You’ve heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" a thousand times. Maybe more. It’s the song that basically redefined the 90s, launched a million flannel shirts, and eventually made Kurt Cobain want to scream—and not in the cool, artistic way. But if you think that’s all there is to the band, you're missing about 70% of the picture.
The real magic is buried. It’s in the fuzzy, distorted B-sides and the raw, unpolished home demos that surfaced years after the lights went out in 1994. Honestly, looking at a full Nirvana songs list is like looking at a map of a beautiful, chaotic disaster. You have the polished studio tracks, sure, but then you have the weird stuff—the songs about rubber alcohol and the covers of obscure Scottish psych-rock bands.
Nirvana didn't have a massive discography compared to bands like the Rolling Stones. They only gave us three real studio albums. Yet, their "official" catalog is surprisingly deep once you start digging into the box sets and the 20th-anniversary reissues.
The Big Three: Studio Album Essentials
Most people start with the albums. It makes sense. Bleach was the heavy, sludge-filled debut that sounded like it was recorded in a basement (because it basically was). Nevermind was the shiny, Butch Vig-produced masterpiece that changed the world. Then In Utero was the deliberate middle finger to that fame, sounding thin, abrasive, and hauntingly real.
Bleach (1989)
This is Nirvana before they were "Nirvana." It’s heavy on the Sub Pop "Seattle Sound."
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- Blew
- Floyd the Barber
- About a Girl (The only real "pop" song on the record)
- School
- Love Buzz (A Shocking Blue cover)
- Paper Cuts
- Negative Creep
- Scoff
- Swap Meet
- Mr. Moustache
- Sifting
- Big Cheese
- Downer
Nevermind (1991)
The one everyone knows. It’s perfect. Every single track.
- Smells Like Teen Spirit
- In Bloom
- Come as You Are
- Breed
- Lithium
- Polly
- Territorial Pissings
- Drain You
- Lounge Act
- Stay Away
- On a Plain
- Something in the Way
- Endless, Nameless (The hidden track that scared the life out of anyone who left their CD playing)
In Utero (1993)
Kurt wanted to go back to the "noise." Steve Albini helped him do it. It’s raw.
- Serve the Servants
- Scentless Apprentice
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Rape Me
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle
- Dumb
- Very Ape
- Milk It
- Pennyroyal Tea
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
- tourette's
- All Apologies
The Lost Gems and B-Sides
Here is where it gets interesting. If you only stick to the three albums, you miss some of their best work. Songs like "Aneurysm" are arguably better than anything on the radio. It's got that quiet-loud-quiet dynamic that defined the era, but it feels more dangerous.
Then there's "Sappy." Kurt recorded that song over and over for years—at least five different studio versions exist. He was never happy with it. But for fans, it’s a holy grail. It finally ended up on the No Alternative compilation under the title "Verse Chorus Verse" (not to be confused with the actual song titled "Verse Chorus Verse," which is a whole other thing).
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The Essential Non-Album Tracks:
- Aneurysm – Frequently voted by fans as their absolute best song.
- Sliver – A catchy, melodic punk song about being dropped off at your grandparents' house.
- Dive – Heavy, groovy, and quintessential early Nirvana.
- Even in His Youth – A blistering B-side from the Teen Spirit single.
- Marigold – The only Nirvana song written and sung by Dave Grohl. It’s a glimpse into what would become the Foo Fighters.
- You Know You're Right – The final song they ever recorded. It sat in a vault for nearly a decade due to legal battles before being released in 2002. It’s haunting.
Covers That They Made Their Own
Nirvana was a "fan" band. They loved their influences and weren't afraid to show it. Most people know "The Man Who Sold the World" from the MTV Unplugged session. A lot of kids in the 90s actually thought Kurt wrote it. David Bowie famously said he hated that after his own shows, kids would tell him, "It's cool that you're doing a Nirvana song."
- Molly's Lips (The Vaselines)
- Son of a Gun (The Vaselines)
- Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam (The Vaselines)
- D-7 (The Wipers)
- Return of the Rat (The Wipers)
- Lake of Fire (Meat Puppets)
- Plateau (Meat Puppets)
- Oh, Me (Meat Puppets)
- Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Lead Belly)
That Lead Belly cover is heavy. The way Kurt's voice cracks at the very end? That wasn't planned. It was just pure, unfiltered emotion. It’s probably one of the most famous moments in music history, and it's a cover of a folk song from the 1870s.
Why the Full List Matters
When you look at all Nirvana songs list, you see the evolution of a songwriter who was constantly at war with himself. You see the transition from the "heavy-heavy" stuff of Bleach to the melodic brilliance of Nevermind, and then the self-destruction of In Utero.
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There are also the "curiosities." Have you heard "Beans"? It’s Kurt messing around with a pitch-shifter. It’s barely a song. It’s more like an insight into his sense of humor—which was often overlooked because everyone focused on the "tortured artist" narrative.
And don't forget the With the Lights Out box set. It's a goldmine. You get "Do Re Mi," a beautiful home demo recorded in early 1994 that sounds almost like a lullaby. You get "Old Age," a song Kurt eventually gave to Courtney Love for her band, Hole. You get the raw power of "Pen Cap Chew" from their very first demo session with Dale Crover on drums.
Making Your Own Ultimate Nirvana Playlist
If you’re trying to move beyond the Greatest Hits, don't just hit shuffle. You've got to be strategic.
Start with the Incesticide compilation. It’s basically the "fourth" album, collecting B-sides and BBC sessions. It’s got "Aero Zeppelin" and "Big Long Now," which show off the band's more experimental, sludgy side.
Then, move to the live recordings. Nirvana was a different beast on stage. Live at Reading is legendary for a reason. They were tight, loud, and completely in control of the chaos. If you want something more intimate, the Unplugged album is the obvious choice, but check out the Live at the Paramount recordings for the peak of their Nevermind-era energy.
Actionable Steps for the True Fan:
- Listen to "Aneurysm" (Live at Reading version). It’s the definitive performance of their best non-album track.
- Track down the "Smart Studios" demos. These were recorded with Butch Vig before they signed to DGC. They include early versions of Nevermind tracks like "Lithium" and "Stay Away" (then called "Pay to Play") that feel a bit grittier.
- Read the liner notes of Incesticide. Kurt wrote them himself, and they offer a rare, direct look at his mindset regarding his fans and the "grunge" explosion.
- Compare "Sappy" versions. Listen to the 1990 version versus the 1993 version. It's a masterclass in how a song can change with different production and energy.
Nirvana’s music wasn't just about the three minutes of radio-friendly grunge that made them famous. It was about the friction between pop melody and total sonic collapse. By exploring the full list of their recordings—the mistakes, the covers, and the forgotten B-sides—you get a much more honest look at the band that changed everything.