Velvet Underground Trainspotting Question

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A couple years back a friend of mine gave me the deluxe banana album reissue with the stereo and mono mix. Last weekend I hooked up my hi-fi and decided to listen to it again. I've managed to misplace the mono disc and so put in the stereo version.

On Femme Fatale the Lou back-up vocals ("she's a femme fatale") are barely audible, it might as well not be there, and on Sunday Morning there's a guitar part that's missing (during the swirly instrumental break I swear there used to be a chugging "lead" or whatever you call it over top the backwards sounding bit). Anyway, the question is: Is this supposed to be like this or have I botched the hook up of my stereo and have only one channel playing through both speakers?

laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:03 (eighteen years ago) link

test your stereo with white light/white heat. If either the music or the story are missing from "The Gift" then your stereo is mono.

The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:25 (eighteen years ago) link

argh, I don't have white light/white heat

laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:28 (eighteen years ago) link

Go out and buy white light/white heat. test your stereo with it. If either the music or the story are missing from "The Gift" then your stereo is mono.

Sonny, Ah!!1 (Sonny A.), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:34 (eighteen years ago) link

before quibbling about stereo/mono differences, you might want to check that one out.
it's good.

The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:35 (eighteen years ago) link

You probably don't have "The Murder Mystery" either, but if you did, you could check whether you had different storylines coming out off either speaker.

Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:35 (eighteen years ago) link

Wait, you can use the first few seconds of "Sunday Morning" - the glockenspiel or what-have-you is on the right channel and then the bass comes in on the left.

Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Or just check the wiring...

W i l l (common_person), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:39 (eighteen years ago) link

One of your speakers is out of phase i.e. you have the wires in the wrong way round.

MGrout, Monday, 28 February 2005 16:42 (eighteen years ago) link

could be! I just threw the wires back there without any regard at all.

laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:44 (eighteen years ago) link

are you sure you're a trainspotter?

The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:45 (eighteen years ago) link

Behind my receiver is a dark and lonely place- I'll have to do this by candelight because I have no flashlight. All of you will be in my prayers!

laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:53 (eighteen years ago) link

not even a spelunker!

The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Monday, 28 February 2005 17:18 (eighteen years ago) link

Agunaunt, I am defined by what I am not. My secret is out!

laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 28 February 2005 17:28 (eighteen years ago) link

arg!

laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Monday, 28 February 2005 17:28 (eighteen years ago) link

REVIVE!

UPDATE: My speaker wire was connected to the right main and right remote outputs. I fixed the problem.

I'd like to thank everyone who was with me from the beginning, without your help this project may have never been completed. I'm confident that with the teamwork displayed in the last couple of days our dream of sending an ex-member of the Velvet Underground to the moon will soon become a reality.

golden ears kansas (lawrence kansas), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 14:07 (eighteen years ago) link

EVEREST IS OUR FOOT STOOL

The Argunaut (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 14:11 (eighteen years ago) link

I thought that was Everett?

mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 15:00 (eighteen years ago) link

I go to school with J0hn C4le's daughter, 3d3n; she is kind've a twat.

Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 15:29 (eighteen years ago) link

ian wins "post of the day" so far.

peter smith (plsmith), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 15:31 (eighteen years ago) link

xpost:
Who's the mom, B3+53y J0hn50n?

Ken L (Ken L), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 15:39 (eighteen years ago) link

No, some other silly tart, Rise?

Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 15:40 (eighteen years ago) link

four years pass...

This seems as good a place as any to ask this question ... has anybody bought that new VU seven inch singles thing that Sundazed just put out? I don't really want to buy it, BUT: the mix of "I Heard Her Call My Name" is apparently vastly different. Would like to hear this ... mp3 anywhere?

tylerw, Saturday, 10 October 2009 00:16 (thirteen years ago) link

haha I was wondering which thread to revive to discuss the "Nuns Are On The Seawall" blog...

i.e Velvets bootlegs S/D

the 'Ultimate Mono and Acetates Album' has some of those singles but not all. it does have the mono WL/WH which is really different at least on Lady Godiva's Operation, I guess I should listen to it. that may be the version of "Call My Name" you refer to.

also loving:

the Pre-VU Preview, all the demos of early 60's Reed/Cale pop music
Problems In Urban Living (Cleveland 68)
CDs from a certain minimalist composr who shall remain anonymous

sleeve, Saturday, 10 October 2009 00:24 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah, I've got that Ultimate Mono Acetates thing -- from what I understand, this mix of "Heard" is unheard until now? Less of Lou's guitar, more of the band. Or something ... But anyway -- yeah! Pre-VU is crazy, really incredible. Drop in some references to methamphetamine and "Do The Ostrich" could be on White Light/White Heat, easy. Crazy that, according to the Unterberger VU Day By Day book, there's a solo version of "Heroin" recorded during the Pickwick era. Probably sounds similar to the versions on the 1st disc of "Peel Slowly" but I'd still love to hear it.

tylerw, Saturday, 10 October 2009 00:30 (thirteen years ago) link

I've got it on order, will let you know...

