The Kitchen Tapes (Weezer)
Encyclopedia
The Kitchen Tapes is a demo
tape by Weezer
. It was recorded on August 1, 1992, prior to the band's signing with Geffen Records. Although the band had recorded some demos before, these were their most serious attempt at the time. According to Karl Koch, the band's webmaster and historian, the purpose of the tape was "...to get shows and also try and make an impression. There were no aspirations yet to try and generate real label interest, but the concept of 'creating a buzz' was being thrown around."
The demos were recorded using frontman Rivers Cuomo
's 8-track tape recorder, in a rented garage next to the "Amherst House", where Weezer rehearsed at that time. The name of the tape comes from the fact that the drums were recorded in a kitchen, because that's where the band felt that they sounded the best.
Bootlegs of this demo have surfaced, however they only feature five of the eight songs. One of the songs that don't appear on the bootleg, "Undone - The Sweater Song
", along with one that does, "Only in Dreams
", were released officially on the Blue Album Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc, Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets. The Kitchen Tapes version of "Say It Ain't So" and "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" have not been bootlegged or officially released.
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
tape by Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
. It was recorded on August 1, 1992, prior to the band's signing with Geffen Records. Although the band had recorded some demos before, these were their most serious attempt at the time. According to Karl Koch, the band's webmaster and historian, the purpose of the tape was "...to get shows and also try and make an impression. There were no aspirations yet to try and generate real label interest, but the concept of 'creating a buzz' was being thrown around."
The demos were recorded using frontman Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
's 8-track tape recorder, in a rented garage next to the "Amherst House", where Weezer rehearsed at that time. The name of the tape comes from the fact that the drums were recorded in a kitchen, because that's where the band felt that they sounded the best.
Bootlegs of this demo have surfaced, however they only feature five of the eight songs. One of the songs that don't appear on the bootleg, "Undone - The Sweater Song
Undone - The Sweater Song
"Undone – The Sweater Song" is a song by the American alternative rock band Weezer, released on their self-titled 1994 debut album. It was released as their debut single in 1994...
", along with one that does, "Only in Dreams
Only in Dreams (song)
"Only in Dreams" is a song by the band Weezer. It is the 10th and final track on their 1994 self-titled debut album. At nearly eight minutes it is currently the longest song by Weezer...
", were released officially on the Blue Album Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc, Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets. The Kitchen Tapes version of "Say It Ain't So" and "The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" have not been bootlegged or officially released.
Songs
Of the eight songs on the demo, five of them were re-recorded for the band's debut album, Weezer (The Blue Album). In 2004, Weezer was re-released in a deluxe edition, which included the versions of "Undone", "Paperface" and "Only in Dreams" from this demo as bonus tracks. "Thief, You've Taken All That Was Me" and "Let's Sew our Pants Together" have not been officially released.Track listing
- "Thief, You've Taken All That Was Me"
- "My Name Is JonasMy Name is Jonas"My Name Is Jonas" is a song by alternative rock band Weezer, written by Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson and Jason Cropper that appears on their self-titled debut 1994 album Weezer, also known as The Blue Album...
" - "Let's Sew our Pants Together"
- "UndoneUndone - The Sweater Song"Undone – The Sweater Song" is a song by the American alternative rock band Weezer, released on their self-titled 1994 debut album. It was released as their debut single in 1994...
" - "Paperface"
- "Say It Ain't SoSay It Ain't So"Say It Ain't So" is a song by the American rock band Weezer. It was released as the third single from their self-titled 1994 debut album.Written by frontman Rivers Cuomo, the song came to be after he had all the music finished and one line, "Say it ain't so"...
" - "Only in DreamsOnly in Dreams (song)"Only in Dreams" is a song by the band Weezer. It is the 10th and final track on their 1994 self-titled debut album. At nearly eight minutes it is currently the longest song by Weezer...
" - "The World Has TurnedThe World Has Turned and Left Me Here"The World has Turned and Left Me Here" is the third track off Weezer's self-titled first album, commonly referred to as The Blue Album.- Overview :...
"
I. Later re-recorded for the band's debut album.
II. Demo released on the deluxe edition of the band's debut album
Personnel
- Rivers CuomoRivers CuomoRivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Matt SharpMatt SharpMatthew Kelly Sharp is a founding member and former bassist for the band Weezer. In 1994, he started a band called The Rentals and released their debut album shortly after Weezer's first release, their second album in 1999, and an EP in 2007...
- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals - Jason CropperJason CropperJason Cropper is a musician best known as an original member of the band Weezer.-Early years:Cropper claimed to have picked up the guitar at age 16. His mother reports that he first "rocked" to a small 45 rpm record in his bedroom where he played "Let's Go To The Hop" by Danny and the Juniors. He...
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Vocals - Patrick WilsonPatrick Wilson (musician)Patrick "Pat" George Wilson is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Weezer. He joined the band in 1992. In addition to his work in Weezer, he also fronts his own band, The Special Goodness....
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
External links
- The Weezer recording history: Page 3 - Information from Karl Koch on early Weezer recordings, including The Kitchen Tapes