The 7″ Love Buzz by Nirvana, released in November 1988, is one of the most iconic and sought-after singles in the history of alternative music. Not only was it the band’s debut release, but it also marked the beginning of their relationship with Sub Pop, the independent label that would launch grunge to worldwide recognition. Today, SP23 is a collector’s item worth thousands of dollars, with numerous details and anecdotes that make it even more fascinating.

The Context of the Release

In 1988, Nirvana was still an emerging band in the underground Seattle scene. Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman, the founders of Sub Pop, discovered the band thanks to the persistence of Jack Endino, who had recorded their first demos at Reciprocal Recording Studios. Impressed by the raw and powerful sound of the group, they decided to include them in their Sub Pop Singles Club series, an initiative that allowed subscribers to receive a limited edition 7″ each month.

The choice of Love Buzz, a cover of the Shocking Blue song, was likely influenced by the band’s fondness for psychedelic rock and their desire to offer a personal reinterpretation of a relatively unknown track. On the B-side, Big Cheese, an original song written by Kurt Cobain, was included.

The First Meeting Between Nirvana and Sub Pop

When Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic presented their Nirvana demo to Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman, the band was still trying to make a name for themselves in the underground scene. Pavitt and Poneman, who had already launched other bands like Soundgarden and Green River, were immediately struck by the raw power of the band’s sound. In fact, Cobain recalled that Pavitt told him the demo sounded “like it was recorded in a basement,” but that he really liked it. Sub Pop, with its preference for raw and authentic sound, became the perfect home for Nirvana, and Love Buzz was just the beginning.

The Sub Pop Singles Club and the Cult of Limited Editions

The Sub Pop Singles Club, launched in 1988, represented one of Pavitt and Poneman’s most brilliant ideas. Each month, subscribers received a limited edition 7″ single, often with exclusive and hand-numbered covers. This not only created a sense of community among fans but also allowed emerging bands like Nirvana to gain national recognition. The Love Buzz 7″ became one of the most sought-after singles in the series, not only for its musical quality but also for its status as a collector’s item.

Features of the Original Edition

The first pressing of the Love Buzz single was limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies. Some details allow them to be identified with precision:

• The names ALICE WHEELER and SUZANNE SASIC are clearly printed on the back of the cover.
• The cover is hand-numbered with a thin red marker.
• Not all copies seem to have been numbered by the same person. Numbers #1 to #499 have a different handwriting compared to those above #500. Copies above #570 show yet another handwriting, suggesting that at least three people were involved in the numbering.
• Hannah Parker was one of the people who numbered the copies.
• In the run-out groove, the following inscriptions are hand-etched: Side A: SP-23-A Why Don’t You Trade Those Guitars For Shovels? L-31540. Side B: SP-23-B L-31540X.
• Both sides feature a Kdisc stamp, visible only under strong light.

Copies Without Numbering and Promos

200 copies without numbering are often referred to as “promo copies,” but according to Nils Bernstein, former promotion manager at Sub Pop, the reality is more complicated.

“I think the idea was to slash all the promos, but then we lost count (since a bunch of people were doing them), so rather than repeat a number, we just slashed the rest. I know tons of slashed ones ended up in stores (I know some people who got numbered ones as promos), so it’s not just as simple
as being a promo.”

Collecting and Counterfeits

The rarity and historical significance of the Love Buzz single have made it a highly sought-after item among collectors. Its value has increased significantly over time, with prices often reaching considerable sums. Currently, authentic copies can cost between $7,000 and $8,000, depending on condition and provenance.

This high demand has unfortunately led to the proliferation of counterfeit versions. Collectors are advised to consult detailed guides and reliable sources to verify the authenticity of copies, paying particular attention to the matrix codes, cover details, and characteristics of the numbering.

An Anecdote About Kurt Cobain

An interesting episode related to the release of Love Buzz involves the KCMU radio station, which later became KEXP. After the single’s release, Kurt Cobain personally went to the KCMU studios to deliver a copy of the record. He then sat in his car, tuned the radio to the station, and waited to hear his song played. When it wasn’t aired, he decided to call the station and request the song himself.

This episode highlights how important Cobain considered the spread of Nirvana’s music and his desire to reach a wider audience. It also demonstrates the direct and personal approach the band took toward music promotion during the early stages of their career. Furthermore, it underscores the crucial role independent radio stations like KCMU/KEXP played in supporting and promoting emerging bands from Seattle’s grunge scene. These stations offered a vital platform for artists who otherwise would have struggled to gain visibility in the mainstream circuits.

Conclusion

The Love Buzz single is not just a fundamental piece of Nirvana’s discography, but also a testament to the musical ferment of late ’80s Seattle. Beyond its historical importance, it has become a cult object for collectors and fans, with details and anecdotes that enhance its appeal. For anyone wishing to delve into the history of Nirvana and Sub Pop, SP23 represents one of the cornerstones of that musical movement that would forever change the global rock landscape.

For those interested in delving deeper into the history of this single and consulting a detailed list of the various copies’ owners, our website, lovebuzz7.com, offers a comprehensive and updated resource. It includes information on the different existing versions, details about numbered and promotional copies, as well as curiosities and anecdotes related to this key piece in Nirvana’s discography.