The Official Vs. album appreciation thread

Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
edited August 2013 in The Porch
2013 is the 20th Anniversary of one of the greatest albums ever this thread is for
anything related to any of the songs from the Vs. recording sessions:
· March - May 1993 - The Site - San Rafael, CA

Ed Vedder - vocals, guitar, background vocals
Stone Gossard - guitar, background vocals
Mike McCready - guitar
Jeff Ament - bass, background vocals
Dave Abbruzzese - drum kit, percussion
Brendan O'Brien - organ
Victoria Williams - guitar and background vocals on 'Crazy Mary'

Animal [Vs.]
Better Man
Blood [Vs.]
Crazy Mary [Sweet Relief - A Benefit For Victoria Williams]
Daughter [Vs.]
Dissident [Vs.]
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (a.k.a. Small Town) [Vs.]
Glorified G [Vs.]
Go (a.k.a. Don't Go) [Vs.]
Hard To Imagine
Indifference [Vs.]
Leash [Vs.]
Rats [Vs.]
Real Thing {instrumental} [Judgment Night Soundtrack]
Rearviewmirror [Vs.]
Whipping
W.M.A. [Vs.]
? Yellow Ledbetter
unknown {instrumental}
unknown {instrumental}
unknown {instrumental}

Notes: Vs. sessions began in mid-March and lasted until early May 1993. Sessions were completed before May 13, 1993, as Ed stated during a concert on that day Pearl Jam was leaving the San Francisco area the following day. Everything recorded during these sessions was recorded live except for some lead and vocal overdubs. The band set up in a semi-circle with the drum kit in the middle to record. The drum kit was eventually moved into a tiled room because they wanted a different drum sound on some songs. There were many days where they would record the album all the way through and pick the best takes from those days. They would usually record two to five takes of each song and move on to the next song if it wasn't sounding the way they wanted it to. The rough mix of the album contains outtakes, countdowns, extra feedback, and some guitar lines that were later removed from the final versions of the songs. The first week of recording produced 'Blood,' 'Go,' a slow version of 'Leash,' and 'Rats.' After awhile, recording hit a snag because Ed began frequently disappearing to work on lyrics. He would leave for days and come back ready to finish the songs being worked on, but this held up some of the sessions because the band wanted to keep all of the takes live and mix them down immediately after they were recorded. Without Ed present, those takes could not be finished and everyone would have to wait on him to return to complete them. This resulted in a number of instrumentals being recorded. Ed's vocals on 'Blood,' 'Leash,' and 'Indifference' were his reference vocals. One take of 'Better Man' was recorded, but it didn't sound very good so it was scrapped. An acoustic take of 'Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town' was released on the Go single. 'Glorified G' went through a series of changes before it was finalized. Mike stated in the February 1995 edition of Guitar World his guitar solo on 'Go' "was probably the second of three or four takes." Stone, Jeff, and Dave recorded an instrumental and sent it to Cypress Hill, and they later rapped over it and titled the song 'Real Thing.' 'Rearviewmirror' was the last song recorded and was almost left unfinished. Dave had trouble nailing his drum line for it, so after finally playing it to Brendan O'Brien's satisfaction, he threw his sticks against the wall, punched a hole through the snare drum, and later threw the broken snare off of a nearby cliff. Ed finished his vocals for the song on the final day of recording. 'Whipping' was recorded, but it ended up being shelved and later re-recorded for Vitalogy. Many percussion overdubs were added to 'W.M.A.' Dave stated in the December 1993 edition of Modern Drummer, "I laid down this two-measure drum track and we looped it all the way through the song. Eddie and Jeff came in to do vocals and bass on it and then I went back with some octobans and a cymbal and just winged it. I also did some tambourine and sleigh bell thing and then we did some other crazy stuff like using a slapstick and another tambourine and Stone dancing around the hallway with this freaky boinging thing." An alternate recording of 'Yellow Ledbetter' exists that is different from the version recorded during the Ten sessions, so it may have been recorded, but no information is known for sure. Three instrumentals were recorded, but Ed never got around to writing lyrics for them so they were left unfinished. This seemed to be a common problem throughout the Vs. sessions as Jeff commented in the April 1994 edition of Bass Player, "We got to the point where [we] were getting ahead of Eddie; we were getting a lot of musical ideas, and trying to write lyrics for 20 songs in a month and make them mean something is a pretty intense job."
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    edited February 2013
    versions of every song from VS twice plus Crazy Mary twice which is a cover from those VS recording sessions as well as a send off of Yellow Ledbetter unreleased from those recording sessions & The Star Spangled Banner which is the proper way to finish this playlist off and give an appropriate dedication to the VS album, I got at least one song from every year from 1992-2012 except 1998 and 2006 so it is also like a walk through history with the band

