THE NIRVANA DIASPORA: Covers, rarities, oddities and offspring (Part Two)
Posted on April 1st, 2009 by ekko
F is for
- Floyd the Barber-Nirvana. A rare live version from 1991. (YSI)
- Floaty-Petra Haden and Bill Frisell (Foo Fighters). One of my absolute favorite covers of all time. It took a song I was only lukewarm on to begin with and turned into something truly beautiful.
G is for
- A tracked tagged “Gothic Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (YSI). If any of you know the story behind this version, please share it in the comments. I love this take on this song–it’s so different, yet so similar. Like New Order doing Nirvana.
- Generator-Foo Fighters. A live version I’m including because I needed a G. Plus, it’s a pretty cool tune.
H is for
- Hole’s cover of Nirvana’s Pennyroyal Tea (YSI). The best song about abortion since “Lime in the Coconut.” (I know that’s just a rumor, but it’s such a great one.)
- Hole’s own tune: Asking For It (Live)-Hole. I figured I had to have a little Courtney repped here, and this is one of the best Hole songs and one of the best live performances I’ve heard by her, as well.
I is for
- In Bloom-Lotus (Nirvana)
- I Feel Fine-Nirvana (Beatles c0ver) (YSI). This is really just Dave Grohl fucking around on the drums. It’s pretty funny. He’s a great improviser.
J is for
- Junk. Immigrant Song-Nirvana (YSI). This is bad quality and it’s just a fragment. For completists only.
K is for
- Kurt and Courtney’s duet on “Pennyroyal Tea.”
- My Sharona-Nirvana (Knack cover).
- Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan-The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Okay, not a cover. A tribute. I still think it qualifies for this post.
- Kome back tomorrow for more!

Comment By: Hanan
April 1st, 2009 at 3:38 am
you’re the coolest mo-fo on the blogosphere. seriously, I absolutely LOVE Berkeley Place.
Comment By: Claude Brindamour
April 1st, 2009 at 8:01 am
Love your blog. Amazing stuff; rare and unusual songs and covers. Just one thing: sorting out these downloads can be a little bit painfull. Suggestion: how about a solid and simple File naming formula : Artist – Title.mp3 that’s it! What do you think? Go to my page, lots of Beatles Covers in a section called Les Coquerelles.
http://scalp.plaxmol.com/category/les-coquerelles/
Comment By: Ken
April 1st, 2009 at 8:09 am
I know I’ve heard that Gothic Teen Spirit before. If memory serves me correctly, it was part of a performance for a tv show somewhere.
Comment By: Roc
April 1st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Well I have an mp3 of the Gothic Teen Spirit song. Its titled ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit (Gothic Version, Top of the Pops, Nov. 1991)’ from Rags To Riches 7″
Comment By: biopunk
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:05 am
Hey ekko,
The “Morrissey-vocal”/”Goth” version is off the Live Tonight Sold Out DVD. Catch the clip here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAJGFHI35tM&feature=related
Love yr blog! Thanks for yr effort!
Comment By: serpico009
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
yeah, the goth version is Nirvana miming along to SLTP on Top of the Pops; Kurt keeps his hand ion a karate chop configuration and bends his strumming arm at the elbow at a right angle.
Comment By: David
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I need help, I can`t find Willie Nelsons cover of smeels like teen spirit!
Comment By: Steve de la Cruz
April 5th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
The so-called Goth version of SLTS was from English TV chat show “Top Of The Pops”. This was when bands who appeared “played” along to a prerecorded tape, but the vocals were done live. As opposed to before this when it was all mimed, and later, when the bands played live. Anyhow, Kurts vocals (and performance – with large dark sunglasses) came across as a Sisters of Mercy piss-take. I remember seeing it the night it was broadcast. He later admitted he was trying to take off Morrisey.
Comment By: Berkeley Place » THE NIRVANA DIASPORA: Covers, rarities, oddities and offspring (Part Three)
August 16th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
[...] Part Two is here! [...]