Hunted Down is a song by Soundgarden. Featuring lyrics written by frontman Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist Kim Thayil, Hunted Down was released in June 1, 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, Telephantasm.
Hunted Down 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.
Tracklist:
- Hunted Down
- Nothing to Say
Soundgarden
Chris Cornell: vocals
Kim Thayil: guitar
Hiro Yamamoto: bass
Matt Cameron: drums
Chris Cornell (July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017).
