T Dizzle
*T A/Ab/E/B/F#
*T Rings
*T James Complex Song [So So Pretty]
*T With Longing
*T Straight Ab [Love]
*T Set the Ray to Jerry
*T The Innocents [Galapogos]
*T A Done [Speed]
*T Busy Downtune Bb/G [Lucky Lad]
*T Jackboot
*T New Wave A to G
*T A/B/G Drop A
*T Glamey Glamey [Marquis In Spades]
*T Walking Country
*T Tonight, Tonight
*T The Groover
*T New Wave Echo
*T Pretty Drop A [Millieu]
*T E Drone E/C#/A
*T Disconnected
NOTE: The band booked time at Gravity Studios mid-way through the
Siamese Dream Tour to record demos for their upcoming double album.
All tracks were instrumentals (with the exception of Bullet with
Butterfly Wings, which included a half-hearted scratch vocal), and
thus the recordings seem more of a jam-session. This session was
the source for a number of the Pastichio Medley tracks, as the songs
appear here as they do on the Medley. Most of the tracks also
feature extremely early working titles, some titled simply as their
chord progression. The song New Wave Echo is actually the song
known to bootleggers as Germans in Leather Pants (Shame On You) and,
despite much debate, is an original Pumpkins tune.
sometime in 1993 or 1994 - a studio [?]
?* Moonage Daydream
NOTE: A David Bowie cover recorded for a tribute album that was
ultimately scrapped. There is little to no information available on
this recording.
Fall 1994 - Bugg Studios (James's house), Chicago
Bugg Superstar
NOTE: It is my guess that James recorded Bugg Superstar solo at his
home for Vieuphoria/Earphoria. It is also my guess that there is
more incidental music for Vieuphoria that was unused.
Fall 1994 - Sadlands (Billy's house), Chicago (Billy Corgan)
Blank
Jupiter's Lament
Meladori Magpie
Rotten Apples
Stumbleine
*C Autumn Nocturne
*C Bullet with Butterfly Wings
*C Galapogos
*C Frantic Ab Groove [Groove]
*C Here is not why [Here is no why]
*C Lily (my one and only)
*C Glamey Glamey [Marquis in Spades]
*C Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*C Ropey Lopey [Beautiful]
*C Thirty-Three
*C To Forgive
*C Ugly/Beautiful [Ugly]
*C Wishing You Were
** Feelium
** God
NOTE: This session is what is known as the Mellon Collie Demo Tape.
Oddly enough, all tracks on this tape (except Mellon Collie and
Marquis in Spades) were pretty much registered with BMI in the
running order of the tape (with a few exceptions). This makes the
naming of the unknown songs much easier. The unknown instrumental
seems to be called Groove. The song incorrectly called Strolling
(Running with the leaves/Do as you please) is actually Autumn
Nocturne, and definitely NOT a 1979 demo. The final instrumental,
Ropey Lopey, was eventually incorporated into the interlude of
Beautiful. At this point in time, Here Is No Why was called Here Is
Not Why and Ugly was called Ugly/Beautiful. Marquis in Spades was
at this time called Glamey Glamey (as it was during the Gravity
Sessions), but it has been mis-published as Shamay. Electric demos
for Feelium and God exist, but are not in circulation.
Jan 1995 - a Chicago studio [?]
*T Bullet with Butterfly Wings
*T Set the Ray To Jerry
*T So Very Sad About Us
*T Jellybelly
*T Mouths of Babes
*T Here is no why
*T God
*T Love
*T For Martha (chorus section)
*T Tonight, Tonight
*T Methusela
*T Depresso
*T Zero (alt ver 1)
*T Zero (alt ver 2)
*T Here is no why (lyrics)
*T Cherry
*T Beautiful
*T (unknown)
NOTE: A rehearsal tape, possibly recorded at Pumpkinland or another
Chicago studio, dubbed the Mellon Collie Electric Demos. This tape
was apparently given to D'Acry to learn the then-new songs. Most
tracks are instrumentals, with the exception of Methusela, Here is
no why, and Beautiful that contain a double-tracked vocal.
