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Superunknown

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Untitled

Superunknown was the fifth album by the grunge band Soundgarden and their third through A&M Records. It was released March 8, 1994 (see 1994 in music).

The name "Spoonman" is credited to Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam. While on the set of the movie Singles, Jeff, who was part of the fictional band featured in the movie, came up with a list of possible titles. Chris Cornell took it as a challenge to write a list of songs using those titles, and "Spoonman" was one of them. The song, and its video, featured Artis the Spoonman, who is a street entertainer in Seattle, and a demo version of the song is used in the movie.

In a 1994 Pulse! Magazine interview [1], Chris Cornell said that the inspiration for the album's title came from his misreading a video that said Superclown.

The album shows a Beatles influence, particularly on "Black Hole Sun" and "Head Down". In a 1994 interview with Guitar World, Kim Thayil explains this: "We looked deep down inside the very core of our souls and there was a little Ringo sitting there. Oh sure, we like telling people it's John Lennon or George Harrison; but when you really look deep inside of Soundgarden, there's a little Ringo wanting to get out."

Although "Limo Wreck" was not officially released as a single, it remained in the top 30 of the Modern Rock Charts. Template:RS500

Superunknown also saw a limited release on 12" colored vinyl (blue, orange, and clear, among other colors), as a double-LP in a gatefold sleeve.

During the recording sessions "Flutter Girl" was written, but didn't appear in the record. Instead, it made it way on Chris Cornell's solo album

Track listing

  1. "Let Me Drown" (Cornell) - 3:51
  2. "My Wave" (Cornell) - 5:12
  3. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) - 4:42
  4. "Mailman" (Cornell) - 4:25
  5. "Superunknown" (Cornell) - 5:06
  6. "Head Down" (Shepherd) - 6:08
  7. "Black Hole Sun" (Cornell) - 5:18
  8. "Spoonman" (Cornell) - 4:06
  9. "Limo Wreck" (Cornell) - 5:47
  10. "The Day I Tried to Live" (Cornell) - 5:19
  11. "Kickstand" (Cornell) - 1:34
  12. "Fresh Tendrils" (Cornell) - 4:16
  13. "4th Of July" (Cornell) - 5:08
  14. "Half" (Shepherd) - 2:14
  15. "Like Suicide" (Cornell) - 7:01
  16. "She Likes Surprises" - 3:16

"She Likes Surprises" only appears on the international versions of the album, and is also included as a bonus track on the US 12" LP release.

Chart Positions

Album

Year Chart Position
1994 Billboard Top 200 1

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1994 "Black Hole Sun" Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1994 "Black Hole Sun" Modern Rock Tracks 2
1994 "Black Hole Sun" Top 40 Mainstream Tracks 9
1994 "Fell On Black Days" Mainstream Rock Tracks 4
1994 "Fell On Black Days" Modern Rock Tracks 13
1994 "My Wave" Mainstream Rock Tracks 11
1994 "My Wave" Modern Rock Tracks 18
1994 "Spoonman" Mainstream Rock Tracks 3
1994 "Spoonman" Modern Rock Tracks 9
1995 "The Day I Tried To Live" Mainstream Rock Tracks 13
1995 "The Day I Tried To Live" Modern Rock Tracks 25
1995 "Superunknown" Mainstream Rock Tracks 24
1995 "Limo Wreck" Modern Rock Tracks 15


Personnel

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