Music

A Forgotten Green Day Curiosity: The Original Recording of “Time of Your Life”

Alan Cross 1 Comment

Billie Joe Armstrong wrote “Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)” in 1990 but didn’t show it to anyone associated with the band until they were recording Dookie three years later.

Everyone thought the song was…okay but it was too different from where Green Day’s sound was at the time.  So they shelved it.

As far as most people are concerned, “Time of Your Life” showed up on the Nimrod album in 1997.  But that wasn’t the first time it was released.

Hardcore fans know that it was included as a bonus track on the German CD single version of “Brain Stew/Jaded” back in 1995.  That original version is faster, sung in a different key and doesn’t feature a string section.  (Producer Rob Cavallo came up with that idea.”

You’ve heard the hit version a billion times.  Now have a listen to how the song used to sound.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38051 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “A Forgotten Green Day Curiosity: The Original Recording of “Time of Your Life””

  • Was always the better version

    Reply

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