Mar 1995 - Pumpkinland, Chicago (Flood, Alan Moulder, BC)
NOTE: Before entering a studio to record Mellon Collie, Flood and
the Pumpkins went into Pumpkinland, their Chicago rehearsal space,
to run through all of the new material. This is probably the source
for many of the "Pasticio Medley" songs. Assuming that countless
hours of rehearsal was recorded, (including Mellon Collie tracks,
Mellon Collie B-sides, "Pasticio Medley" songs, unreleased songs,
and miscellaneous jamming) it is impossible to know, let alone list
what was recorded. MTV filmed a few days of rehearsal to be
included in the MTV Rockumentary on The Smashing Pumpkins. Evidence
suggests that video exists of "God" and "Rubberman." A bootleg
video, known as the '666 Video,' has surfaced which apparently is
the film shot by one camera over two days of rehearsal:
Mar 2, 1995 - Pumpkinland, Chicago (Flood, Alan Moulder, BC)
*T The Boy
*T Where Boys Fear To Tread
*T The Viper
*T Tribute To Johnny
*T Porcelina of the Vast Oceans
*T Rachel [early XYU instumental]
Mar 2, 1995 - Pumpkinland, Chicago (Flood, Alan Moulder, BC)
*T Thru the Eyes of Ruby
*T V-8
*T Rachel [early XYU with lyrics]
*T The Black Rider
*T The Tracer
*T Cupid de Locke
*T Zero
Mar-Aug 1995 - Chicago Recording Company (Flood, Alan Moulder, and BC)
Beautiful
Bodies
Bullet with Butterfly Wings
By Starlight
Cherry
Cupid de Locke
Farewell and Goodnight
Fuck You (an ode to no one)
Galapogos
God
Here is no why
In the Arms of Sleep
Jellybelly
Lily (my one and only)
Love
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Muzzle
Porcelina of the Vast Oceans
Set the Ray to Jerry
Take Me Down
Tales of a Scorched Earth
Thirty-Three
Thru the Eyes of Ruby
To Forgive
Tonight, Tonight
Tonite Reprise
Tribute to Johnny
Ugly
We Only Come Out At Night
Where Boys Fear To Tread
XYU
Zero
1979
** A Dog's Prayer
** Feelium
** Jupiter's Lament (with whole band singing)
** Mellon Collie Reprise
** Methusela
** Mouths of Babes
** Phang
** Rock Me
** Spazmatazz
** Speed
** Speed Racer
** Ugly (3 alternate versions)
?* Keep It
NOTE: I am assuming that most of the Mellon Collie tracks were
recorded at CRC, although it is just as possible that some tracks
could have been culled from the Pumpkinland session. Keep It is
rumored to be an unreleased song, or at least evolved into another
song.
March-August 1995 - Bugg Studios, Chicago (James Iha and Kerry Brown)
Believe
Said Sadly
The Boy
May 31, 1995 - Chicago Recording Company; Sequence Four
*T Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*T Tonight Tonight
*T Jellybelly
*T Bullet with Butterfly Wings
*T Fuck You
*T Muzzle
** Zero
** Here is no why
** To Forgive
** Love
** Cupid de Locke
** Galapogos
** Porcelina of the Vast Oceans
** Take Me Down
** Lily (my one and only)
NOTE: On this date, a rough mix of the Mellon Collie album was
created, dubbed Sequence Four. In other words, this tape was
basically what Mellon Collie sounded like as of May 31st. All songs
were rough takes and featured scratch vocals, if any; Galapogos even
featured a solo that was omitted from the final version.
August 1995 - The Village Recorder, LA (Flood, Alan Moulder, & BC)
[all 28 Mellon Collie tracks mixed with overdubs]
Fall 1995 - Soundworks, Chicago (Billy Corgan/Jeff Moleski)
Marquis in Spades
Medellia of the Grey Skies (with The Frogs)
Mouths of Babes
Pennies
Sad Peter Pan (with Red Red Meat)
NOTE: I doubt that all these songs were recorded together at one
session, but is grouped together because they are all post-Mellon
Collie songs.
Fall 1995 - Soundworks, Chicago (Billy Corgan/Jeff Moleski)
NOTE: At this time, Billy complied the sound collage known as
Pasticio Medley. The track consists of 10-second snippets of about
70 unreleased "songs," with a total running time of 23 minutes.
