Verse Chorus Verse (Nirvana album)

Development

In August 1994, DGC, Nirvana's label, announced a double album called Verse Chorus Verse. One disc would hold live recordings from across the band's career, while the other would feature their MTV Unplugged set. It was scheduled for release on November 1, 1994. In the UK, Music Week reported in October 1994 that the album would drop two weeks before the band's first home video, Live!

Tonight! Sold Out!!, which came out there on November 14, 1994, and that both would be promoted together. But bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl found putting the material together so soon after Kurt Cobain's death too emotionally difficult. Cashbox magazine noted in its September 3, 1994 issue that the album was being compiled, but in the next issue, dated September 10, 1994, it said the plan had shifted and only the MTV Unplugged performance would be released.

Jim Merlis, head of Geffen, explained that the releases were driven by high demand for new Nirvana recordings and because the Unplugged set was already widely bootlegged. Though DGC suggested work on the live disc hadn't gone far, Merlis stated in a 1997 Goldmine article that it was actually complete except for mixing. He called it a whole, cohesive album, different from the one that later came out. A TV ad was made for the album.

A CD-Maxi single was also planned, with concept artwork shared by art director Robert Fisher on Instagram in July 2023. That single would have included five songs: "About A Girl" (from Unplugged), "About A Girl" (October 31, 1991, Paramount Theatre, Seattle), "Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam" (October 31, 1991, Paramount Theatre, Seattle), "Pennyroyal Tea" (February 18, 1994, Summon, Grenoble, France), and "On a Plain" (January 7, 1994, Seattle Centre Arena, Seattle, WA), all remixed from the original recordings by Scott Litt.

Personnel

Disc 1 features Nirvana with Kurt Cobain on vocals and guitar, Krist Novoselic on bass, Chad Channing on drums for Sappy (Verse Chorus Verse), Spank Thru, and Dive, and Dave Grohl on drums for all other tracks except tracks 6, 8, and 12. Additional musicians include Pat Smear on rhythm guitar for Serve The Servants, Heart-Shaped Box, School, and Scentless Apprentice, and Lori Goldston on cello for Blew. Disc 2 features Nirvana with Kurt Cobain on lead vocals and acoustic guitar except on tracks 10, 11, and 12, Krist Novoselic on acoustic bass, accordion on track 3, and acoustic rhythm guitar on tracks 10, 11, and 12, Dave Grohl on drums, backing vocals, and acoustic bass on track 3, and Pat Smear on acoustic guitar except on tracks 5, 10, 11, and 12.

Additional musicians include Lori Goldston on cello except on tracks 1, 2, 5, 10, 11, and 12, and the Meat Puppets: Cris Kirkwood on acoustic bass and backing vocals on tracks 10, 11, and 12, and Curt Kirkwood on acoustic lead guitar on tracks 10, 11, and 12.