MAKING OF THE ALBUM: Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

With their debut album having been eclipsed by the release of Nirvana‘s Nevermind in 1991, Smashing Pumpkins finally gained acclaim with their sophomore record Siamese Dream two years later. Following an extensive tour, frontman Billy Corgan felt that he had enough material to consider returning to the studio, although the prospects of having to match the success of their previous album (which had been produced by Nevermind’s Butch Vig). Having headlined the main stage at 1994′s Lollapalooza (which would also feature Beastie Boys and Green Day), Corgan retreated to his home studio, Sadlands, to record the ideas that he had jotted down whilst on tour. Although the creative process of Siamese Dream had resulted in writer’s block for Corgan, composing tracks for their next album was a relatively straightforward process for the twenty-seven year old musician.

Amongst the material that would result from these early sessions was the track Bullet with Butterfly Wings, which would serve as the lead single from the album. This was the band’s first album since the suicide of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain a year earlier, and with the press desperate for a group to replace them expectations were high for what Smashing Pumpkins would produce next. Some of the material would be showcased over four nights at the Double Door in Wicker Park, Chicago, in early 1995. To help produce the album, Corgan contacted Alan Moulder, who had worked on the latter stages of Siamese Dream, and fellow English producer Flood (born Mark Ellis), whose résumé included U2‘s Joshua Tree, Nine Inch Nails‘ Pretty Hate Machine and Depeche Mode‘s Violator.

After further rehearsals, the band entered the Chicago Recording Company in early March with Moulder and Flood to commence recording their third album. The sessions would involve several different elements being recorded at the same time in different rooms of the studio, with Corgan’s ambitious vision being laid out in a far easier fashion than on Siamese Dream, which had seen the group almost self destruct. The songs on the album would vary greatly; from distorted tunes like Jellybelly and XYU to more melodic songs such as Thirty-Three and By Starlight. Having enjoyed a burst of creativity, Corgan had written dozens of songs, twenty-eight of which would be eventually included on the double album. Amongst the material that would be dismissed were Methusela, …Said Sadly and Ugly, some of which were later released as b-sides (whilst several out-takes were compiled into the twenty-three minute epic Pastichio Medley (later featured on the Zero EP). The recording sessions for the album lasted until August, with Moulder and Flood then embarking on the mixing process.

The double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, was released Virgin Records on October 24th, 1995, the same day as Bullet with Butterfly Wings. Both were phenomenally successful, with the video for the single being directed by Samuel Bayer, who had also shot Nirvana‘s breakthrough hit Smells Like Teen Spirit, as well as The Cranberries‘ Zombie and Vow by Garbage. The album, meanwhile, was praised by critics for both its ambition and commercial appeal, whilst the album would later be certified platinum. Several other singles would follow, although the most successful would be 1979 and Tonight, Tonight (the video for the latter would win various awards).