While many of the songs were most likely instrumental jams, it is
equally as possible that a number of the songs were actual
compositions with lyrics and a song structure--a few of the tracks
had already been registered through BMI half a year earlier! The
snippets were compiled from a variety of sources recorded after
Siamese Dream and the completion of Mellon Collie. Pasticio Medley
features, in order of appearance:
The Demon, Thunderbolt, Dearth, Knuckles, Star Song, Fire Power,
New Waver, Space Jam, Zoom, So Very Sad About Us, Phang, Speed
Racer, The Eternal E, Hairy Eyeball, The Groover, Hell Bent For
Hell, Rachel, A Dog's Prayer, Blast, The Black Rider, Slurpee,
Flipper, The Viper, Bitch, Fried, Harmonio, USA, The Tracer,
Envelope Woman, Plastic Guy, Glasgow 3AM, The Road Is Long,
Funkified, Rigamorole, Depresso, The Streets Are Hot Tonight,
Dawn at 16, Spazmatazz, Fucker, In the Arms of Sheep, Speed, 77,
Me Rock You Snow, Feelium, Is Alex Milton, Ruberman, Spacer,
Rock Me, Weeping Willowly, Rings, So So Pretty, Lucky Lad, Jackboot,
Millieu, Disconnected, Let Your Lazer Love Light Shine Down, Phreak,
Porkbelly, Robot Lover, Jimmy James, America, Slinkeepie, Dummy Tum
Tummy, Fakir, Jake, Camaro, Moonkids, Make It Fungus, V-8, and Die.
Mar 1996 - Charing Cross Studios, Australia (BC/Martin White)
The Aeroplane Flies High
The Last Song
Transformer
NOTE: These tracks were recorded in Australia, while on tour.
Further overdubs were recorded later in Chicago. They were mixed,
along with Eye, at Chung King Studios by Neil Perry.
June 1996 - Soundworks, Chicago (Billy Corgan/Jeff Moleski)
Clones
Destination Unknown
Dreaming
My Blue Heaven
You're All I've Got Tonight
June 1996 - Bugg Studios, Chicago (James Iha and Kerry Brown)
A Night Like This
The Bells
June 1996 - Farmer Brown's Studio (D'Arcy's house) (Kerry Brown)
Dreaming (vocal tracks)
NOTE: This session is very conjectural; The time frame is an
estimate and I doubt that all of these songs were recorded
together.
July 1996 - Chicago studio [?]
** Ava Adore
** Daphne Descends
** To Sheila
?* [about 7 more songs]
NOTE: First session for Adore, held shortly after Jimmy's release.
The Pumpkins functioned as a trio during this session. With about
10 songs hastily recorded in a week, the session was scrapped as
the finished product seemed more like demos.
Summer 1996 - Soundworks, Chicago (Billy Corgan/Jeff Moleski)
Eye
** Tear
NOTE: Billy actually recorded two songs for the Lost Highway
Soundtrack. The second was an early version of Tear, which was
rejected.
September 1996 - Chung King, NY (Chris Shepard/Neil Perry & BC)
Lizards
Rats
Spiders
Squirrels with Tails
Worms
Worms (part 2)
NOTE: Recorded in about a week, this was just Billy Corgan and Matt
Walker recording riffs for the Ransom Soundtrack. Billy's scant
vocals were recorded on a mini tape dictaphone recorder.
These songs were curiously copyrighted as Parallel Stories.
December 1996 - The New Hit Factory, NY (Arif Mardin/Michael O'Riley)
Christmastime
Feb 1997 - Chicago Recording Company (Billy Corgan/Chris Shepard)
Annie-Dog
Once In A While
The Ether's Tragic
The Guns of Love Disastrous
** Blissed and Gone
** Chewing Gum
** Do You Close Your Eyes
** For Martha (instrumental)
** My Mistake
** The Beginning is the End is the Beginning
** The End is The Beginning is the End
** The Tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete
?* [about 20 other Adore demos]
?* [about 8 or 10 other Batman demos]
NOTE: The Pumpkins (with Matt Walker) supposedly recorded about 45
minutes worth of demos for the Batman soundtrack, so Guns of Love
and Ethers Tragic are probably from that tape. Roughly 30 demos for
the album Adore were also recorded at this time, so I'm sure both
the Adore and Batman demos where recorded at this session; the album
version of Annie-Dog was drawn from these sessions.
March 1997 - Chicago Recording Company (Nellee Hooper/Chris Shepard)
The Beginning is the End is the Beginning
The End is the Beginning is the End
NOTE: Recorded in Studio 5, which was demolished a few months later.
