You’re No Big Deal: Grunge, the U.S. Underground and Beyond, 1984-1994 (deluxe edition)

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

• 4CD SET EXPLORING GRUNGE AND THE AMERICAN ALTERNATIVE UNDERGROUND 1984-1994.

• COMPILED WITH MUDHONEY’S MARK ARM.

• FEATURES SOUNDGARDEN, MUDHONEY, DINOSAUR JR, HOLE, GREEN RIVER, MELVINS, SKIN YARD, SCREAM, TAD, SONIC YOUTH, HUSKER DU, PIXIES, MEAT PUPPETS, SCREAMING TREES, PAVEMENT, L7, FLAMING LIPS, VERUCA SALT, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, TEMPLE OF THE DOG, BABES IN TOYLAND AND MORE….

• ALSO FEATURES A HANDFUL OF ANTIPODEAN BANDS BELOVED OF THE SEATTLE SCENE.

• SLEEVENOTES BY MARK ARM.

During the late 1980s, whilst pop, rap and glam metal dominated the American airwaves, underground musicians sought an antidote. During the middle of the decade, from Seattle in the west to New York in the east, bands immersed in a less highly polished, raw and more powerful sound began to emerge, fusing punky garage band attitude with meaningful, often disenchanted lyrics and lashings of distortion to create something new. The “grunge” tag quickly took hold, absorbing bands from all over the States and becoming a social phenomenon, drawing countless other underground and college circuit bands into its orbit in the process. Overnight, macho rock was dead.

Featuring an embarrassment of key bands and classic tracks, alongside lesser-known nuggets and a hand-picked selection of Australasian artists who were inadvertently feeding into the scene, ‘You’re No Big Deal’ explores a vital period in post-punk American musical history, the rebirth of rock music and its new place among the underground elite. With sleevenotes from Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, whose previous band Green River were the first to be given the “grunge” tag, this is an on-the-ground, broad reaching dive into a time and place that saw the unlikeliest of anti-rock stars recalibrate what American guitar-based music could be, reconnecting it with ordinary suburban kids and reigniting punk rock’s spirit.

Packed with over 80 tracks spanning a decade, and presented in roughly chronological order, ‘You’re No Big Deal’ tells a story that spread far beyond the ambitions of its key players.

Made in the E.U.

Annotation last modified on 2025-12-19 21:38 UTC.

Tracklist

1CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Come On Down
assistant engineer:
Paul Scoles
engineer:
Chris Hanzsek
producer:
Green River and Chris Hanzsek
bass:
Jeff Ament
guitar:
Stone Gossard and Steve Turner (American guitarist, member of Mudhoney, Green River)
membranophone:
Alex Vincent
vocals:
Mark Arm
recorded at:
Crow Studios in Seattle, Washington, United States (in 1984-12)
mixed at:
Ironwood Studios in Seattle, Washington, United States (in 1985-02)
recording of:
Come on Down
lyricist:
Mark Arm
composer:
Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard
Green River3:21
2Linda Blair 1984
Redd Kross4:43
3Stooge
10 Minute Warning3:12
4Villains (Also Wear White)
Bam Bam3:09
5One Step Closer
Poison 133:29
6Swimming Ground
Meat Puppets3:07
7Look for the Light
Feast4:22
8If It's the Last Thing I Do
The Scientists3:59
9Crystal
engineer:
Steve Fjelstad (from 1985-10 until 1986-01)
producer:
Grant Hart (from 1985-10 until 1986-01) and Bob Mould (from 1985-10 until 1986-01)
recorded at and mixed at:
Nicollet Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (from 1985-10 until 1986-01)
recording of:
Crystal (from 1985-10 until 1986-01)
lyricist and composer:
Bob Mould
Hüsker Dü53:27
10My Only Fan
Malfunkshun4:28
11Little Fury Things
live recording of:
Little Fury Things (in 2005-12)
lyricist and composer:
J Mascis (US musician, member of Dinosaur Jr.)
publisher:
Spam as the Bread Music
Dinosaur Jr.3:06
12Hunted Down
recording of:
Hunted Down (Soundgarden Song)
lyricist:
Chris Cornell (Soundgarden lead singer)
composer:
Kim Thayil (lead guitarist for Soundgarden)
Soundgarden22:45
13Solid Action
U-Men2:13
14Caribou
live recording of:
Caribou
lyricist and composer:
Black Francis (US singer, songwriter & guitarist)
Pixies3:16
15Curtains
feedtime4:26
16The Ledge
recording engineer and mixer:
John Hampton (engineer, producer) and Joe Hardy (US producer, engineer and musician, notably associated with ZZ Top among others)
producer:
Jim Dickinson
bass flute:
Steve Douglas (American saxophonist, flautist and clarinetist)
bass guitar:
Tommy Stinson
drums (drum set):
Chris Mars
guitar and lead vocals:
Paul Westerberg
keyboard:
East Memphis Slim
music videos:
The Ledge (music video) by The Replacements
recording of:
The Ledge
lyricist and composer:
Paul Westerberg
publisher:
Nah Music
The Replacements34:07
17Maximum Dream for Evil KnievelThe Flaming Lips32:53
18This Town
Green River3:24
19Can't Come In
recording of:
Can't Come In (Cosmic Psychos Song)
writer:
Peter Jones (Australian guitarist), Ross Knight and Bill Walsh
Cosmic Psychos2:20
20Jesus on TV
The Celibate Rifles2:16
21Mom and Dad Like the Baby More Than Me
Happy Flowers4:24
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