10 Failed Albums That Became Cult Classics
2. Nirvana - Bleach
It's hard to believe this now platinum selling release hardly made a splash in 1989 considering the monumental career it sparked. Featuring the bands first single, 'Love Buzz', 'Bleach' was the bands debut album and hit record store shelves on 15th June 1989.
Nirvana's record label, Sub Pop, had only requested an EP from the band following the release of 'Love Buzz' as a single, but the band insisted on releasing a full studio record. Initially, Nirvana's decision to go all out with a full record backfired massively as sales flopped. Despite receiving generally good reviews from the handful of critics who covered it, 'Bleach' managed a meagre return in sales and didn't make it into any charts.
However, the cult classic appeal of this album began when Nirvana broke into the mainstream rock spectrum with their second album, 'Nevermind', in 1991. Naturally, this colossal grunge rock classic not only elevated the band to astonishing heights of fame, but also increased the reputation of their small back catalogue. The 1992 re-release of 'Bleach' made it into the top 50 of album charts around the world, reaching #89 in the US Billboard charts.
Fun fact: Nirvana started recording 'Bleach' on Christmas Eve, 1988.