August-September 1997 - Streeterville Studios, Chicago
NOTE: This session was confirmed, but it is unknown what was
recorded and by whom. This could be part of the Wood sessions,
or somehow related to it. Does anyone have any more info?
Fall 1997 - Chicago Trax Recording and Hinge Chicago (Brad Wood)
Ava Adore
Behold! The Night Mare
Blank Page
Daphne Descends
Tear
To Sheila
NOTE: This session for Adore was originally scrapped, but was
latter used as the basic tracks for the album with overdubs and
such recorded later in California.
Nov-Mar 1998 - Sunset Sound, California (Billy Corgan/Neil Perry)
Appels + Oranjes
Blissed and Gone
Crestfallen
Czarina
For Martha
Once In A While
Once Upon A Time
Perfect
Pug
Shame
Summer
The Tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete
Waiting
17
** Cash Car Star
** Saturnine
?* [7 or 8 more songs]
NOTE: Although Adore was mostly recorded at Studio 2 at Sunset
Sound, many tracks were pieced together from other sessions at:
Battery Studios, Bugg Studios, Chicago Recording Company, Sadlands,
and Village Recorder. Waiting and Saturnine were merely unfinished
song fragments. There are conflicting reports to as how much
material was recorded; it has been suggested that there are
approximately 14 or 15 more finished songs from the Adore sessions,
but Neil Perry says that 40-odd songs or song fragments were
recorded.
March 1998 - Sound City, California (Rick Rubin/Sylvia Massey)
** Let Me Give The World To You
NOTE: The last song recorded for Adore, it was taken off the album
at the last second and remains unreleased. The finished version was
apparently a stripped down arrangement, which included: guitar,
bass, organ, and drums by Joey Waronker.
Late 1998 - Sadlands, Chicago
** If There Is A God
** Blue Skies Bring Tears (alt lyrics ver 1)
** Wound (3/4 time)
** Le Deux Machina (keyboard version)
** Vanity
** Glass and the Ghost Children
** Autumn (instrumental)
** Drain
** Laugh
** Here I Am
** Lover
** Let Me Give The World To You
** Blue Skies Bring Tears (alt lyrics ver 2)
** Speed Kills
NOTE: Acoustic demos for the Machina album, recorded at Billy's
home. The tape includes two lyrically different versions of Blue
Skies Bring Tears, one containing the lyrics from the arrangement of
the song performed during The Arising! Tour in April 1999. Lover is
the song bootlegged as Don't Wanna Be Your Lover or One Less Moment.
Nov 1998-Sept 1999 - Pumpkinland, Chicago (Flood & BC/Howard Willing)
Blue Skies Bring Tears
Glass and the Ghost Children
Heavy Metal Machine
I of the Mourning
Raindrops + Sunshowers
Speed Kills
Stand Inside Your Love
The Everlasting Gaze
The Imploding Voice
The Crying Tree of Mercury
The Sacred and Profane
This Time
Try, Try, Try
With Every Light
Wound
*T Dross
*T Glass Theme
*T Here's To The Atom Bomb
*T If There Is A God
*T Real Love
** Cash Car Star
** Go
** Home
** Let Me Give The World To You
?* Bringing The Weather
?* Death Boogie
?* In My Body
?* Jam 13
?* Saturnine
NOTE: Machina was haphazardly recorded at Pumpkinland over a span of
ten months. Many alternate versions exist of the songs, as the band
consistently toyed with their arrangement. The songs on the final
album often consisted of combinations of a few different
arrangements of each song. In other words, the Machina tracks
continually evolved throughout the year, and the tape was rolling
during their transformation.
Radio was an early incarnation of I of the Mourning, just as Slow
Songs was of Crying Tree of Mercury and Disco King was of The
Everlasting Gaze. The second movement of Glass and the Ghost
Children is actually a bit of the six-minute Le Deux Machina (which
multiple versions exist of). Go is apparently a James song that was
left off the album.
A tape called "Friends and Enemies of Modern Music" has surfaced,
most likely compiled early on during the sessions. The tape
included early mixes and recordings of several Machina tracks (most
with live-band arrangements) as well as soundboard recordings of
Money (That's What I Want) and XYU from the 10/31/98 show. The tape
also included an alternate Heavy Metal Machine with both different
lyrics and a different main riff, and an arrangement of Blue Skies
Bring Tears much like The Arising! version.
