This section was last updated on 18 Jan 2001.
If there's one thing you've give Pearl Jam credit for, it's for the plethora of b-sides and special compilation tracks they've provided for their fans over the past seven years. Most of them have been great, others good, but none of them really bad. Some have been covers, and some have been album cuts. Some of them have been live, while others were born in a recording studio. You can find any of these tunes if you look for them, and while they are available in MP3 form on various web sites and FTP servers, a lot of people look down on the trading of commercially available songs and stuff. (Seeing as it is illegal and all.) Now, I know Ed has gone on the record in saying, "if people can find a way, more power to them, [they] appreciate the interest," or something to that effect, so if you want them, go ahead and look. They're out there. I would suggest straying away from the illegal ones, but because the Ten Club singles are so rare, the only way you may get to hear 'em is through MP3s, which is why I say go ahead. (My opinion of course, so calm down nay-sayers.)
Over the years, I've have the opportunity to give most of these bonus tracks a listen, and here's what I've heard...
Mine is not a celestial state with idle hymns of praise
Time is short, I have an appointment at noon, at noon in Hell
Across the waste of space and fields of air I glide, alone at night
Oh please, please think of me, 'cause I'm, I'm by your side
'Angel', found on the third Ten Club Christmas single from way back in 1993, is one of the weirdest tracks I've heard this band produce. It's not quite 'Bugs', mind you, but it just feels... weird. Uh, yeah. Anyway, to me, it just feels like a poem put to some music. The opening is kind of dissonant and grating, but the song really picks up by the time it gets to the aforementioned verse, which is by far the highlight of the cut.
For my money, I'm betting that 'Angel' is either a tribute to Beth or the story of a guardian angel, or maybe even both. Finding copies of the 1993 Ten Club 45 isn't exactly easy, but it's a lot easier than the previous singles. By most estimates, some 50,000 copies were pressed back in the day. Since I suck, I don't have the actual 45 (actually, I don't have any Ten Club 45s -- unfortunately, I'm not currently in the Club and don't have the money for those auctions), so my experience has been an MP3 one, but hey, a song's a song, right?
One night thunder cracked, mercy backed outside her windowsill
Dreamed I was flying high above the trees, over the hills
Looked down into the house of Mary
Terrible thoughts, newspaper-covered walls, and Mary rising above it all
'Crazy Mary' is one of those songs. You know the one's -- rare in concert, a thrill to listen to, hard core and good to drink to. It's sort of the stuff of legends.
Written by the ailing Victoria Williams and performed exclusively by Pearl Jam, 'Crazy Mary' can only be found on the Sweet Relief benefit album, and what an album it is. I'd recommend picking this beauty up just on the strength of its sole Pearl Jam track, but there's enough in the mix to enjoy the rest of the disc, too.
You think I care
'Bout those emotions you wear
You think I care
'Bout the way you wear your veil
You think our love, huh
Is so far above...
Ah, 'Ramblings'. Actually, this set of rambles is more commonly known as 'Fuck Me In The Brain', as there have been several "ramblings" over the past few years as found on the Ten Club Christmas singles. This particular ramble can be found on the 1993 single.
This particular cut was taken from the infamous "Shoes For My Friends" incident from Indio on 5 Nov 1993. It's a pretty gritty song, peppered with some beat and kind of funny in a sad way. The cut I have, unedited and complete with the "Me and Jeff" monologue, is particularly hilarious.
His board is always full of dings 'cause he's always doing stupid things
And there's nothing worse than a gremmie out of control
When I first heard 'Gremmie Out Of Control', I laughed. I later cried, realizing how ridiculous it sounded. This wasn't exactly the brooding, introspective band I've come to know in the past few years, that's for sure. This is a frickin' Beach Boys song! (Not that I have anything against the Beach Boys, per se...) I'm not sure about the rest of the Music For Our Mother Earth album, so I can't say if the album is worth it, but this one song is simply nuts. I guess if you're into something... uh... different, then give 'Gremmie' a listen.
