Season 1 - Episode 22 - Preparation and the Bag

The next morning, November 10, 1980.

James woke up around 6 in the morning. He woke up still hearing the performance of the young but future legendary singer, Chris Cornell, from the night before. 

'Damn Chris Cornell's talent is through the roof when his voice is guided early. I still can not believe he sang Ultramega OK's album with a higher note than the original one.'

He shook his head thinking about Chris Cornell's 16 year old voice from the night before. He left his bed and had the maid prepare his jogging clothes. He did some stretching and then wore the prepared jogging clothes. 

When he stepped outside his room, he saw Chris Cornell stepping out of his room as well and ready to exercise with him. 

"Hey man, ready to sweat?" He said to Chris Cornell.

"Still got that energy from yesterday night, you know?" Chris Cornell replied with energy in his tone.

"Good, because we are just starting the journey." He smiled.

"You are right, maaan yesterday was awesome!" Chris Cornell added and went with James outside the house to jog around.

 —--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------

At Sub Pop Inc. office.

Joseph Kennedy Sr. was already at his desk, scribbling out notes while three phones rang in succession. The debut had stirred something in Westport's underground circuit. A ripple effect had begun—small, but unmistakable.

"Word of mouth is in motion," Joseph Kennedy Sr. said to his assistant. 

"I've tracked down five local zine editors who were present. Two already called asking if they could run interviews or write columns." He added.

The assistant nodded and took note of the details given by his boss. Joseph Kennedy Sr. then called James' home's telephone and reported the calls and requests he received from those zine editors. James replied positively with "Go Ahead" words.

"Give them exclusive photos." James added. 

"Nothing too polished. Make it feel raw, authentic."

Joseph Kennedy Sr. nodded and confirmed the order from James. He ended the call and passed a folder across the desk to his assistant. Inside were photo prints developed overnight by one of the Sub Pop interns. They captured the grit and sweat of the performance, Chris Cornell in mid-scream, the small moshers in motion, and the audience at the back with their beer glasses raised in awe.

Later that day, Chris Cornell went to James' room studio. He practised the songs again with the tape and recorded his voice, as a usual practice he was adhered to so that he could analyze his voice and performance after singing. After he sang the songs, he became sweaty, but he was satisfied after listening to his recording. His energy was still up after his performance at that bar show. 

'This is awesome! I hope the next show will be up soon!' He thought.

 —--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------

The next day, James, Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Joseph Kennedy Sr's assistant visited Kaye-Smith Studios. Inside was the hired engineer who recorded live-style takes onto a reel-to-reel machine. These were rough and fast, what James called "the raw album." It would be duplicated onto cassettes, sold in local music shops and bars with a simple white-and-black J-card sleeve.

No shrink wrap. No radio edit. Just the truth.

James stood with arms crossed as the first batch of dubbed tapes stacked on the office desk. "We will send 50 to Westport Records downtown. Another 30 to Seattle's Bop Street Music. The rest, Joseph, you will personally handle."

"Yes." Joseph Kennedy Sr. nodded. "I will also offer local DJs early copies. If they like it, maybe we will get lucky."

James smiled. "We do not need luck. We need ears."

By November 14, early copies had landed in six local shops, and one DJ on KGRG had already aired a segment featuring "Head Injury," calling it "the most pissed-off voice I have heard this year."

Meanwhile, Joseph Kennedy Sr., under James' directive, had commissioned a local mastering engineer to refine the album for national release. It would take two weeks. That meant two versions—raw cassettes for the streets, and a polished, heavier-sounding master for proper distribution in different states.

Joseph Kennedy Sr. managed the negotiations with three regional distributors, arranging consignment deals. "They do not know Chris yet," he warned on the phone. "So they will not risk upfront purchases."

"That is fine," James replied. "They will learn fast." he added with confidence in his tone.

While tapes moved, so did bodies. A small Washington circuit tour was quietly forming. James sat at a map of the state, circles drawn around Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Spokane, and Bellingham.

"We start small," he said to Joseph Kennedy Sr. "No headlining. Just openers. But we will steal every show."

Within the next week, Joseph Kennedy Sr. confirmed four venues willing to host Chris Cornell as an opener. The shows would take place throughout December: a Friday in Tacoma, a Tuesday in Spokane, another Friday in Olympia, and a final performance in Seattle's underground club, The Grey Room.

James insisted on a rule: no ego. Chris Cornell would carry his own gear. They would arrive early. They would leave late. Shake every hand.

"These are seed shows." James reminded Chris Cornell. "It is not about the stage time. It is about leaving a crater."

Chris Cornell understood while drinking his water. He rehearsed harder, ate cleaner, even started journaling about each performance he did.

One morning, while sipping an orange juice, James received another system notification:

[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S ALBUM SALES!]

[MILESTONE SALES: 200~]

[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $2,000 MONEY BAG!]

'Damn, another monetary reward! This is fucking great!' He smirked.

Before the month closed, Sub Pop Inc. printed up flyers, hand-drawn designs with rough fonts and low-contrast photos. They were not pretty, but they felt real and authentic to the underground scene of Washington state.

Joseph Kennedy Sr. tasked Sub Pop Inc's personnel and pinned them on venue walls and campus bulletin boards.

By the end of November 1980, Chris Cornell was not famous yet, but in parts of Washington state? People had started saying his name.

And for James, that was enough for now.

'This is the beginning!'