Oct 1999 - The Village Recorder, LA (Flood & BC/Howard Willing)
Age of Innocence
NOTE: Recorded at that last second, and tagged onto the album,
possibly as sort of an afterthought. D'Arcy most likely did not
play bass on the song.
July 2000 - Chicago Recording Company
*? Lucky 13
*? White Spiders
NOTE: Sessions for the final Smashing Pumpkins album. The band is
said to be working on unfinished tracks from the Machina Sessions.
The Smashing Pumpkins, like many other bands, have performed nation and
worldwide on various media formats. The following is a chronology of
the band's television and radio performances, along with any concert
performances that have been officially released.
Nov 16, 1988 - WNUR Radio, Evanston, Illinois
** My Eternity
** Venus In Furs
NOTE: It was noted that Jimmy had recently joined the band. It has
been unconfirmed if more tracks were performed or not.
Mar 16, 1989 - WZRD Radio, Chicago, Illinois
*T Cinnamon Girl
*T East
*T My Eternity
*T Nothing and Everything
*T Rhinoceros
*T Snap (If I Could)
*T Spiteface
*T Sun
*T There It Goes
*T Under Your Spell
*T Venus In Furs
NOTE: A live performance upon the release of the Light Into Dark
compilation. This was possibly one of the first performances of
Rhinoceros.
June 23, 1991 - Rose Records, Chicago (Mike Rubano)
Terrapin
*T Blue
*T Bury Me
*T Crush
*T Siva
*T Smiley
*T Suffer
Sept 8, 1991 - Maida Vaile Studios, London (Dale Griffin)
Girl Named Sandoz
Siva
Smiley
NOTE: The slightly infamous John Peel Sessions.
Jan 15, 1992 - VPRO Radio session, Hilversum, Holland
*T Crush
*T Siva
*T Silverfuck
*T Snail
1992 - Nippon Television, Japan
Slunk (live Vieuphoria version)
September 1992 - BBC Late Show, London
*C Rhinoceros
June 22, 1993 - MTV Most Wanted, London; live acoustic performance
Cherub Rock (acoustic Vieuphoria version)
** Disarm
June 23, 1993 - Studio 10S, Paris, France; live acoustic performance
*C Cherub Rock
*C Dancing in the Moonlight
*C Disarm
*T Drown
*T Hummer
*T Kooks
*T Luna
*C Rhinoceros
*C Rocket
*C Siva
*C Spaceboy
*C Suffer
*C Today
June 30, 1993 - VPRO Radio for Villa '65, Netherlands (Hans Bunt)
Dancing in the Moonlight
Spaceboy (live NME version)
*T Cherub Rock
*T Disarm
*T Rocket
*T Today
July 26, 1993 - Tower Records, Chicago; live acoustic performance
Rocket (acoustic ONXRT version)
*C Cherub Rock
*C Disarm
*C Hummer
*C Mayonaise
*T Siva
*C Today
July 30, 1993 - Naked City, UK TV; live acoustic performance
Mayonaise (acoustic Vieuphoria version)
NOTE: Exact recording date unknown, although it was originally
broadcasted on July 30, 1993.
September 3, 1993 - Alabamhalle, Germany; live performance
Geek USA (live Vieuphoria version)
NOTE: Recorded by Telepool Productions. Although recorded on
September 3, 1993, it was originally broadcasted on Feb. 21, 1994.
Also performed: Cherub Rock, Disarm, Rocket, Quiet, Today, Drown,
Hummer, Soma, Siva, Silverfuck.
September 1993 - The Word, BBC Studios, London; live performance
Disarm (live Vieuphoria version)
*C Sunshine of Your Love
NOTE: Recorded by Planet 24, Channel 4 London. Although recorded in
September of 1993, it was broadcasted on February 18, 1994.
September 1993 - Sala Apollo, Barcelona; live performance
I Am One (live Vieuphoria version)
NOTE: Recorded by Sputnik de Televisio de Catalunya. Originally
broadcasted on March 4, 1994. Also performed: Rocket, Quiet, Today,
Disarm, Soma, Cherub Rock, and Silverfuck.