If reality is what I see
Newspapers, man
Disease, TV
Help what's going on
Leading us along
'Happy When I'm Crying' is cool. I like it. I like it a lot. And being the only Pearl Jam song to have been written by Jack Irons, that says a lot.
The latest in the Ten Club Christmas collection, 1997's 'Happy When I'm Crying' was given a larger press run than all of the previous singles combined. Teamed with the backing of alt-legends R.E.M., the single actually made it into two fan bases, as it was also released on the 1997 R.E.M. fan club Christmas single. (The single b-side, 'Live For Today', is performed by R.E.M. themselves. Go figure, eh?)
I first had the pleasure of hearing 'Happy' during the premiere of Yield on The Edge 102.1, a local Toronto radio station. (I've since picked up an MP3, so I'll have it forever and ever! Yeah!) It's a cute little song, loaded with a repetitive beat that never bores, and its got some groovin' Spanish at the onset, which apparently translates into, "We'd like to wish you, together with R.E.M., a happy cucumber." (I don't speak a lick of Spanish, so I'm takin' the word of the people for face on this one...) As for the meaning, I'd wager it has something to do with Jack's problems with manic-depression. You know -- one minute you're depressed, the next manic -- happy, crying. You see what I'm getting at here, right...?
Things were different then
All is different now
I tried to explain
I hope this works somehow
'Hard To Imagine' has been in a state of limbo since it originally surfaced back during the Vs. sessions. After years of silent momentum, it has finally been released on the 'Chicago Cab' soundtrack, along with the more well known 'Who You Are'.
'HtI' is a slow, paced song. It's not bashing you over the head, but it's not trying to either. I guess if you're into the slower Pearl Jam fare (read: 'Indifference', 'Release', etc.), then you'll probably like 'Hard To Imagine'. And that's all you need to know.
An empty shell seems so easy to crack
Got all these questions don't know who I could even ask
So I'll just lie alone and wait for the dream
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
'I Got Id', often referred to as 'I Got Shit', is the result of a collaboration between Pearl Jam and Neil Young, a.k.a. the Man Himself, and my, oh my, it is a classic. Teamed with Neil, Pearl Jam set out to create a companion to Neil's own Mirrorball. Strangely enough, Merkinball is the only Pearl Jam release in which neither Stone nor Mikey appear.
I've always loved 'I Got Id'. There's just something about it. It's an emotional song, and one that simply must be heard live. Must. Lucky me, I got to hear it twice at the Barrie show way back in August -- once during the soundcheck and once during the show itself. If you're looking for a live version out on the 'Net, I suggest you seek the 5 Mar 98 performance from Melbourne, and go to the Pearl Jam Soundstage, 'cause their incarnation is by far the best.
Holding hands are daughters and sons
And their faiths are falling down down down down
I have wished for so long
How I wish for you today
'Long Road', the second Merkinball cut, reminds me of a Scottish song. Maybe it's because it sounds like one (that's probably why), but I just does. It's a rather long, slow and brooding song, yet it seems to be one of skewered joy, kind of like saying "good bye" but knowing you'll be back again.
On the trivia side, there's a really groovin' version of this song floating around that was performed by Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant, and man, it is cool. You might be able to find it on a few bootlegs, and the MP3 certainly isn't hard to uncover. If you have the time, seek it out, 'cause it's worth it.
Oh you fellas better change your ways, oh yeah
They're leaving this town in a matter of days, oh yeah
Girl is good, you better treat 'em true, oh yeah
Seen fellas runnin' around with someone new, oh yeah
I love 'Leaving Here'. Originally found on the Home Alive benefit CD and recorded specifically for that event, it has since found its way into the occasional setlist, and while I can only imagine as to what it's like live, it certainly kicks some mean ass as a studio track.
'Leaving Here' was originally a Motown track by the High Numbers, who later became known as the Who. (Yeah!) It's pretty much what you'd expect from a Motown song, which is a good thing.
