"Subhuman" | ||||
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Single by Garbage | ||||
from the album Garbage (Japanese Edition) | ||||
B-side |
#1 Crush" "Vow |
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Released | August 7, 1995 | |||
Format | 7", CD maxi | |||
Recorded | 1994 - 1995 Smart Studios, Madison, Wisconsin |
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Genre | Alternative rock, industrial rock, electronica, grunge | |||
Length | 4:36 | |||
Label | Mushroom Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Garbage | |||
Producer(s) | Garbage | |||
Garbage singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
"Subhuman" is a 1995 song written, recorded and produced by alternative rock band Garbage, and was originally released as an international b-side on "Vow", Garbage's debut single. That song had earlier been pressed as a limited edition 7" vinyl in the United Kingdom for the purposes of launching the band; when it came to re-releasing "Vow", Mushroom Records felt that "Subhuman" was strong enough to be issued as an A-side to follow up "Vow". A last-minute decision was made to switch the songs. "Vow" was relegated to bonus track on the CD single.
"Subhuman" was released as the band's second single exclusively in the United Kingdom, and it gave Garbage their first chart appearance, peaking at #50 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was promoted by a press junket organised by the record label on a boat sailing down London's River Thames, and attracted media attention for the distinctive rubber packaging of the vinyl format.
"Subhuman" was also used by the label as an opportunity to massively raise general awareness of Garbage and as an advertising campaign to brand the "G" logo by promoting the single release with plain white flyers, stickers, carrier bags, t-shirts and subway posters emblazoned with the band's "G" logo. "Subhuman" was never intended to be an album cut, and was not included on the standard editions of the band's debut album, Garbage which was released later that year. The single was excluded from the 2007 greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.