September 12, 1993 - BBC Radio One Studios, London (Ted de Bono)
Landslide
Never Let Me Down
** Disarm
October 1993 - MTV No Alternative session; live performance
Glynis (live No Alternative version)
Today (live No Alternative version)
*T Cherub Rock
*T Disarm
*T Geek USA
*T I Am One
October 28, 1993 - NBC Studio 8-H, New York; SNL rehearsals
*C Cherub Rock (2 takes)
*C Today (2 takes)
October 30, 1993 - Saturday Night Live, NBC Studio 8-H, New York; live
*C Cherub Rock
*C Today
November 10, 1993 - Atlanta, Georgia; live performance
Quiet (live Vieuphoria version)
NOTE: Directed by Modi for Modivational Films and produced by
Merril Ward. Live audio remix by Butch Vig at Smart Studios.
December 10, 1993 - Aragon Ballroom, Chicago; live performance
Today (live Vieuphoria version)
NOTE: Recorded by Jam Productions. Live audio remix by Butch Vig
at Smart Studios. Also performed: Geek USA, Quiet, Disarm, Siva,
Drown, Hummer, Cherub Rock, Rocket, Soma, I Am One, Spaceboy, Bury
Me, and Silverfuck.
December 12, 1993 - Universal, Los Angeles; live acoustic performance
Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer
*C Cherub Rock
*C Disarm
*C Hummer
*C Rocket
*C Spaceboy
*C Today
February 24, 1994 - Astoria Theatre, London; live performance
Silverfuck (live Vieuphoria version)
Soma (live Vieuphoria version)
NOTE: Directed by Bret Turnbull and produced by Sarah Bayliss for
Medialab. Live audio remix by Butch Vig at Smart Studios.
September 8, 1994 - MTV Music Awards, New York; live performance
*T Disarm
October 23, 1995 - Riviera Theatre, Chicago; live performance
Bullet with Butterfly Wings (live Launch CD ROM version)
Disarm (live Chicago 1995 promo version)
Today (live Chicago 1995 promo version)
Tonight, Tonight (live Chicago 1995 promo version)
Zero (live Chicago 1995 promo version)
NOTE: A live show recorded and broadcasted live on FM radio. 5
tracks were systematically released on promo and multimedia discs.
Also performed: Jellybelly, Fuck You, Thru the Eyes of Ruby, Geek
USA, Porcelina of the Vast Oceans, Cherub Rock, Mayonaise, XYU,
Baby Loves to Rock, If You Want My Love and Auf Weidersehen.
Nov 11, 1995 - Saturday Night Live, NBC Studio 8-H, New York; live
*C Bullet with Butterfly Wings
*C Zero
December 1995 - The White Room, Westwood Studios, UK TV; live
*C Bullet with Butterfly Wings
December 10, 1995 - Canal+, French TV, France; live performance
*C Bullet with Butterfly Wings
January 29, 1996 - American Music Awards, Shrine Auditorium, LA; live
*C 1979
March 13, 1996 - Triple J Studios, Sydney, Australia; live acoustic
*C Bullet with Butterfly Wings
*C Cupid de Locke
*C Muzzle
*C Take Me Down
*C Thirty-Three
*C To Forgive
*C Tonight, Tonight
*C 1979
Sept 4, 1996 - MTV Music Video Awards, Radio City Music Hall, NY; live
*C Tonight, Tonight
November 14, 1996 - MTV Europe Music Video Awards; live performance
*C Bullet with Butterfly Wings
February 25, 1997 - NBC Studios, NY; live performance
*C Muzzle
Feb 26, 1997 - Academy Awards, Madison Square Garden, NY; live
1979 (live Grammy Nominees version)
May 12, 1998 - Late with Jools Holland, BBC Studios, London; live
*T Ava Adore
*T Daphne Descends
*T Once Upon A Time
May 20, 1998 - RTVE Studios, Madrid, Spain
** Ava Adore
** Daphne Descends
** Once Upon A Time
** Perfect
** Tear
** To Sheila
July 9, 1998 - Q101 Studios, Chicago
** Perfect
July 19, 1998 - Much Music Studios, Toronto, Canada
** Ava Adore
** Bullet with Butterfly Wings
** For Martha
** Once Upon A Time
** Perfect
** Pug
** Shame
** To Sheila
** Transmission
** 1979
July 30, 1998 - Late Show with David Letterman, 53rd Street, New York
** Ava Adore
** Crestfallen
** Perfect
** Pug
** To Sheila
** 1979
August 3, 1998 - Howard Stern Show, New York
** Perfect
August 4, 1998 - Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, New York
** Once Upon A Time
** Perfect
May-Sept 1998 - Adore Tour, various locations around the globe
NOTE: Almost all of the dates on the Adore Tour were professionally
taped by the band and sometimes by the local media. The film was to
be used for a full-length documentary on the Adore Tour, directed by
Jesse Ignjatovic. This film was never finished and will most likely
never be released, due to conflicts in the editing process.
