Artist	Song
The Smashing Pumpkins	"We're gonna try a new song"
The Smashing Pumpkins	Rhinoceros [3.16.89 @ WZRD-FM Studios, Chicago, IL]
The Smashing Pumpkins	1979 [3.13.96 @ JJJ Studio, Sydney, Aus.]
The Smashing Pumpkins	We Only Come Out at Night [6.28.97 @ Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, DK]
The Smashing Pumpkins	Crush [1.20.92 @ Melkweg, Amsterdam, NL]
Billy Corgan and James Iha	Stay (Faraway, So Close!) [U2 cover] [10.30.99 @ Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA]
The Smashing Pumpkins	Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness [Date, venue unknown]
The Smashing Pumpkins	Cupid De Locke [3-13-96 @ JJJ Studio, Sydney, Aus.]
The Smashing Pumpkins	By Starlight [1-8-97 @ GM Place, Vancouver, B.C.]
The Smashing Pumpkins	Blank Page medley [8.4.98 @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA]
The Smashing Pumpkins	Transmission [Joy Division cover] [8.4.98 @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA]

Comment:

This volume showcases the versatility and surprises that The Smashing Pumpkins brought to their live shows.

The Greatest Band of the '90s, Vol. IV: To the Lights and Towns Below


"Rhinoceros" [3.16.89 @ WZRD-FM Studios, Chicago, IL]

The Pumpkins played live at WZRD-FM Studios in Chicago on March 16, 1989, the day before the record release party and show for the "Light Into Dark" compilation. The six alternative bands appearing on the record, all from Chicago, had two songs apiece (save for one band). These songs were divided by mood to make up a light side and a dark side. The Pumpkins had "My Dahlia" on the light side and "Sun" on the dark side. The other bands were Ghost Swami, Gold September, Poster Children, Price of Priesthood and Seven Letters.

In the WZRD performance, when introducing "Rhinoceros," Billy Corgan says, "We're gonna try a new song," and adds, "against the protestations of the band." And in the background D'Arcy Wretzky can be heard saying, "No. No. No." They regroup, and Corgan says in response to a question by Jimmy Chamberlain, "It's that real slow one, yeah."

For a new song, they sure pull it off well.

"1979" [3.13.96 @ JJJ Studio, Sydney, Aus.]

As the last track written for "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," "1979" almost didn't make the album. During the VH1 "Storytellers" show in 2000, Corgan recounted the down-to-the-wire scramble:

Corgan to producer Flood: "I really think this song has a lot of potential."

Flood to Corgan: "Well, you've got basically 24 hours to make it happen. So either come in here tomorrow and make this song happen, or it's not gonna be on the album."

"We Only Come Out at Night" [6.28.97 @ Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, DK]

The Pumpkins rarely played "We Only Come Out at Night" live, and even here it's more of a refrain than a full song, but the festivalgoers at Roskilde really get into it.

"Crush" [1.20.92 @ Melkweg, Amsterdam, NL]

"Crush" shimmers beautifully in this performance, broadcast live on an Amsterdam radio show.

"Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" [U2 cover] [10.30.99 @ Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA]

This recording comes from the Bridge School Benefit, an annual concert put on by Neil Young and his wife. Proceeds go to the Bridge School, which serves handicapped children. Corgan and Iha performed this, an acoustic version of the U2 tearjerker, on Day 2.

To read the rest of the liner notes for Volume Four, please follow this link to the miscellaneous forum.

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