Cold wind blows on the soles of my feet
Heaven knows nothing of me
I'm lost, nowhere to go
Oh, when I was a kid... oh, how magic it seemed
Oh, please let me sleep, it's Christmas time
'Let Me Sleep', found on the very first Ten Club single, is, well... a Christmas song. Yup. A Christmas song. And that's really all there is to it. It's got some kind of bongo-drumming, some guitars, and some lyrics. Lyrics about Christmas. Yessir... Christmas.
You've thrown the worst fear, that could ever be hurled
The fear to bring children, into this world
For threatenin' my baby, unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood that runs in your veins
If there's one thing you've gotta admit about Bob Dylan, it's that he's so damn cool. (One could say he's tied with Neil for the Man Himself Award.) 'Masters Of War', a song of protest, only reinforces this conjecture.
The Eddie/Mike version of 'MoW' can be found on the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Celebration, a two-CD extravaganza celebrating the music of the famed folk superstar. You can also find the entire performance on VHS cassette, and although I have only seen bits and pieces of it, it looks damn good, and definitely worth looking into.
I ate it up and I had to spit it out
I passed it on, and I stood tall
And I did it my way...
You know, I'm not really into Frank Sinatra all that much, but you gotta give credit where it's due, and in the history of music, this is pretty much responsible for giving pop music its shape and definition. (He was, after all, the first real pop star back in the day.) Plus, this song was written in part by Paul Anka, Canadian! Yeah!
This particular 'My Way' was performed in Las Vegas on 30 Nov 1993 by Eddie and Terry Presley and can be found on the 1995 Ten Club single set. (This was the same show at which Green River held their quasi-reunion performance, by the way, which can also be found in the set.)
I'll be like Dwight Stone
I'll be like Bruce Jenner
I'll be like that girl who trained all her life as a distance runner
And then tripped with a quarter mile to go
But I, I will get up and I will run
I will run with the Georgia peach breeze and I, I will win
I will win my...
'Olympic Platinum' is damn funny, and that's all there is to it. Basically, it's the result of some left over tape from the No Code sessions, and it's pretty much as sarcastic a song as you can get. If you can find a copy of the 1996 Ten Club single or an MP3, get it and give it a listen, 'cause you'll probably laugh. I guarantee it. (Not a guarantee. Supplied limited. Not available in the province of Quebec.)
Oh shit, I'm empty, but I got a shank on the side so don't even tempt me
Runnin' the program, Cypress Hill on the real
With the Pearl Jam and I'm packin' the steel
I'm not the biggest rap fan out there, so I wouldn't exactly say that 'Real Thing' is on the top of my favorite song heap, but I guess if you like Cypress Hill, you'll enjoy this tune. (And hey, the Stone reference don't hurt either, eh?)
The song itself can be found on the 'Judgement Night' soundtrack, and although it doesn't appear in the film itself, it was added as a bonus track for some reason or another.
People out on the streets, they don't know who I am
I watch them from my room, they are just passing by
I'm not just anyone, said I'm not just anyone
I got my time machine, got my little electronic dream
Although I don't think I've ever heard a Dead Boys song in my life, I gotta say this -- 'Sonic Reducer' rules. It's a hard rockin', no-nonsense, freak-out song, and I like that.
'Sonic Reducer' is found in two incarnations, both of which can be found on two separate Ten Club singles. The first one, released in 1992, was a studio track; the second, released in 1995, was a live performance from New Orleans on 17 Sep 1995, and featured Joey-frickin'-Ramone himself. (This is the version I have, by the way, and it grooves like none other.)
I couldn't stop
So I swerved to the right
I'll never forget the sound that night
The screaming tires
The busting glass
The painful scream that I heard last
'Last Kiss' is... well... it's different, in that special kind of way. It's pretty much what you'd expect from a 1964 number 2 hit, but it's a little bit deeper than the standard top 40 of the time. Just what you'd expect from Pearl Jam I guess, eh?
