Various Artists - No Alternative

A mixture of B-sides, outtakes, live tracks, and newly recorded songs, No Alternative was the most successful benefit album of 1993, both commercially and artistically. Exceptional songs from Nirvana, Bob Mould, Urge Overkill, Smashing Pumpkins, American Music Club, and Pavement enhance fine outtakes from Buffalo Tom and Matthew Sweet, strengthen Uncle Tupelo and Soul Asylum's strong covers, and make the weak live tracks from the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, and the Breeders tolerable. However, nothing can save the Goo Goo Dolls' atrocious pop-metal take on the Rolling Stones' "Bitch." Still, that's only one song out of 19, making No Alternative a worthy purchase. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Ad-Rock ? American Music Club Performer Ashwin Sood Drums Barbara Manning Performer, Guitar, Vocals Barry Goldberg Assistant Engineer Beastie Boys Performer Bill Dillon Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric) Bill Janovitz Vocals, Guitar Billy Corgan Producer, Mixing Bob Mould Arranger, Engineer, Performer Brad Nelson Assistant Engineer Brian Paulson Mixing, Producer, Engineer Bruce Kaphan Producer, Mixing, Engineer Buffalo Tom Performer, Mixing, Producer, Arranger Butch Vig Mixing Butcher Bros. Producer Chris Mundy Producer, Concept Christopher Shaw Producer, Mixing, Engineer Colbourn Bass, Vocals (Background) Colin Bogart Assistant Engineer Dan Murphy Guitar Dan Pearson ? Danny Alonso Assistant Engineer Danny Madorsky Mixing Assistant Darren Stedman Percussion, Drums Dave Kershaw Organ Dave Pirner Percussion, Vocals, Guitar DJ Hurricane ? Doug Sax Mastering Ed Thacker Mixing, Engineer George Tutuska Drums Graeme Downes Guitar, Vocals Grant Young Percussion, Drums Greg Freeman Producer Greg Talenfeld Engineer Hans Buff Second Engineer Howie Weinberg Mastering Ivan Julian Guitar Jay Farrar Vocals, Guitar Jeff Robinson Assistant Engineer Jeff Tweedy Bass, Vocals Jessica Kowal Producer Joe Chiccarelli Producer, Mixing Joe the Butcher Engineer John Carlin Executive Producer John Panchayshyn Saxophone John Radzin Assistant Engineer John Wall Engineer Johnny Rzeznik Guitar, Vocals Josh Achziger Assistant Engineer Karl Mueller Bass Ken Coomer Drums Kerry Brown Engineer Kim Osterwalder Cello Lincoln Allen Guitar Lloyd Puckitt Engineer, Mixing Manuel Lecuona Assistant Engineer Mark Eitzel ? Matthew Sweet Mixing, Arranger, 12-String Bass Guitar, Performer, Producer, Guitar (Electric), Vocals Max Macken Assistant Engineer MCA ? Melanie Clarin Vocals, Drums Michelle Cernuto Bass Mike Diamond ? Mike Stoodley Bass Nicky Hopkins Piano Nirvana Performer Patricia Daniels Cello Patti Smith Performer Paul Brogden Mixing Paul Fox Producer Paul Heck Concept, Producer Paul Winders Guitar, Vocals Pavement Arranger, Performer Phil Nicolo Engineer Pierre Marchand Mixing, Drum Programming, Producer Preston Klik Melodica Richard Dashut Producer Rick Waychesko Trumpet Robby Takac Bass, Vocals Ron Pangborn Drums San Francisco Seals Performer Sarah McLachlan Vocals, Performer Sonic Youth Performer Soul Asylum Performer, Producer Soundgarden Producer, Performer Stephen Marcussen Mastering Straitjacket Fits Performer Terry Moore Assistant Engineer The Breeders Performer The Goo Goo Dolls Producer, Performer The Robb Brothers Producer, Mixing The Smashing Pumpkins Performer The Verlaines Performer Tim Mooney ? Tom Maginnis Percussion, Drums Tom Nellen Assistant Engineer, Engineer Uncle Tupelo Performer Urge Overkill Performer, Arranger Vudi ? William D. "Smitty" Smith Mixing