Pearl Jam - Even Flow
Thoughts arrive like butterflies.
Album: Ten [debut album]
Recorded: Seattle, Washington, USA
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Grunge
Album Release: August 27th 1991
Single Release: April 6th 1992 [2nd single]
Length: 4:53
Producer: Rick Parashar & Pearl Jam
Vocalist: Eddie Vedder [age 26]
Label: Epic Records
Music Video
MTV Live Unplugged in 1992
Live on Countdown in 1992
Demo Version from 1990
Charts, Streams & Sales
Spotify: Over 600 million
YouTube Music: Over 175 million
Credits & Gear
Bass [fretless], drums, guitar [x2]
Details
- Pearl Jam were originally named after the basketball player Mookie
Blaylock but changed their name to avoid any possible legal action.
Mookie wore the number 10 jersey, so Pearl Jam named their debult album
'Ten' as a way of saying goodbye to their past as well as honouring the
player one last time.
- Eddie Vedder once knew a homeless Vietnam veteran who was also called Eddie; he's dead now. Eddie could relate to homeless Eddie because they were both called Eddie. It's conceivable that Eddie Vedder started asking himself confusing questions like 'what if I was Eddie?' and 'what is Eddie?' If you want to imagine yourself in someone elses shoes it helps if you're both called Eddie.
'Even Flow' was inspired by homeless Eddie and details the harsh life of people on the streets in an unflinching but sympathetic way that humanises them. Eddie Vedder would often tell people who digged 'Even Flow' to donate to local homeless shelters. Good for him, or Eddie, or whoever.
The song is sympathetic to the plight of the destitute and strikes a hopeful tone in its chorus with the line 'someday yet, he'll begin his life again.' This makes me think that Eddie believed in the multiple lifetimes of Eddie. - The band were unhappy with the original music video for 'Even Flow', which was set in a zoo. The final version features clips from a 1992 gig they played in Seattle, a zoo in all but name.
- In 1991, Pearl Jam had three drummers and two were called Dave. Nirvana also had a drummer called Dave. Nirvana were based in Seattle. Pearl Jam were based in Seattle. Is this the beginning of a conspiracy?! Or do Seattle bands like their drummers to be called Dave?! It's early and I haven't had my coffee.
Dave Krusen kept pace on Pearl Jam's debut album 'Ten' but was an alcoholic and unhappy with his play. He particularly found 'Even Flow' difficult. The band recorded between 50 and 70 takes of the song but still weren't satisfied, 'they had to edit the middle 'cos I was speeding up by the end. It was just a nightmare', said Krusen, possibly staring dejectedly at his sticks.
Matt Chamberlain replaced Krusen for three weeks before leaving to play in the band on Saturday Night Live; I forget their name. Before he departed, Chamberlain recommended Dave Abbruzzesse, who re-recorded 'Even Flow' in 1992. The 1992 version of the song is the one used in the music video and featured on the greatest hits album. If Pearl Jam were happy with the original version then it's only logical that they wouldn't have replaced Dave on the sticks. Jack Irons, of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Matt Cameron, of Soundgarden, would also go on to drum for the band.
However, not everyone disliked the version of 'Even Flow' included on the album. Revered Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron told The Line of Best Fit:
"When I was in Soundgarden and we were making Badmotorfinger, Eddie brought up the mixes to 'Ten' and I distinctly remember hearing the chorus for 'Even Flow' and thinking that's huge! So hooky, it's got a really rad Zeppelin huge rock feel to it. Although we've played it a couple of thousand times since I've been in the group I think that's the quintessential Pearl Jam song. Even though it gets played out, the nuts and bolts of that song are just amazing."
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