No Alternative is an alternative rock compilation album produced by Paul Heck and Chris Mundy. It was released in 1993 to benefit AIDS relief. The album features original tracks and cover versions from bands who went on to define the alternative rock scene of the 1990s. It was released with two different versions of album art: the standard version depicting a boy (without the Nirvana song listed on the back and liner notes), and the alternate version depicting a girl (some with and some without the Nirvana song listed on the back and liner notes).
No Alternative | ||||
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Compilation album by Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series (Various Artists) | ||||
Released | October 26, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1991–1993 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, grunge | |||
Length | 74:21 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | Paul Heck Butcher Bros. Joe Chiccarelli Richard Dashut Billy Corgan Chris Mundy Paul Fox Bruce Kaphan Pierre Marchand Christopher Shaw | |||
Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series (Various Artists) chronology | ||||
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Singles from No Alternative | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | ![]() |
Deseret News | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Orlando Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
A television special hosted by MTV and a VHS home video release featured live performances, music videos, and information about AIDS.
On 20 April 2013, as part of the annual internationally celebrated Record Store Day, No Alternative was released for the first time on vinyl as a special 20th anniversary edition LP.[6] Stereogum lauded the album in a retrospective piece, saying that "it captures the American alternative scene at its commercial, cultural, and critical peak."[7] In an interview with Radio New Zealand, producer Paul Heck discussed the history of the Red Hot Organization and the anniversary of No Alternative, saying that the response from the musicians asked to contribute was "overwhelmingly positive" and that some artists even wrote songs specifically for the compilation.[8]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Superdeformed" | Matthew Sweet | Matthew Sweet | 3:58 |
2. | "For All to See" | Buffalo Tom | Buffalo Tom | 3:36 |
3. | "Sexual Healing" | Odell Brown, Marvin Gaye, David Ritz | Soul Asylum | 4:45 |
4. | "Take a Walk" | Urge Overkill | Urge Overkill | 4:39 |
5. | "All Your Jeans Were Too Tight" | Mark Eitzel | American Music Club | 3:33 |
6. | "Bitch" | Mick Jagger, Keith Richards | Goo Goo Dolls with Lance Diamond | 3:17 |
7. | "Unseen Power of the Picket Fence" | Scott Kannberg, Stephen Malkmus | Pavement | 3:53 |
8. | "Glynis" | Billy Corgan | The Smashing Pumpkins | 4:53 |
9. | "Can’t Fight It" | Bob Mould | Bob Mould | 3:49 |
10. | "Hold On" | Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | 4:23 |
11. | "Show Me" | Ben Shepherd | Soundgarden | 2:48 |
12. | "Brittle" | Shayne Carter, Straitjacket Fits | Straitjacket Fits | 3:24 |
13. | "Joed Out" | Graeme Downes | Barbara Manning and the San Francisco Seals | 3:52 |
14. | "Heavy 33" | Graeme Downes | The Verlaines | 4:21 |
15. | "Effigy" | John Fogerty | Uncle Tupelo | 5:59 |
16. | "It’s the New Style" (Live) | Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin | Beastie Boys and DJ Hurricane | 2:20 |
17. | "Iris" (Live) | Kim Deal | The Breeders | 3:44 |
18. | "Memorial Song" (Live) | Patti Smith | Patti Smith | 3:33 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
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19. | "Verse Chorus Verse" (*Note[note 1]) | Kurt Cobain | Nirvana | 3:24 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
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20. | "Burning Spear" | Sonic Youth | Sonic Youth | |
21. | "Hot Nights" (Live) | Jonathan Richman | Jonathan Richman |
No Alternative | |
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Video by Various Artists | |
Released | February 22, 1994 |
Genre | Alternative rock |
Length | 65:00 |
Language | English |
Label | PolyGram Video |
Director | various |
US live performances:
UK live performances:
Spoken word:
Chart (1993-94) | Peak position |
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Australia Alternative Albums (ARIA)[9] | 15 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10] | 46 |
US Billboard 200[11] | 56 |
US Top 100 Pop Albums (Cashbox)[12][13] | 21 |
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