Superunknown
Studio album by Soundgarden
Released	March 8, 1994
Recorded	October - November 1993 in Seattle, Washington
Genre	Grunge
Length	70:15 / 73:33* *international edition
Label	A&M
Producer(s)	Michael Beinhorn, Soundgarden
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link Robert Christgau (A-) link Q November 1993
Soundgarden chronology
Badmotorfinger (1991)	Superunknown (1994)	Songs from the Superunknown (1995)

Superunknown is the fourth album by the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden. It was released in March 1994 through A&M Records. The following year it was nominated a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, and picked up 2 Grammys for the songs Black Hole Sun and Spoonman. Superunknown had 6 charting singles. No other grunge band had released an album with 6 commercially successful, charting singles - including Nirvana, Alice in Chains or Pearl Jam. The album went 6x platinum and granted Soundgarden huge international recognition. In 2003, the album was ranked number 336 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Image File history File links Superunknown. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Soundgarden was an influential Seattle rock band who helped to define the sound that came to be called grunge. ... March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County King County Incorporated December 2 1869 Government  - Mayor Greg Nickels (NP) Area  - City  142. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is an independent-rooted music genre that became a commercially successful offshoot of hardcore punk, thrash metal, and alternative rock in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A&M Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Universal Music Group. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Michael Beinhorn is an American musician and record producer. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Robert Christgau (2006) Robert Christgau (sometimes abbreviated in print to Xgau), born April 18, 1942, is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics[1] His first reviews were published by Esquire in 1967. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Soundgarden was an influential Seattle rock band who helped to define the sound that came to be called grunge. ... Badmotorfinger is the third album by the band Soundgarden. ... Songs from the Superunknown is an EP album by the grunge band Soundgarden. ... Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle Sound) is a genre of alternative rock inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock. ... Soundgarden was an influential Seattle rock band who helped to define the sound that came to be called grunge. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Grammy Award for Best Rock Album has been awarded since 1995. ... Black Hole Sun is a song by 1990s grunge band Soundgarden. ... For the Triple M radio announcer, see The Spoonman. ... This article is about the Buddhist concept. ... Alice in Chains is a popular and influential grunge band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987, and was one of the most commercially successful bands from the Seattle grunge music scene, selling over 10 million albums worldwide (counting only their three studio albums and their EP Jar of Flies). ... Pearl Jam is a Grammy Award-winning American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Promotional Book Cover The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2003. ...

In a 1994 Pulse! Magazine interview [1], Chris Cornell said that the inspiration for the album's title came from his misreading of a video entitled Superclown. The cover artwork (known as the 'Screaming Elf') is a distorted photograph of the band members above an upside-down burning forest.

The album is greatly experimental and diverse in comparison with the band's previous releases. It also shows a Beatles influence, particularly on songs such as "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." The Beatles were a British rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... Black Hole Sun is a song by 1990s grunge band Soundgarden. ... Two issues of Guitar World featuring Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix on the covers, and the accompanying CDs (May 2005, October 2005) Guitar World is a musical magazine. ... Kim Thayil (born September 4, 1960 in Seattle, Washington) is best known as the guitarist for Seattle, USA grunge band Soundgarden, which he founded with Chris Cornell and Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. ... Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940 in Liverpool),[1] known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The album also saw a limited release on 12" colored vinyl (blue, orange, and clear, among other colors), as a double-LP in a gatefold sleeve. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour as a 33 â…“ LP vinyl record A gramophone record (also phonograph record, or simply record) is an analogue sound recording medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed modulated spiral groove starting near the periphery and ending near the center of the disc. ... A gatefold cover or gatefold LP is a form of packaging for LP records which was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ...

