"Hunted Down" is a song by the American
rock band
Soundgarden. Featuring lyrics written by frontman
Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist
Kim Thayil, "Hunted Down" was released in June 1987 as the band's first single. It is the first track on the band's first release, the ''
Screaming Life''
EP (1987). The song was included on the band's 2010
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
, ''
Telephantasm''.
Origin and recording
"Hunted Down" features lyrics written by frontman
Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist
Kim Thayil. Thayil on the song:
That song wasn't supposed to be as heavy sounding as it turned out. We just started jamming on the riff and it took on the ' noise rock' dimensions, kind of a rhythmic thing. And that solo is a noise solo. It's very dissonant.[Gilbert, Jeff]
"Primecuts: Kim Thayil"
''Guitar School''. May 1994.
Release and reception
"Hunted Down" was released as a single in 1987 with a
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
titled "Nothing to Say", which can also be found on ''Screaming Life'' and the band's greatest hits compilation, ''
A-Sides
''A-Sides'' is a compilation album by the American rock band Soundgarden with songs spanning the band's thirteen-year career. It was released on November 4, 1997, through A&M Records.
Overview
The album was released in 1997 on A&M Records an ...
'' (1997). The single was pressed on blue
vinyl as a limited edition with only 500 copies made, and has since become a Soundgarden collector's item. Oddly, "Nothing to Say", rather than "Hunted Down", appeared on ''A-Sides''. Kim Thayil jokingly explained the replacement with "that's about the level of communication the band was at back then".
"Hunted Down" was the first song on Sub Pop's "hold music" tape. According to guitarist Kim Thayil, "You would call them up, and when they put you on hold you heard 'Hunted Down'."
Upon hearing the song, record labels began contacting the band, which eventually led to the band signing with
A&M Records.
The single was reissued as a limited edition, orange 7" record for
Record Store Day on April 17, 2010.
"SOUNDGARDEN: Debut SUBPOP Single To Be Reissued For 'Record Store Day'"
. Blabbermouth.net. March 1, 2010.
Track listing
All songs written by Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil.
#"Hunted Down" – 2:42
#"Nothing to Say" – 3:56
References
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1987 debut singles
1987 singles
Soundgarden songs
Song recordings produced by Chris Cornell
Song recordings produced by Matt Cameron
Songs written by Chris Cornell
1987 songs
Songs written by Kim Thayil
Sub Pop singles