Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream (Alternative Version)

Following on from my alternative version of the Smashing Pumpkin’s ‘Gish’ album, I now take a look at its follow up, ‘Siamese Dream’. Recording once more with producer Butch Vig helping out behind the desk, Billy Corgan was not exactly in the right frame of mind for recording a record. He was suffering from writers block and would later admit that he was planning for his own suicide. His band mates might not have helped matters either. James Iha and D’arcy Wretzky had ended their romantic relationship. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlain had become addicted to heroin and even though the sessions were moved to a studio in Georgia, away from the bands Chicago base in attempted to get him from his suppliers failed. Chamberlain disappear fro days on end feeding his drug habit. The drummer would eventually enter rehab. 

Corgan would continue with the working practise of playing practically every instrument on the record, apart from the drums, himself. He and Vig would be in the studio for days on end, perfecting the sounds and crafting the songs before Corgan was happy with the finished product. He had set himself the task of producing an album that would set the world on fire and he did just that, even though the record went over budget by $250,000. 

I tried to find a version of every song on an official release, and got close with only ‘Sweet Sweet’ needing to come from a Bootleg. I have followed the running order of the vinyl LP, as that was the format I bought this on back in 1993 when it originally came out in the UK. The cover is the original cover but in negative. 

Side A

1. Cherub Rock – Acoustic Live On MTV Europe 1993 (Earphoria)
2. Quiet – BBC Session 1993 (Siamese Dream Deluxe)
3. Today – Broadway Rehearsal Demo (Siamese Dream Deluxe)
4. Hummer – Lost Tapes 94 (Viewphoria)

Side B

1. Rocket – Rehearsal Demo (Siamese Dream Deluxe)
2. Disarm – Live On The Word, UK 1993 (Earphoria)
3. Soma – Live At Astoria 1994 (Earphoria)

Side C

1. Geek U.S.A. – Live At Alabamahalle 1993 (Earphoria)
2. Mayonaise – Acoustic Alternative Version (Rarities & B-Sides)
3. Spaceboy – Acoustic Mix (Siamese Dream Deluxe)

Side D

1. Ache – Sliverfuck Rehearsal Demo (Siamese Dream Deluxe)
2. Sweet Sweet – Demo (Quiet & Other Songs Bootleg)
3. Luna  – Apartment Demo (Siamese Dream Deluxe)