Mark G, Saturday, 10 October 2009 13:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Cool!
Someone over on the Velvet Forum sez: "the mix of I Heard Her Call My Name is insane. At first I thought that there was a mistake in the pressing as Lou's opening vocals ("here comes count down...' ) are way down in the mix and actually sound muffled. Then they pick up a little with 'Ever since...'. Sterling's guitar is up and so it Cale's bass. For the first 30 seconds or so it sounds like a kind of lo-fi garage sound and then later the sound gets bigger with more of the impact we know. But overall the balance is restored so that you can hear Sterling's lovely rhythm guitar work and Cale's bass, which is really great. Cale's bass sound is amazing on this mix and then also makes you realised how low the bass is in the mix on most of the White Light LP."

tylerw, Saturday, 10 October 2009 16:02 (thirteen years ago) link

Hmm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0847833550/ref=pe_5050_13305760_snp_dp
$189
Little bit annoying that they're putting out all of this collector-bait stuff these days and not putting out unreleased stuff. Or barely any unreleased stuff.

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:16 (thirteen years ago) link

A while ago, I did my own mix of "Heard Her Call My Name" with less Lou and more of the band just for fun, anyone can do it

The Prince's choice: making a brush. (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:19 (thirteen years ago) link

ysi?

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:20 (thirteen years ago) link

From that Velvet Forum, here's a list of uncirculated VU stuff that seems to actually exist.

-The demo tape Cale took to England
-Summit High School tape
-Bizarre footage
-Delmonico´s tape
-Boston Tea Party footage(any news on this, by the way?)
-La Cave 68 tape
-Hippodrome 68 tape
-Nelson Video tape 70
-Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
-May 11, 1965 Pickwick Studios, near Long Island City, New York
-Donald Jackson VU footage
-Danny Williams VU footage
-The Primitives tape
-Ronald Nameth Vu footage
-Matrix Tapes
-Seattle 69 tape

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:22 (thirteen years ago) link

I don't know how to do that! (xp)

-The demo tape Cale took to England

I'd be surprised if this still existed! Very! The Matrix Tapes is what we want!!!!!

The Prince's choice: making a brush. (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:24 (thirteen years ago) link

xpost

what the hell is that? a 304-page hardback book, yeah, but what about the single with it?

hate it when Amazon has no info about the product.

and hey that Seattle 69 show is on the Nuns Are On The Seawall blog, it's listed as Retinal Circus. first new show (to me) to surface since the Gymnasium.

sleeve, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:24 (thirteen years ago) link

!!! Had no idea ... Thanks! Is it good?

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:27 (thirteen years ago) link

more from that Velvet Forum:
-the full Gymnasium tape
-the cale/sterling/reed rehearsals from cale loft 1966
-uncut recent Factory 66 tape

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:30 (thirteen years ago) link

here's a list of uncirculated VU stuff that seems to actually exist.

i'm still hoping that footage of them on Upbeat! shows up somewhere. Lots of clips from that show are in circulation, but considering they made a handful of appearances i'm surprised nothing's around. About one of the shows: "The Velvets performed live on the Upbeat TV show in June 1968 (not June 1967). Moreover, contrary to Sterling Morrison's recollection, they performed a blistering, buzzsaw version of Run Run Run. Their rendition of Run Run Run went beyond their alloted time: thus, Upbeat cut away to a commercial while the Velvets were engaged in feedback frenzy with Lou's back to the camera."

city worker, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:32 (thirteen years ago) link

that would be awesome. There was some comment (I think from Moe Tucker) that she couldn't believe, with all the cameras the Warhol crew had going all the time, no one just filmed a straight ahead version of one of the EPI shows.