Since the release of the 1999 Christmas single, 'Last Kiss' has certainly taken on a life of its own. For some inexplicable reason, 'Last Kiss' has gone from an obscure fan club single to a ridiculously popular chart topper -- the biggest hit in the band's history. While most of the hard core fans (including this one) are sick of the damn song, the middle of the road fans still seem to kind of get a kick out of it. Fortunately, the song is losing steam fast, and although it still works its way into quite a few live performances, its flare seems to be steadily dying out.
The weapons you're using are hurting me bad
And someday you're going to see
'Cause my love for you, baby
Is the truest you've ever had
A Soldier of love I've had to be
I just listened to Pearl Jam's cover of 'Solider Of Love' just a few short minutes ago, and aside from a bit of over-bass, it sounds pretty damn good. It's not quite the Beatles, but let's face, no one will ever be the Beatles. I don't seem to remember ever hearing the original by Arthur Alexander, but I'm sure his was great as well.
The song itself is pretty boppy in that '60's-Beatlesque sort of way, and if you enjoyed Pearl Jam's cover of 'I've Got A Feeling', then you're going to love 'Soldier Of Love'.
Follow the ageless tide
Follow the angle's light
Follow the strangest tribe
Judging from the response seen on the various Pearl Jam message boards last year (most notably MFC), 'Strangest Tribe' is one of those songs you either love or you hate. I'll admit that I'm no great fan of the song, but I can see the attraction -- it's quite soothing and makes a great sedative. Personally, I rarely listen to my mp3 (I'll join the fan club one day, I swear), but I know a lot of people who can't get enough of it.
I really don't have a clue what tribe Stone is refering to here. Maybe it's the band. Maybe it's the fans. Maybe it's some sort of secret society of mutant pig-midgets that consider Stone, Leonard Nimoy and Johnathan Winters gods. I don't know.
Suitcoats say there is money to be made
They get so damn excited but I guess it's their way
My road it may be longer just because its not paved
Just will be driftin', driftin' away
'Drifting' can sort of be thought of as a warm up to 'Soon Forget'. The themes are definitely similar -- irresponsible hoarding of wealth is pointless and shallow -- but the perspective and voice are quite different. While 'Soon Forget' is aimed squarely at those greedy cash mongers that Ed so despises, 'Drifting' is much more laid back, instead focusing on personal lifestyle rather than pointing out the shortcomings of others.
Hunters of land
Hunters of sea
Exploit anything for money
I'm a friend
To anybody
That takes advantage of what that is free
'The Whale Song' is a baffling song. Why is it that Pearl Jam always seems to pick the weirdest songs for their contributions to the MOM benefits?
Noteable for being Jack Iron's last hurrah with the band and as being one of the few songs in which Ed doesn't take lead vocals, 'The Whale Song' is quite obviously a shot at the arcane act of whaling. The rhythm of the song is 100% Irons, and the vocals, while somewhat unintelligible in some spots, are quite melodic and... uh... unobtrusive? Yes, that'll do.
Like a crown of thorns
It's all in what you know
So don't burn your bridges, woman
'Cause someday
I'll admit it. I don't listen to Mother Love Bone. I have listened to MLB, and while they were pretty damn good, I'm not one of those people who listen to other bands just because it has some sort of connection to Pearl Jam.
That being said, 'Crown Of Thorns' is one of the few MLB tunes I've listened to with any sort of regularity. (In fact, I think it's the only MLB song I own, as it can be found in a slightly altered form on the 'Singles' soundtrack.)
In my opinion, 'Crown Of Thorns', rocks. I haven't really thought about the lyrics too much, 'cause I kind of get absorbed in the music while I listen and don't focus too much on the words, so that ought to tell you something right there.
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
What the hell is it with this band and strange covers? Just when everybody thought they had them pigeon-holed into strictly Neil Young and Who covers, out comes the 2000 North American tour and we start seeing things like Buddy Holly's 'Everyday' and the 2000 fan club single b-side, 'Can't Help Falling In Love'.
Is there really anything I can say about this song that would surprise anybody? It's an Elvis cover -- it's a tune that everybody (everybody) knows.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]