September 26, 1998 - Saturday Night Live, NBC Studios, New York; live
** Perfect
October 25, 1998 - VH1 Fashion Awards, New York; live performance
** Crestfallen
Jan 17, 2000 - Canal+, Nulle Part Ailleurs, France
** The Everlasting Gaze
Jan 30, 2000 - ABC Studios, Los Angles, Politically Incorrect
** The Everlasting Gaze
** Stand Inside Your Love
Mar 9, 2000 - MTV Studios, Total Request Live, New York
** The Everlasting Gaze
** I of the Mourning
** XYU (jam)
April 26, 2000 - Ed Sullivan Theatre, NY, Late Night w/ Dave Letterman
** I of the Mourning
Appendix A consists of a list of unreleased song titles that have been
performed live. Some title have already been noted in the General
Recording Chronology; thus, the song was performed live but the studio
version was not released. The remaining titles were performed live and
were either not officially recorded in a studio or otherwise, or the
recording information is unavailable.
The entries include a selected date and location the song was
performed. The provided date may not necessarily be the only
performance date, but is only the most available, of best soundquality,
or most definitive in the context of bootlegs and concert tapes.
Appendix A only includes Smashing Pumpkins originals, or songs only
written by Billy Corgan, James Iha, or Billy Corgan and James Iha (as
many of the earlier songs were). Covers and improvisational jams are
not included.
The Vigil Chicago 8/10/88
Armed To The Teeth " "
I Fall " "
6234 " "
Holiday " "
Screaming " "
There It Goes Chicago 10/5/88
My Eternity " "
Under Your Spell " "
She " "
Bleed " "
Oiu Henri Chicago 11/23/88
Alabaster Chicago 4/30/89
Salt Chicago 10/31/89
Lie I Lie ??/??/89
365 ??/??/90
I'll Never Change ??/??/90
Morning Jam ??/??/90
Opal Worship ??/??/90
Razor Madison 6/16/90
Try To Try Madison 6/16/90
Over You Cincinnati 9/13/90
Jesus Loves His Babies Chicago 6/22/91
I Am My End Seattle 8/20/91
What You Wanted Seattle 8/20/91
Offer Up Paris 2/5/92
Chump ??/??/92
Towers of Rabble Chicago 2/21/95
Speed Chicago 2/21/95
Space Jam Vancouver 1/8/97
Let Me Give The World To You Hamburg 5/14/98
Cash Car Star Los Angeles 10/31/98
Lover Los Angeles 12/12/98
If There Is A God Los Angeles 12/12/98
Dross Detroit 4/10/99
Glass Theme " "
Home " "
Pale Scales (instrumental) Chicago 12/20/99
Appendix B consists of selected commentary concerning a few of the more
"puzzling" aspects of The Smashing Pumpkins music. As with any band
with a breathtaking amount of output, there is sure to be a number of
debates and controversies over unknown song titles, the identity of
various demos, etc.
If you have any contributions to Appendix B, don't be afraid to send
them to me. They will be included and your credit will be given.
- IS STP REALLY SET THE RAY TO JERRY?
I have heard rumors that STP is an early version of Set The Ray To
Jerry. I find this hard to believe, as I'm sure someone incorrectly
thought STP was the abbreviation for Set The Ray For Jerry (wouldn't
it be STRTJ or SRJ?). Does anyone have any other substantial info?
- OFFER UP (LONG) IS ACTUALLY JELLYBELLY
The title for the song formerly and incorrectly known as Offer Up
(Long) has been discovered! The song is actually an extremely early
version of Jellybelly (which was what the song was called in '92),
that often had lyrics from Offer Up tagged at the end of it.
For those who are wondering, the old Jellybelly's riff's were
inverted and the song evolved twice over the coursed of the three
years, until it's eventual release on Mellon Collie.
- ZOOM IS REALLY SPACE JAM
Dave Mead convinced me that the song we all know and love as Zoom is
not called Zoom at all, but Space Jam. It seems that an error was
made when calculating the time on the Pasticio Medley. He also says
the title Space Jam was confirmed by a source close to the band.