Track listing

*"She Likes Surprises" only appears on the international versions of the album, and is also included as a bonus track on the U.S. 12" LP release. Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Kim Thayil (born September 4, 1960 in Seattle, Washington) is best known as the guitarist for Seattle, USA grunge band Soundgarden, which he founded with Chris Cornell and Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. ... Fell on Black Days is a song on Superunknown, the 1994 album by Soundgarden. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Matt Cameron (born Matthew D. Cameron, November 28, 1962, in San Diego, California) is an American musician renowned for playing drums in the grunge rock bands Soundgarden (1986-1997) and Pearl Jam (1998-present). ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Songs from the Superunknown is an EP album by the grunge band Soundgarden. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Kim Thayil (born September 4, 1960 in Seattle, Washington) is best known as the guitarist for Seattle, USA grunge band Soundgarden, which he founded with Chris Cornell and Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. ... Ben Shepherd (born Hunter Benedict Shepherd) (September 20, 1968) is an American musician renowned for playing bass in the band Soundgarden from 1990 until the bands 1997 break-up. ... Black Hole Sun is a song by 1990s grunge band Soundgarden. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... For the Triple M radio announcer, see The Spoonman. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Matt Cameron (born Matthew D. Cameron, November 28, 1962, in San Diego, California) is an American musician renowned for playing drums in the grunge rock bands Soundgarden (1986-1997) and Pearl Jam (1998-present). ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Kim Thayil (born September 4, 1960 in Seattle, Washington) is best known as the guitarist for Seattle, USA grunge band Soundgarden, which he founded with Chris Cornell and Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. ... The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Kim Thayil (born September 4, 1960 in Seattle, Washington) is best known as the guitarist for Seattle, USA grunge band Soundgarden, which he founded with Chris Cornell and Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. ... Matt Cameron (born Matthew D. Cameron, November 28, 1962, in San Diego, California) is an American musician renowned for playing drums in the grunge rock bands Soundgarden (1986-1997) and Pearl Jam (1998-present). ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... 4th of July is the 13th song from Soundgardens 1994 album Superunknown. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Ben Shepherd (born Hunter Benedict Shepherd) (September 20, 1968) is an American musician renowned for playing bass in the band Soundgarden from 1990 until the bands 1997 break-up. ... Like Suicide, the last track off of Soundgardens Superunknown was inspired when Chris Cornell was in his basement trying to write songs. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ...

Trivia

• The song "Black Hole Sun" was released as a single shortly after the death of grunge icon Kurt Cobain in 1994. It is arguably the band's most recognizable and popular song. The song's surreal music video received heavy airplay on music television and, in 1995, received the Clio Award for Alternative Music Video.

• The title of the song "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 song 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. A demo version of the song appears in the movie.

• "Flutter Girl" was written during the recording sessions but did not appear in the record. Instead, it eventually appeared on Chris Cornell's solo album, Euphoria Morning.

Black Hole Sun is a song by 1990s grunge band Soundgarden. ... Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – c. ... For the Triple M radio announcer, see The Spoonman. ... Jeff Ament (born March 10, 1963 in Big Sandy, Montana), is an American Rock bassist and one of the founding members of Pearl Jam. ... Pearl Jam is a Grammy Award-winning American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington. ... Singles (1992) is a film set in Seattle, written and directed by Cameron Crowe. ... Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Artis playing the spoons on a street in Seattle Artis the Spoonman is a street performer from Santa Cruz, California and later Seattle, who plays music with a sets of spoons. ... Busking is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ... Euphoria Morning is the first solo album released by Chris Cornell. ...

Chart positions

Album

Singles

Personnel

• Chris Cornell - Vocals; Guitar
• Kim Thayil - Guitar
• Ben Shepherd - Bass; Vocals on "Half" and "Spoonman"; Drums and percussion on "Head Down"; Guitar on "Half"
• Matt Cameron - Drums; Mellotron on "Mailman"

Additional Musicians

• Artis the Spoonman - Spoons on "Spoonman"
• Michael Beinhorn - Producer, Piano on "Let Me Drown"
• David Collins - Mastering
• Jason Corsaro - Engineer
• Adam Kasper - Assistant Engineer
• Gregg Keplinger - Drums and percussion on "Head Down"
• Brendan O'Brien - Mixing
• Natasha Shneider - Clavinet on "Fresh Tendrils"
• April Acevez - Viola on "Half"
• Justine Foy - Cello on "Half"

Chris Cornell (born July 20, 1964) is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Soundgarden (1984-1997) and later Audioslave (2001-2007). ... Kim Thayil (born September 4, 1960 in Seattle, Washington) is best known as the guitarist for Seattle, USA grunge band Soundgarden, which he founded with Chris Cornell and Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. ... Ben Shepherd (born Hunter Benedict Shepherd) (September 20, 1968) is an American musician renowned for playing bass in the band Soundgarden from 1990 until the bands 1997 break-up. ... Matt Cameron (born Matthew D. Cameron, November 28, 1962, in San Diego, California) is an American musician renowned for playing drums in the grunge rock bands Soundgarden (1986-1997) and Pearl Jam (1998-present). ... Mellotron MK II The Mellotron is an electromechanical polyphonic keyboard musical instrument originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. ... Artis playing the spoons on a street in Seattle Artis the Spoonman is a street performer from Santa Cruz, California and later Seattle, who plays music with a sets of spoons. ... Michael Beinhorn is an American musician and record producer. ... Adam Kasper is a Seattle area record producer and engineer, working with such bands as The Tragically Hip, Mudhoney, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, R.E.M., Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. ... Brendan OBrien is a record producer who worked with many bands including Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Kings X, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Aerosmith, The Wallflowers, Matthew Sweet, Limp Bizkit, Lifehouse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, Rage Against The Machine, The Black Crowes, Aimee Mann, Bruce Springsteen, The... Natasha Shneider is a musician, born in Moscow, Soviet Union. ... The Clavinet D6, the most popular model, introduced in 1971. ...

External link

• 1994 Guitar World interview