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

Platinum album in: Australia [x8], Belgium, Canada [x7], Denmark [x3], Holland, Italy, USA [x17], UK [x2]
Spotify: 606,000,000 +
YouTube Music: 176,000,000 +
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): #209
Spin Magazine's Top 90 Albums of the 90's: #33
VH1 100 Greatest Albums of Rock & Roll: #83

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.
  
  
• Pearl Jam started as a band without a vocalist. In 1990, an earlier incarnation of the group, Mother Love Bone, were on the verge of making it big in when their singer, Andrew Wood, died of a heroin overdose on March 19th at the tender age of 24. On July 19th, four short months later, Mother Love Bone released their first and last album 'Apple'. It wasn't the same without Andrew. He was another rocker who lost his life chasing the dragon and the band soon split. Not long after, the guitarist and bassist of Mother Love Bone reformed as Temple of the Dog and then, once more, as another group: Pearl Jam. The final incarnarion of the band were long in the making.
  
  At the same time, Eddie Vedder was working low-paid jobs as a security guard and a gas station attendant to pay the bills. He made music on the side until one fateful day in San Diego he heard a Pearl Jam demo that included tracks that would go on to be anthems in rock music, such as 'Alive' and 'Oceans'. The two joined forces and the rest is history. Pearl Jam released their debut album 'Ten' released only 13 months after 'Apple'.
  
  Would the group have enjoyed the same success without Eddie Vedder? No-one really knows. His raspy baritone gives the songs a unique texture that wouldn't be there if they had a different singer but it's impossible to know for sure. One thing's for certain, the tragic death of Andrew Wood and subsequent collapse of Mother Love Bone, created an opportunity for a new band to rise, phoenix-like from the ashes of the old.
  
  Two members of Mother Love Bone, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, had great songs they wanted to share with the world and they transformed their grief into something creative by forming Pearl Jam. When opportunity closes a door it often opens a window. Eddie Vedder became the rock star Andrew Wood was supposed to be but without Andrew there would be no Eddie.
  
  
• 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 bands in Seattle 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 the result "they had to edit the middle 'cos I was speeding up by the end. It was just a nightmare" said Krusen.
  
  Matt Chamberlain replaced Krusen for three weeks before leaving to play in the band on Saturday Night Live. Before he went, 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 version of 'Even Flow' on 'Ten' they wouldn't have replaced it. 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."
  
  
• Eddie Vedder knew a homeless Vietnam veteran who was also called Eddie. 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 tell people that if they dig 'Even Flow' there was a local homeless shelter they could donate money to.
  
  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".
  
  
• 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.
  
  

Artwork