in an effort to try and answer as many questions as possible with one post, here are some brief thoughts / insights to these tapes and their contents:

- while i consider myself pretty well versed in all thats out there in terms of audio, there is very little on these tapes that i have heard previously. The only thing, outside of a few tracks on the Vitalogy tapes, that ive heard previously is the recording of Out Of My Mind. Its the same version as the single, however, these versions include the small bit of Ed talking after the track saying "I dont know what that was...." that was cut off the single. (Side point - the cassette is labeled as 4/1/94, but the original version of Out Of My Mind was recorded on 4/2/94 and then later played on 4/6/94 and of course in Philly '09 as well, so i assume it was added to the tape later on)... Taken a step further, that means the following....

- Speed Wash is not from the main set of the New Years 1992 show. While this track doesnt sound like it was taken from the studio, we all know Speed Wash has only been played at this show, meaning that this track is possibly from the soundcheck to that show. Also, the track is only 90 seconds long and starts in the middle of the song, but its amazing (and quality is shloads better than the audio we all have of the one played during the show itself).

- Smells Like Teen Spirit is recorded in the studio. Its not the full song, but longer than any other version that they've teased over the years. Its coupled with a version of Suggestion (Fugazi) and is about 45-50 seconds in length. Again, one of the best things included on these tapes (and kicks right into a filthy version of Once).

- Hold On from the Demo '91 tape is an acoustic version and different than the one included in the VS. reissue. Very cool to see it included on their first demo tape. Speaking of which....

- Demo '91 tape includes the finished versions of Hold On and Angel, but also includes 4x instrumentals. Of those 4x instrumentals, i wouldnt be surprised if you told me that 2x of them (or at least parts) were written by Mad Season or Alice in Chains. Very interesting to hear...

- certain tracks were labeled with different song titles including Circus (Bugs), Tortured (Angel), Africa / African Groove (Aye Davanita) and Policeman (W.M.A.)

- my personal favorite tracks from these tapes are the 2x versions of Immortality, which both include alternate lyrics to the final released version as well as the versions played in Boston on 4.10 + 4.11.94. Both versions are studio quality; W.M.A. (from tape labeled Dave Mix - Policeman) includes 6-7 versions of the song different from the final released version. They all include an added verse in the beginning of the song with only drums in the background. Each version included on this tape is roughly 7:30 long....; Dirty Frank - there are a few versions included on these tapes, all of which include slightly different lyrics and are all extended versions (each clocks in around 6:30 long as compared to the released version which is 5:30).

- Everyone always mentions how Stone was the one driving the band in the early days...Id had always heard that but who knows what that actually means.....However, after listening to these tapes, it became quite evident.....While the music stops in the studio, the first voice you always hear with notes, direction, etc..is Stone. He is very, very vocal on these tapes and really helped me understand all those things ive been hearing for years....

- the intro that we all associate with the album version of Betterman is included on these tapes as well, but its the intro to Spin the Black Circle. Very cool. Its those small changes that get me out of bed in the morning.

- As mentioned earlier in this thread, I Won't is included on one of the tapes

- includes a bunch of versions of Cready Stomp (plus lots of other jams / instrumentals)

- overall, there are over 150 individual tracks clocking in at over 12 hours of playback.

- Yes, this is the greatest thing i have ever come across in regard to PJ audio. There is nothing, in my humble opinion, in the same stratosphere as these tapes that ive heard. Im sure more is out there, but i havent been lucky enough to come across any of it....If anyone has anything like this (or anything of note), send me a message and lets talk....

I know this is a long post, but lots of goodness is contained within. There are a few more things to note (Angel tape / lyrics / versions, Stuffins 1 and 2, etc...but ill get to those soon)...

cockage said:
they're in line to be pressed right after the (Xmas holiday) summer single....

Marginally interesting, in the way Salome or whatever it's called was interesting (read: not worth listening to a lot).

I think my fandom has faded to the point where the only historical discovery I would get excited for would be a collection of unreleased, completed songs from 96-97...and the more creatively dangerous the better.

what is I Won't? it's in bold, so it seems to be a known song that's been circling around for a while? never heard of it.

Marginally interesting, in the way Salome or whatever it's called was interesting (read: not worth listening to a lot).

I think my fandom has faded to the point where the only historical discovery I would get excited for would be a collection of unreleased, completed songs from 96-97...and the more creatively dangerous the better.