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQZgJ28tzpc&list=PL1FUjoCdCskfQEdrFuyLzeNteVWHl5jtO

    1.Rare Vinyl Pearl Jam 2001 Christmas Single Indifference feat. Ben Harper
    2.Leash Hartford 2008 (for Katie)
    3.Small Town Bridge School 1999
    4.Rats Dusseldorf 2007
    5.Rearviewmirror Seattle 2002
    6.Blood Fairfax 1994
    7.WMA New York 2008
    8.Dissident Oakland 1997
    9.Glorified G Boston 1994
    10.Daughter San Francisco 2009
    11.Animal Red Rocks 1995
    12.Go Gorge 1993
    13.Crazy Mary New Orleans 1993 feat. Victoria Williams
    14.Indifference Porto Allegre 2011
    15.Leash Boulder 1992
    16.Small Town Nurnberg 2000
    17.Rats New York 2010
    18.Rearviewmirror Milan 1996
    19.Blood Philadelphia 2005
    20.WMA Studio Version
    21.Dissident New York 2003
    22.Glorified G Montreal 2011
    23.Daughter with War tag Washington DC 2004
    24.Animal Toronto 1996
    25.Go Newark 2010
    26.Crazy Mary Santiago 2005
    27.Yellow Ledbetter & Star Bangled Banner Philadelphia 2009
    Post edited by Big Bank Hank on
  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    I have much love for VS.

    I don't think Dave threw his sticks / punched a hole in his snare drum. I believe when BOB was interviewed on PJ Radio I had The Rob ask about this via the chat session, and he had no recollection of this ever happening.
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    CJMST3K wrote:
    I have much love for VS.

    I don't think Dave threw his sticks / punched a hole in his snare drum. I believe when BOB was interviewed on PJ Radio I had The Rob ask about this via the chat session, and he had no recollection of this ever happening.
    well this is where I got the info from, it seems pretty detailed though, not saying you aren't right
    http://www.grunge-forum.com/topics13/pearl-jam-recording-sessions-guide-vt2542.htm
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Rearviewmirror Santiago Chile 2005
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTpl2WsezKQ
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    who is the Ben he is referring to in Rats?
    Pearl Jam- Rats (with Lyrics)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3OmG6H12Iw

    They don't eat, don't sleep
    They don't feed, they don't seethe
    Bare their gums when they moan and squeak
    Lick the dirt off a larger one's feet
    They don't push, don't crowd
    Congregate until they're much too loud
    Fuck to procreate till they are dead
    Drink the blood of their so called best friend
    They don't scurry when something bigger comes their way
    Don't pack themselves together and run as one
    Don't shit where they're not supposed to
    Don't take what's not theirs, they don't compare
    They don't scam, don't fight
    Don't oppress an equals given rights
    Starve the poor so they can be well fed
    Line their holes with the dead ones bread
    They don't scurry when something bigger comes their way
    Don't pack themselves together and run as one
    Don't shit where they're not supposed to
    Don't take what's not theirs, they don't compare...
    They don't scurry when something bigger comes their way
    Don't pack themselves together and run as one
    Don't shit where they're not supposed to
    Don't take what's not theirs, they don't compare...
    Rats...they don't compare
    Rats...they don't compare
    Ben, the two of us need look no more
    Ben, the two of us need look no more
  • PJStatTrackerPJStatTracker Posts: 2,400
    edited February 2013
    who is the Ben he is referring to in Rats?

