Spank Thru
| "Spank Thru" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyNirvana | |
| from the albumIlliteracy Will Prevail Sub Pop 200 Sliver: The Best of the Box | |
| Written | c. 1985 |
| Released | Easter, 1986 (Illiteracy Will Prevail) December 1988 (Sub Pop 200) November 1, 2005 (Sliver: The Best of the Box) |
| Recorded | December 1985 (Illiteracy Will Prevail,Sliver: The Best of the Box) June 30, 1988 (Sub Pop 200) |
| Studio | Kurt Cobain's aunt's home inBurien, Washington(Illiteracy Will Prevail,Sliver: The Best of the Box) Reciprocal RecordinginSeattle, Washington(Sub Pop 200) |
| Genre | Grunge,punk rock |
| Length | 3:23 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Kurt Cobain |
| Producer(s) | Jack Endino |
"Spank Thru"is a song by the American rock bandNirvana,written by vocalist and guitaristKurt Cobain.It appears on the compilation albumSub Pop 200,released in December 1988.
Though rarely performed live beyond the first few years of the band's existence, the song is significant in that it helped lead to the formation of Nirvana by helping convince bassistKrist Novoselicto start a band with Cobain.[1]Novoselic specifically referred to the song as "the first Nirvana song" in the liner notes to the live compilation albumFrom the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,released in October 1996.[2]
Origin and recording[edit]
Early history[edit]
"Spank Thru" dates back to 1985, when it was included on the demo tapeIlliteracy Will Prevailreleased by Cobain's short-lived band,Fecal Matter.Novoselic, who lived in Cobain's hometown ofAberdeen, Washington,later claimed that hearing this version, which featuredMelvinsdrummerDale Croveron drums and backing vocals, led to him forming what would become Nirvana with Cobain. "One of the songs on [the tape] was 'Spank Thru,'" Novoselic told Kurt St. Thomas in 1992. "He turned me on to it, and I really liked it, it kind of got me excited. So I go, 'Hey man, let's start a band.'"[1]The Fecal Matter version of "Spank Thru" missed inclusion on the band's rarities box set,With the Lights Out,in November 2004, but was one of three previously unreleased recordings that appeared on the box set highlights compilation,Sliver: The Best of the Box,in November 2005.
"Spank Thru" was among the songs performed at Nirvana's first live performance, at a house party inRaymond, Washingtonin March 1987.
The song was also performed during the band's first radio session, on May 6, 1987, atThe Evergreen State CollegeinOlympia, WashingtonforKAOS (FM).The band, then called "Skid Row," featured Aaron Burckhard on drums, along with Cobain and Novoselic.
It was first recorded in the studio during Nirvana's first studio session, byJack EndinoatReciprocal Recordingon January 23, 1988. As with the Fecal Matter version, this recording features Crover on drums and backing vocals.
Sub Pop 200[edit]
A second version was recorded by Endino several months later at the same location, this time featuring the band's new drummerChad Channingon drums and Endino on backing vocals. This version was released on the compilation albumSub Pop 200in December, 1988. The album, which was released to promote the Seattle-basedSub Poprecord label and showcase the emerging "grunge"scene, was released shortly after the band's two-song debut single,"Love Buzz,"making" Spank Thru "the third Nirvana song to be officially released.[1]
Post-Sub Pop 200[edit]
On October 26, 1989, the band recorded a version of "Spank Thru" during their firstBBCPeel Session,at Maida Vale Studios inLondon, England.
A live version, recorded at thePine Street TheatreinPortland, Oregonon February 9, 1990, was released on the British 12-inch and CD versions of the "Sliver"single in 1991.
An excellent live version of Spank Thru can be found on the "Blind Pig" bootleg recording of the band's show in Ann Arbor Michigan 04/10/90.
In August of 1992, Nirvana headlined the BritishReading and Leeds Festivals.Recordings of the festival were officially released by the band in 2009. It featured Spank Thru as Track 22.
The final live performance of "Spank Thru" was at theEstadio José AmalfitaniinBuenos Aires, Argentinaon October 30, 1992.
Composition[edit]
Music[edit]
Tim Hughes called the song "an interesting composite of two very different parts," with an "opening guitar riff that satirizes" The Great White Buffalo "byTed Nugent"and lyrics that" mock the sentimental love poetry "of 70s arena rock bands, before it" abruptly shifts gears into a high-energy punk rock about masturbation. "[3]
Lyrics[edit]
"Spank Thru" contains numerous references tomasturbation.Amanda Petrusich ofPitchforkdescribed it as "a charming ode to jerking off,"[4]whileEverett Truecalled it "a paean to masturbation."[5]
Reception[edit]
In 2015,Rolling Stonelisted the song at number 54 on their ranking of 102 Nirvana songs.[6]
Other releases[edit]
- A full-band rehearsal demo from December 1988, filmed above a hair salon in Aberdeen owned by Krist's mother, Maria Novoselic, appeared on the DVD ofWith the Lights Out.
- The full Pine Street show, including "Spank Thru," was included on the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition ofBleachin November 2009.
- A live version, recorded at Castello Vi de Porta, Castello 41 inRome, Italyon November 19, 1991, appeared onFrom the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah.
- A live version, recorded during the band's headlining set at the 1992Reading FestivalinReading, England,appeared onLive at Reading,released on CD and DVD in November 2009.
Unreleased versions[edit]
- The first studio demo, recorded by Endino at Reciprocal on January 23, 1988, has never been officially released.
- The version recorded for the BBC in London on October 26, 1989, also remains unreleased.
References[edit]
- ^abcEpstein, Daniel (8 April 2015)."No Apologies: All 102 Nirvana Songs Ranked".Rolling Stone.Retrieved28 June2018.
- ^Sutton, Terri."Nirvana, From the Muddy Banks of Wishka (DGC), 1996".Spin.Retrieved28 June2018.
- ^Hughes, Tim; et al. (2006)."Nirvana: University of Washington, 1990".In Inglis, Ian (ed.).Performance and Popular Music: History, Place and Time.Ashgate Publishing.p. 161.ISBN0754640574.Retrieved28 June2018.
- ^Petrusich, Amanda (30 October 2005)."Nirvana: Sliver: The Best of the Box".Pitchfork.Retrieved28 June2018.
- ^True, Everett(2006).Nirvana: The True Story.Omnibus Press.ISBN1844496406.
- ^Epstein, Daniel (8 April 2015)."No Apologies: All 102 Nirvana Songs Ranked".Rolling Stone.Retrieved29 June2018.