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:37 (thirteen years ago) link

Is it good?

here's wl/wh:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/8j4j7c

it's a soundboard!!! the only one I know of besides those Matrix tapes. as a result the vox are too loud and the guitars a bit subdued, but the overall recording is much clearer. I still think Problems In Urban Living (Cleveland Oct. 68) is my favorite live boot, love the guitar sound on that.

sleeve, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:47 (thirteen years ago) link

that's a flac btw

sleeve, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:48 (thirteen years ago) link

Already downloading from The Nuns site ... So weird that this stuff just keeps showing up. One thing I'm super interested in (that hasn't seen the light of day afaik) is a studio version of "Beginning to See the Light" with Cale.

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:50 (thirteen years ago) link

WHAT????!??!

The Prince's choice: making a brush. (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:51 (thirteen years ago) link

those Velvets Forum trainspotters mean business man.

sleeve, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:52 (thirteen years ago) link

http://www.paulvates.com/images/gatwickshuttle.jpg

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:54 (thirteen years ago) link

But yeah, the "Beginning" with Cale is mentioned in the Unterberger book - recorded at the "Mr. Rain" session apparently? With "fuzz bass"? There was talk of it appearing on a projected WL/WH "deluxe edition, I think. Which never came out obv.

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 15:55 (thirteen years ago) link

LOL, yeah, obv.

The Prince's choice: making a brush. (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 October 2009 16:01 (thirteen years ago) link

But ... maybe now that this singles set has come out, there's a chance of more VU material coming out officially? I think I read that Lou wasn't into having any more live stuff come out.

tylerw, Thursday, 15 October 2009 16:03 (thirteen years ago) link

Hmmm, so I'm listening to this "Retinal Circus" VU show -- and I'm pretty sure some of these takes are the same as appear on Live 1969. Haven't a/b'd them or anything. It's an uncut tape of the show, though, which hasn't circulate as far as I know ... I think that those songs were thought to be from the Matrix, wonder what the deal is! MYSTERY. Sounds great, anyway.

tylerw, Friday, 16 October 2009 21:08 (thirteen years ago) link

yeh, the wh/wh posted above is the same as the version on the live 69 album

zappi, Friday, 16 October 2009 21:21 (thirteen years ago) link

er wl/wh

zappi, Friday, 16 October 2009 21:21 (thirteen years ago) link

Yeah, same w/ "heroin", "what goes on", "new age" so far. it's funny to hear these songs w/ audience applause -- on 1969 they cut off almost immediately, sort of giving the impression that the VU was playing to barely anyone. But here they've got a totally enthusiastic crowd. And why not, considering the godlike awesomeness of this "What Goes On."

tylerw, Friday, 16 October 2009 21:26 (thirteen years ago) link

Of course, a good Catholic girl.

Buckfast At Tiffany's (Tom D.), Thursday, 25 August 2022 19:11 (seven months ago) link

INT. What's it going to be like?
MAUREEN: Psychedelic...color clouds...

Yeah, think she's basically serious: a good Catholic girl of the Sixties.

dow, Thursday, 25 August 2022 19:20 (seven months ago) link

they list lots of places that carry it incl. a couple in canada.
http://ugly-things.com/about/where-to-buy-ugly-things🕸/🕸


Thanks! Nowhere near me but…

*Jaysus, Ugly Things charges a minimum of $22 to ship to Canada (Priority International Shipping). Anyone got a line on an extra copy & want to send me one via lettermail?

― war mice (hardcore dilettante), Thursday, August 25, 2022 3:22 AM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink*

Send me an email I can probably sort you out.


And thank you for the offer but …

I checked out the vendor list and there’s a store in Vancouver that carries it, so I’m getting my sis to pick me up a copy. Many thanks for the assistance to both of you!

war mice (hardcore dilettante), Friday, 26 August 2022 03:23 (seven months ago) link

That's where I got my copy last weekend. On the way home a can of beer burst in my bag and I only just dried out the mag and read the article today. Truly, one of the most trainspottery pieces of VU lore of all time!

everything, Friday, 26 August 2022 05:24 (seven months ago) link

Mine arrived yesterday, via Juno (UK)

Mark G, Friday, 26 August 2022 08:46 (seven months ago) link

exhibit A for sterl as the sickest guitar player ever: https://t.co/3iCx97jeMe

— Tyler Wilcox (@tywilc) August 29, 2022

dow, Tuesday, 30 August 2022 03:06 (six months ago) link

What does it mean when Lou Reed says "Everybody's college" in the first response from that interview?

budo jeru, Friday, 2 September 2022 06:05 (six months ago) link

Thanks for exhibit A!