    no joke

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40WCBaUXR4

    from this movie

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_(film)
    Post edited by PJStatTracker on
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    PM me with any comments or suggestions for the app - or weigh in <a href="http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=167611
    ">here</a>.
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  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam - Animal (New York, 1998)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsdobEnZe4s
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam - Indifference (Bologna '06) HD
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOZJRPDTh48
  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,136
    best record after TEN...enough said
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    who is the Ben he is referring to in Rats?

    no joke

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40WCBaUXR4

    I remember that movie! lol
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    who is the Ben he is referring to in Rats?

    no joke

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40WCBaUXR4

    from this movie

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_(film)

    thanks for the 411
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam - Daughter / WMA (Murfreesboro '94)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL-amqXAeuc
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam - Blood - Isle of Wight 2012
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj0jz2adx6Q
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Elderly-Woman-Behind-the-Counter-in-a-Small-Town.jpg
  • best record after TEN...enough said

    Enough said??? ok.
    Forced to endure, what I cannot forgive.
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    edited February 2013
    best record after TEN...enough said

    Enough said??? ok.
    maybe for him, I think it deserves plenty of appreciation, and leading up to the 20 year anniversary of it's release later this year, I will make sure it gets plenty, I do these for people that like music, really what is point of saying "ok"? does that contribute anything? it just comes across as an effort to torpedo a thread. this board is silly sometimes, two people can post the same thing but because of who it is, one thread will get plenty of attention, and the other one gets ignored, which is sad and pathetic, grow up. I have learned not to care what anyone else thinks because I am here for the music, I am here to talk about music, "ok?" that is all you have to say about one of the greatest rock albums ever, you just make yourself sound like you have never even listened to the album, I sometimes listen to a sports talk show JT the Brick and he always says "have a take and don't suck", "ok" sucks, seriously you come into any thread I start with that weak-ass shit I will slice and dice you like a master chef, and cut you down so low that the blades of grass on the ground will be like skyscrapers towering over you, really if you don't have a take that contributes anything shut the hell up and don't make yourself sound like a moron
    Post edited by Big Bank Hank on
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam-Crazy Mary w Star Spangled Banner encore
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DoKIK8rffs
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam - 1993-12-01 Las Vegas, NV (Full Concert)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGFby97J8A
  • best record after TEN...enough said

    Enough said??? ok.
    maybe for him, I think it deserves plenty of appreciation, and leading up to the 20 year anniversary of it's release later this year, I will make sure it gets plenty, I do these for people that like music, really what is point of saying "ok"? does that contribute anything? it just comes across as an effort to torpedo a thread. this board is silly sometimes, two people can post the same thing but because of who it is, one thread will get plenty of attention, and the other one gets ignored, which is sad and pathetic, grow up. I have learned not to care what anyone else thinks because I am here for the music, I am here to talk about music, "ok?" that is all you have to say about one of the greatest rock albums ever, you just make yourself sound like you have never even listened to the album, I sometimes listen to a sports talk show JT the Brick and he always says "have a take and don't suck", "ok" sucks

    Let me start by saying, get off your high horse. After that, let me say that agreeing with another post is not torpedoing the thread. I love Vs. I happened to agree with the previous post that I replied to. I guess I should post pictures of old ladies or links to youtube videos of songs from VS and then I would be just as much a music fan as you.

    Ok, I love VS it is the album that solidified PJ as my favorite band of all time. I played and sang Immortality in my basement last night as well as Betterman. Is that good enough?
    Forced to endure, what I cannot forgive.
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    I just want to talk want to talk about music, and sorry about that because there are people on this board who do that and it gets irritating, I have just gotten to the point where I am not taking any crap anymore, and yes I will keep posting videos, because while you may not get anything out of watching them, there are people who do, so go ahead and put me down for posting them that is fine, I could care less, I will still keep posting them, because first off, I like watching them regardless, and plenty of other people on here have told me they do as well, having been a fan since early 1991 when I got a cassette tape of Ten and wore it out in the tape player in my 83 Oldsmobile, I love the music, and there are other people who do too
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam & Ben Harper - Indifference
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF5LG2rHQSU
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam MTV Music Awards Animal w/ Neil Young RITFW encore
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0sOsoS4o4
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    Pearl Jam - Small Town (Missoula 2012) [Multicam]
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PDt0dNIqq4
  • I just want to talk want to talk about music, and sorry about that because there are people on this board who do that and it gets irritating, I have just gotten to the point where I am not taking any crap anymore, and yes I will keep posting videos, because while you may not get anything out of watching them, there are people who do, so go ahead and put me down for posting them that is fine, I could care less, I will still keep posting them, because first off, I like watching them regardless, and plenty of other people on here have told me they do as well, having been a fan since early 1991 when I got a cassette tape of Ten and wore it out in the tape player in my 83 Oldsmobile, I love the music, and there are other people who do too

