Jagged Little Pill at 30: The story of Alanis Morissette's classic album

27 June 2025, 18:00

Find out everything you need to know about the album that gave the world One Hand In My Pocket and Ironic.

Released on 13th June 1995, Jagged Little Pill was the album that turned Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette into a worldwide star. But how much do you know about this classic LP?

Read more:

• Alanis Morissette talks years of “shaming” over Ironic not being ironic
• Taylor Hawkins said he'd be delivering pizza if it wasn't for Alanis Morissette

1. Jagged Little Pill was technically NOT a debut album

   While Jagged Little Pill - which came out on 13th June 1995 - was the first album Alanis Morissette released internationally, it was technically her third studio album overall.

   It was preceded by two records, which were released in Canada only; Alanis (1991) and Now Is The Time (1992).

2. The album was initially rejected by every major label

   

   Alanis Morissette's Legendary Jagged Little Pill Was Rejected from Every Label

   According to Alanis, who spoke on the on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, no record labels were interested in what she had at first.

   "Not an uncommon thing for rejection," she told the late show host. "I had written 10 initial [songs] to get my whistle wet, and then when we got the rejections I asked everybody to stop so I could go back under my rock and keep writing."

3. It was eventually picked up by Madonna's co-founded label, Maverick Records

   Maverick, which was founded by the Queen of Pop in 1992 with Frederick Devan and Veronica Dashev, was formerly owned and operated by Warner Music Group.

   Alanis told Fallon: "I went back and wrote more, and then once I was writing All I Really Want - which is the last song on the record - with Glen (Ballard) we got a call from Maverick, Madonna's label [...] so we played [for the A&R guy] You Oughta Know, and Perfect and Hand In My Pocket and he was very excited..."

   

4. Ironic wasn't the album's lead single

   

   Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know (Official 4K Music Video)

   Alanis might most be known across the globe for her Ironic single and it's iconic video, but it was actually You Oughta Know that was released first, on 7th July 1995.

   After the brutally honest and scathing track was played on radio and the likes of MTV, further singles in All I Really Want and Hand in My Pocket helped her secure a No.1.

   Only then did her fourth single, Ironic - which was released on February 27th 1996 - go on to be her biggest hit.

5. Dave Navarro and Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea both feature on the album

   The album's lead single You Oughta Know features music from the RHCP bassist Flea and Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro, who played guitar in the funk rock band from 1993 -1998 and featured on their One Hot Minute album.

   The pair created You Oughta Know in the studio together, and were asked to re-write the music for Alanis.

   

6. Jagged Little Pill is one of the best selling albums of all time

   If you were alive in 1995 then this fact probably won't surprise you, but if for some reason you were living under a rock - Jagged Little Pill was absolutely MASSIVE.

   It went to No.1 in thirteen countries, won four GRAMMY Awards and made Morissette the first Canadian artist to achieve double diamond sales.

   In fact, Jagged Little Pill sold over 33 million copies worldwide and went 10 times platinum in the UK alone.

   

Read more:

• The 25 best indie albums of 1995
• The 25 best indie songs of 1995