The titles Laminated Effect
and Blathers Log
are thought to apply to some of the compositions listed above, though it is not yet clear which.
| Source | Quality | Complete | Runtime | Lowest Gen | Tracks Featured | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBD #1a | 9.0 | No | 0:15:43 | ANA(1)>FLAC | • Spank Thru • Unknown #6 • Class Of '86 • Unknown #7 • Downer |
Unknown #6 has a snippet of random audio overwritten onto it. |
| SBD #1b | 2.0 | No | 0:01:51 | ANA(X)>AUD>MP3 (96 kbps) | • Unknown #5 • Unknown #7 |
All tracks are open mic recorded and cut. |
| SBD #1c | 8.0 | No | 0:09:25 | ANA(X)>MySpace stream (96 kpbs)>FLAC | • Sound Of Dentage • Bambi Slaughter • Made Not Born |
Features some between-song noises not found on other sources. |
| SBD #1d | 8.5 | No | 0:10:19 | ANA(X)>FLAC | • Sound Of Dentage • Reefer Madness Excerpts • Bambi Slaughter • Made Not Born • Unknown #1 |
Unknown #1 cuts out. |
| SBD #1e | 1.0 | No | 0:16:22 | ANA(X)>AUD>MP3 (192 kbps) | • Sound Of Dentage • Bambi Slaughter • Made Not Born • Unknown #1 • Unknown #2 • Unknown #3 • Unknown #4 • Unknown #5 • Class Of '86 • Unknown #7 • Downer • Unknown #3 (instrumental) |
All tracks are open mic recorded and cut. |
Following the departure of Greg Hokanson, Fecal Matter continued to rehearse as a two-piece. In December 1985, Cobain and Crover journeyed up to Seattle, to the home of Cobain's aunt Mari Earl, to cut a demo on her 4-track TEAC A-2340 deck. (4 & 1)
He arrived with a huge notebook full of lyrics,
recalled Earl. I showed him how to adjust a few things, how to record with the reel-to-reel, and he went right at it.
(20)
The drums were strong and forceful,
Earl remarked. The guitar riffs were fast and furious, with a powerful hook. The lyrical content was rebellious and angry. Mostly slams against society in general. Kurt didn't like the social ladder in school. Kids thinking they were cool because they wore the
(1)right
clothes or were handsome or pretty, or had money. His songs back then reflected his opinions about these things.
Early versions of Spank Thru and Downer were tracked, as well as Sound Of Dentage, Bambi Slaughter, and a slew of untitled songs. Upon returning to Aberdeen, Cobain used the Shillingers' tape deck to dub off copies. (20) He named the demo Illiteracy Will Prevail.
Fecal Matter continued to rehearse for a while, albeit with an altered line-up - Buzz Osborne assuming bass duties and Mike Dillard drums - but the project quickly dissolved. (4)
After almost a year of foisting copies of the demo onto friends and associates, Illiteracy Will Prevail finally caught the attention of Osborne's friend, Krist Novoselic. Novoselic was impressed enough that he approached Cobain about forming a band. (6)
We append the above with notes on some of the misleading and counterfeit items in circulation:
The commercial bootleg, Fecal Matter, includes songs from the Reciprocal Sessions, but nothing from the real Fecal Matter demo.
A widespread forgery, traded to Rob Holmes in 1997, was later found to be the work of hoaxer, William Clarke. (2) For an in-depth look at the fake Fecal Matter demo, please see The LiveNIRVANA Fakes Guide.
© Alex Roberts.