I’d Rather Gorblimey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 2 September 2022 13:53 (six months ago) link

Assume it means "Everybody is a college graduate." Don't know why he would say that, but then again that is often the case.

I’d Rather Gorblimey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 2 September 2022 13:54 (six months ago) link

Nico - ‘All That Is My Own’ - clanking martial finale from Desertshore LP, 1970.https://t.co/rid1dRKGiw pic.twitter.com/Kk8ogTFZKZ

— Johnnie Johnstone (@tnpcollection) September 3, 2022

dow, Saturday, 3 September 2022 19:12 (six months ago) link

Velvet Underground,
Andy Warhol pic.twitter.com/fHBbCVuRBu

— Pat Thomas (@PatThomas1964) September 4, 2022

dow, Monday, 5 September 2022 21:27 (six months ago) link

last night i dreamed i was doug yule and lou reed hate-fucked my throat. this new release better be worth it!

in unrelated news maybe it's time for me to look into getting a prazosin scrip

Kate (rushomancy), Thursday, 8 September 2022 15:54 (six months ago) link

Okay, now I want to hear this thing, not for the demos of known songs so much as several I'd never heard of, even from bootleg mavens:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/sep/08/laurie-anderson-on-lou-reeds-lost-demo-tape-he-really-wasnt-that-interested-in-his-past Good comments from Anderson, hope she'll say more about it/him in this regard.

dow, Thursday, 8 September 2022 17:39 (six months ago) link

lmao rush

budo jeru, Thursday, 8 September 2022 17:41 (six months ago) link

Lou Reed :: Transformer | Transformedhttps://t.co/QMe8Ym9VFD

To celebrate a 1/2 century of Transformer, here’s an alt version of the album, cobbled together from live performances, NYC apartment demos and internet sessions, stretching from the early 1970s to the 21st century. pic.twitter.com/Zzzi3GRbR5

— aquarium drunkard (@aquadrunkard) September 6, 2022

dow, Friday, 9 September 2022 00:32 (six months ago) link

Has anybody run down where exactly the stuff on the Todd Haynes soundtrack comes from? Picked up a vinyl copy today & there aren't explanations for what the source is for the Theater of Eternal Music excerpt (or anything else).

with hidden noise, Friday, 9 September 2022 14:44 (six months ago) link

No 4K?!? If ever a doco needed it, it’s this one.

assert (matttkkkk), Thursday, 15 September 2022 21:52 (six months ago) link

The original master is 4K so maybe someday.

A lot of the archival stuff used was in 16mm so it should still look pretty great in HD. Past that, any added resolution is more about improving the film grain as all the captured detail is already there.

birdistheword, Thursday, 15 September 2022 22:29 (six months ago) link

Actually, I completely forgot they stacked a lot of those films on top of each other, so yeah, 4K would have DEFINITELY been better!

birdistheword, Thursday, 15 September 2022 22:29 (six months ago) link

exactly

assert (matttkkkk), Thursday, 15 September 2022 22:36 (six months ago) link

"Words & Music, May 1965" releases today

StanM, Friday, 16 September 2022 15:39 (six months ago) link

Thanks. I guess that I just didn't know that until you told me.

Ride On Proserpina (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 16 September 2022 19:55 (six months ago) link

Ah I see what you did there..

Mark G, Friday, 16 September 2022 20:42 (six months ago) link

ok, sorry.

StanM, Saturday, 17 September 2022 04:23 (six months ago) link

(the lyrical reference to "Heroin" icydk)

Mark G, Saturday, 17 September 2022 08:58 (six months ago) link

I didn’t know. I saw bits and pieces of it coming out but had no idea whether and when the whole thing was out

Ride On Proserpina (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 17 September 2022 11:22 (six months ago) link

Is the Todd Haynes doc available for streaming or DVD? An Amazon search turned up no physical media it seems.

sweating like Cathy *aaaack* (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 29 September 2022 13:12 (five months ago) link

Apple TV for streaming, and there is a Criterion bluray/DVD coming in … November?

assert (matttkkkk), Thursday, 29 September 2022 13:33 (five months ago) link

two weeks pass...

a previously-unknown song from "squeeze"

http://velvetforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=146101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0U9VVPqhLY

Thus Sang Freud, Friday, 14 October 2022 09:09 (five months ago) link

two months pass...

