| Main Pressing plants Pennyroyal Tea Test pressings Collection |
| Pennyroyal Tea GEFS7/CS-19220 chromalins | |||||
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The last Nirvana singles, In Bloom, Heart-Shaped Box, and All Apologies were not made in the USA on any formats (except some promos). Nor was the later About A Girl single. Some versions of these singles were of course imported from Europe. However, chromalins have been found for both a US 7" single (GEFS7-19220) and a US cassette single (GEFCS-19220), images below. That does not mean that there were plans to make and release the single in USA. Why would they suddenly make a single of Pennyroyal Tea, when they didn't do that for the other In Utero singles? All Nirvana artwork were initially made in USA. These chromalins are printed in USA, but sent to UK, and Germany and probably to Australia, along with a set of printing films, for them to make the appropriate regional amendments and print their own artwork. This was before digital artwork was the norm. The amendments were then done at the repro house prior to printing. Meaning, some person marked areas where they had to change the text for the UK release, as for example the catalog number and barcode. He would also add the correct text, handwritten, on the chromalin, for the art department to add it properly. The art department would make the amendments to the film, and send it off for printing. They would receive only one US version of the chromalin for a particular release, but more were probably printed and sent to at least Germany. After the amendments had been done to the film, a chromalin would also be printed in UK for control, and sent to the printers along with the film. The original US chromalins were usually kept by the office, or just discarded. Obviously, chromalin for the planned UK CD single must also exist, but that has not been found yet. This info comes via a friend of someone who worked in the art department in Geffen UK. The catalog number for the singles, on the chromalins that is, and the catalog numbers used to refer to In Utero are all odd. All Nirvana items in USA were released on DGC, then having a DGC prefix in the catalog number. However, these two chromalins both credit Geffen, and have Geffen catalog numbers, GEFCS/S7-19220. However, there are other bands on Geffen in USA released with these catalog number prefixes, so it does not need to be a problem. Most cassettes in the series have picture artwork, while the 7" records are jukebox singles which come in generic record label sleeves. The number 19220 was actually superseeded by other releases in 1993, and as we know, Pennyroyal Tea was not meant to be released before 1994. The catalog number was probably decided as soon as they planned the single. The 7" chromalin has the text "Revised 2/93", meaning this artwork could have been created as early as February 1993? The album was just recorded between February 12 and February 26. The 7" chromalin also list March 07 1994 as the print date, not giving the UK office much time before release date late March or early April. The catalog numbers refering to the different versions of In Utero are even weirder. On both they are GEF/GEFC/GEFD-24536 (LP, CS, CD). In Utero was released on DGC in USA, having the catalog numbers DGC/DGCC/DGCD-24607. Albums by other artists were released on Geffen in USA with the listed catalog number prefixes, but no Nirvana releases. In Utero was only released on DGC with the DGC catalog numbers. The he number 24536 is actually European and Australian. The reason could be a misunderstanding by the person doing the artwork. It could also be a mix-up between American and European information. As it was not going to be released in USA, they may not have cared much to get the details correct, and even added some European details. The German CD single, UK 7" sleeve, and UK CD insert all have the correct references to the European In Utero editions, GEF/GEC/GED-24536. All other features appear to be OK, as the barcode, recycle symbol, legal text (for US releases). These items are official.
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 1. 7" chromalin, entire chromalin  2. 7" chromalin, front  3. 7" chromalin, back  4. 7" chromalin, back details  5. CS chromalin, Entire chromalin  6. CS chromalin, front  7. CS chromalin, back  8. CS chromalin, back details Thanks to Craig Mills (images 1-8). | |||||
| Main Pressing plants Pennyroyal Tea Test pressings Collection |