    Wow, not sure where this applies to my comment of agreeing with another post, but whatever makes you feel better, more power to you man. :D Point I was trying to make is, you ripped my head off for agreeing with another post, while you make posts that consist of a picture or a link. So, wtf man. Chill the F out. I love VS. OK? :fp:
    Forced to endure, what I cannot forgive.
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    I just want to talk want to talk about music, and sorry about that because there are people on this board who do that and it gets irritating, I have just gotten to the point where I am not taking any crap anymore, and yes I will keep posting videos, because while you may not get anything out of watching them, there are people who do, so go ahead and put me down for posting them that is fine, I could care less, I will still keep posting them, because first off, I like watching them regardless, and plenty of other people on here have told me they do as well, having been a fan since early 1991 when I got a cassette tape of Ten and wore it out in the tape player in my 83 Oldsmobile, I love the music, and there are other people who do too

    Wow, not sure where this applies to my comment of agreeing with another post, but whatever makes you feel better, more power to you man. :D Point I was trying to make is, you ripped my head off for agreeing with another post, while you make posts that consist of a picture or a link. So, wtf man. Chill the F out. I love VS. OK? :fp:
    fine whatever let's just move on, we both love Pearl Jam that should be all that matters, and I do apologize, like I said it is more a few others and stuff they have done previously, and I got frustrated and took it the wrong way
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    I just want to talk want to talk about music, and sorry about that because there are people on this board who do that and it gets irritating, I have just gotten to the point where I am not taking any crap anymore, and yes I will keep posting videos, because while you may not get anything out of watching them, there are people who do, so go ahead and put me down for posting them that is fine, I could care less, I will still keep posting them, because first off, I like watching them regardless, and plenty of other people on here have told me they do as well, having been a fan since early 1991 when I got a cassette tape of Ten and wore it out in the tape player in my 83 Oldsmobile, I love the music, and there are other people who do too

    Wow, not sure where this applies to my comment of agreeing with another post, but whatever makes you feel better, more power to you man. :D Point I was trying to make is, you ripped my head off for agreeing with another post, while you make posts that consist of a picture or a link. So, wtf man. Chill the F out. I love VS. OK? :fp:
    fine whatever let's just move on, we both love Pearl Jam that should be all that matters, and I do apologize, like I said it is more a few others and stuff they have done previously, and I got frustrated and took it the wrong way
  • I just want to talk want to talk about music, and sorry about that because there are people on this board who do that and it gets irritating, I have just gotten to the point where I am not taking any crap anymore, and yes I will keep posting videos, because while you may not get anything out of watching them, there are people who do, so go ahead and put me down for posting them that is fine, I could care less, I will still keep posting them, because first off, I like watching them regardless, and plenty of other people on here have told me they do as well, having been a fan since early 1991 when I got a cassette tape of Ten and wore it out in the tape player in my 83 Oldsmobile, I love the music, and there are other people who do too

    Wow, not sure where this applies to my comment of agreeing with another post, but whatever makes you feel better, more power to you man. :D Point I was trying to make is, you ripped my head off for agreeing with another post, while you make posts that consist of a picture or a link. So, wtf man. Chill the F out. I love VS. OK? :fp:
    fine whatever let's just move on, we both love Pearl Jam that should be all that matters, and I do apologize, like I said it is more a few others and stuff they have done previously, and I got frustrated and took it the wrong way

    K. love you man. :D
    Forced to endure, what I cannot forgive.
  • Big Bank HankBig Bank Hank Seattle, WA Posts: 8,639
    thanks bud, ever see you at a show, the drinks are on me
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