saw the doc when it came out last year and finally rewatched last night. the bit when "Venus in Furs" comes in, like 45min into the film... god, what an incredible, breathtaking moment haynes sets up. all the thousands & thousands of times i've listened to those songs in innumerable different versions and permutations over so many years, i never thought i'd recapture the feeling of hearing the velvets for the first time again, but it truly comes across in that moment. that first note hits and my heart stops and i'm right back to that first time listening to the banana album as a kid. the electric shock of the new combined with that dreamlike feeling of familiarity, like "that's IT, THAT'S the sound I've been straining to hear but couldnt quite imagine!" what a blessing to be able to access that feeling again.

waste of compute (One Eye Open), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 22:34 (two months ago) link

^good post!

Farewell to Evening in Paradise (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 22:36 (two months ago) link

yes

sleeve, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 22:50 (two months ago) link

I kinda wanna get the Criterion version but our screen isn't big enough to really do it justice

sleeve, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 22:51 (two months ago) link

That says everything I wanted to say about it. Made the familiar music fresh and strange all over.

assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 22:57 (two months ago) link

geez, i have to see this. i'm so bad at watching music docs :/

budo jeru, Wednesday, 11 January 2023 00:10 (two months ago) link

That moment was so great in part because there were about fifty minutes of buildup before it happened.

Farewell to Evening in Paradise (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 January 2023 02:12 (two months ago) link

Although before that they play a snatch of it over the titles near the beginning.

Farewell to Evening in Paradise (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 January 2023 02:23 (two months ago) link

It’s like a magic trick - they show it to you, then convince you it doesn’t exist, then bring it back

waste of compute (One Eye Open), Wednesday, 11 January 2023 02:37 (two months ago) link

Yes.

Farewell to Evening in Paradise (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 January 2023 02:38 (two months ago) link

They give you a bit of isolated “Heroin” viola solo at the very beginning too.

Farewell to Evening in Paradise (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 January 2023 02:39 (two months ago) link

Really also amazing to hear old friends and girlfriends speaking- Allan, Richard, Shelley - and Delmore, proud and regal.

Farewell to Evening in Paradise (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 January 2023 02:48 (two months ago) link

two months pass...

wow

obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 17:26 (one week ago) link

O_O

assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 21:36 (one week ago) link

more trainspotting: https://www.ebay.com/itm/374503734097

This is a series of 5 minute Public Service Announcements, disguised as radio shows in the 1960's. They were sent out to radio stations. The format was usually the same. It would begin with the artist or member of the group being featured doing an intro for VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America). Then a story about the program and finally, a song from the featured artists. Each album usually contained 6 segments and were youth oriented, as they were trying to recruit young people.

Now, the Voices Of Vista LP we are offering are shows #76 A, B & C and #77 A, B & C. Featured are Lenny Welch (singing The Right To Cry), Gary Lewis (singing Ice Melts In The Sun), Simon & Garfunkel (singing At The Zoo), The Critters (singing Marryin' Kind Of Love), Tommy Roe (singing Sing Along With Me) AND The Intimates (singing ???-it sounds like it would be called Summer Fun).

If you search for Voices Of Vista shows 76 & 77, you'll find a show with Leon Bibb and Pic Temple.

The show we have doesn't seem to exist and is presumed UNRELEASED!

NOW it gets interesting!

Lou Reed, in his pre-Velvet Underground days was in a group called The Intimates. They released one single on Epic.

The song on this LP is NOT either side of that single.

SO, you may say that it must be ANOTHER group with the same name.

BUT, at the beginning of their segment was the introduction. "Hi. This is Bob Motta for Vista". Bob Motta WAS in Lou Reed's Intimates!

SO, could we have an UNRELEASED early Lou Reed track surfacing?

tylerw, Tuesday, 14 March 2023 21:51 (one week ago) link

they're asking $999.99, lol

tylerw, Tuesday, 14 March 2023 21:51 (one week ago) link

R.A. Lafferty is laughing all the way to his Ktistec Machine.

Think Fast, Mr. Mojo Risin’ (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 21:53 (one week ago) link

Both of those things seem like they’re priced pretty cheap, considering people pay hundreds of $ for a minty OG Dark Side or whatever

The land of dreams and endless remorse (hardcore dilettante), Tuesday, 14 March 2023 23:49 (one week ago) link

agreed

obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Wednesday, 15 March 2023 00:41 (one week ago) link


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