you know why i made this poll?
because lou reed is dead! that's why!
― nostormo, Monday, 4 November 2013 10:57 (ten years ago) link
lol tell mazzy star 9 ain't great
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 10:58 (ten years ago) link
I don't dislike it or anything, the chorus is great, especially the backing vox. But it's not a favorite of mine, no.
xpost
― Mule, Monday, 4 November 2013 10:58 (ten years ago) link
the songs here are basically divided to 1/3 arty twee 1/3 garage 1/3 psych/experimental/ proto everything
― nostormo, Monday, 4 November 2013 11:03 (ten years ago) link
Has to be "Heroin". As mentioned in one of the Lou Reed threads, it's the one I played in the school common room to annoy my fellow pupils after I'd sneaked my sister's copy of the album into school one day. I also took this album to the school Rock Appreciation Society (run by an eccentric right wing teacher who had a massive collage cut out from NMEs/Melody Makers on his wall) and my friend David Judge brought in his brother's copy of "Dance of the Lemmings" by Amon Duul II.
― Thomas K Amphong (Tom D.), Monday, 4 November 2013 11:03 (ten years ago) link
8 just makes me think of this johnny marr interview where he said when he wrote the intro to there's a light that never goes out he was trying to catch people out because the vu were very in vogue at the time and everyone would think he lifted it from 8 but in fact he lifted from the stones version of hitchhiker (wtf?)
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 11:04 (ten years ago) link
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq2VpBYzwHQ/ThE_AcRqWtI/AAAAAAAABY0/uyFzmlhRCOs/s1600/poster.jpg
― Blecch Dreieinigkeitsmoses (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 4 November 2013 11:11 (ten years ago) link
btw 11 divided by 3 is 3 and two-thirds
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 12:31 (ten years ago) link
1, 4, 6, or 7
― they're not chanting Lou, they're calling you 'boo' (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 4 November 2013 12:41 (ten years ago) link
^4 of the greatest songs ever
― they're not chanting Lou, they're calling you 'boo' (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 4 November 2013 12:42 (ten years ago) link
"Waiting for the Man" vs. "I'll Be Your Mirror" -- would have to flip a coin.
I think "Run Run Run" is maybe the most underrated, if anything on this album can be called underrated. Though it's also the most Dylanish -- you could sing the verses of "Highway 61 Revisited" over it.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:06 (ten years ago) link
femme fatale
― J0rdan S., Monday, 4 November 2013 15:17 (ten years ago) link
Impossible poll...
― The normative power of the factual (Michael White), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:48 (ten years ago) link
^
― #fomo that's the motto (Hurting 2), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:52 (ten years ago) link
One of the most consistently great all the way through records for sure
All Tomorrow's Parties has it all.
― sweat pea (La Lechera), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:53 (ten years ago) link
voted I'm Waiting For the Man. Something about the pulse of that song, the way it's just like ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE instead of 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4. I had never heard anything like that before I heard this record and it made a huge impression on me.
― #fomo that's the motto (Hurting 2), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:54 (ten years ago) link
Something about the pulse of that song, the way it's just like ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE instead of 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4
Owes something to "Season of the Witch" perhaps? Actually I don't know when that was released, so maybe not.
― Thomas K Amphong (Tom D.), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:57 (ten years ago) link
It reminds me more of minimalism
― #fomo that's the motto (Hurting 2), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:58 (ten years ago) link
I'll never forget the first time I heard the Velvet Underground, watching Oliver Stone's THE DOORS.Venus in Furs
― Trip Maker, Monday, 4 November 2013 15:58 (ten years ago) link
I abstain. I played "Run Run Run" alone yesterday cuz I wanted to hear it; but I don't think you can, if yer taking this srsly, vote for that or "FF" bcz if all the tracks were like either of those, it wd not be a landmark album.
― eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:59 (ten years ago) link
... uh, not. "Season of the Witch" was released in September 1966. (xxxxp)
― Thomas K Amphong (Tom D.), Monday, 4 November 2013 15:59 (ten years ago) link
agreed morbius, but that's damn cool filler we're talking about
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:04 (ten years ago) link
agreed about Run Run Run but not Femme Fatale. Maybe I just have a special place in my heart for that song because my wife and I have had a years-running thing of imitating Nico in that song to each other.
― #fomo that's the motto (Hurting 2), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:13 (ten years ago) link
"WHAT A CLOWN"
VAT A CLOWN
― you are kind, I am (waterface), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:15 (ten years ago) link
clone
― sweat pea (La Lechera), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:16 (ten years ago) link
The line in "Venus in Furs" where Lou impersonates Nico "Bleeeeeeeeeeeeed for meeee" then audibly smirks...
― Mark G, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:17 (ten years ago) link
it's VAT A CLON
― akm, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:19 (ten years ago) link
lol fish bringin the mathematical realness
― you can get fuckstab anywhere in london (wins), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:20 (ten years ago) link
Her voice plus the fuzzy red-line production makes FF so weird. You don't know whether to laugh or run away.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:21 (ten years ago) link
VIF: is it bleed or plead?
― Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:23 (ten years ago) link
no it's what a clown, just in a berlin accent
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:23 (ten years ago) link
^^^ this (math be damned) and each third balances out the other two wonderfully. Hell of a journey between "Sunday Morning" and "European Son."
― The sweet spot between bad and unpleasant (Dan Peterson), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:25 (ten years ago) link
I guess I'm playing it this week cuz I don't remember how "European Son" goes
― eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:28 (ten years ago) link
It goes drone/scrape/drone/squeak/drone...
― The sweet spot between bad and unpleasant (Dan Peterson), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:33 (ten years ago) link
This may be discussed on another thread, but has anyone read James Young's Nico book? Any good? I mean, is there value to it beyond just, "boy was Nico a wreck in the '80s"?
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:39 (ten years ago) link
...and sound of breaking glass
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:41 (ten years ago) link
"European Son" is my vote and tbh the one i always want to hear off this, the others blow in and out
― when did you stop caring about (Noodle Vague), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:41 (ten years ago) link
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, November 4, 2013 4:39 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― OutdoorFish, Monday, November 4, 2013 4:41 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Bleak lol at this xpost
― you can get fuckstab anywhere in london (wins), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:47 (ten years ago) link
after listening to this alb, on and off, for the best part of 30 years, I finally got to stand at Lexington/125 earlier this year, so just had to vote for 'Waiting...'
― Ward Fowler, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:51 (ten years ago) link
Forget the lyrics. "Venus in Furs" is so sexy and odd and wondrous.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 4 November 2013 16:52 (ten years ago) link
"Heroin," just barely over "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "Tomorrow's Parties." Least favourite: "Venus and Furs," "I'll Be Your Mirror."
― clemenza, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:54 (ten years ago) link
One of the last two - probably "Black Angel..."
― xyzzzz__, Monday, 4 November 2013 16:57 (ten years ago) link
There's an amazing couple of minutes in Jonas Mekas's As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty that uses "Run Run Run" as Mekas's kid runs around frantically. Skimmed through the half of the film that's up on YouTube, but couldn't find it.
― clemenza, Monday, 4 November 2013 17:08 (ten years ago) link
i read a book about nico but i don't remember which one it was. it definitely talked a lot about how much of a mess she was in the 80s.
― sweat pea (La Lechera), Monday, 4 November 2013 17:14 (ten years ago) link
can I vote for the banana?
― OutdoorFish, Monday, 4 November 2013 17:15 (ten years ago) link
nico icon wasn't exactly a flattering portrait, kinda flawed but compelling.
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Monday, 4 November 2013 17:15 (ten years ago) link
She was a despicable racist scumbag
― you can get fuckstab anywhere in london (wins), Monday, 4 November 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
also I would have to vote "Venus in furs", one of my favorite songs (and inexplicably the first song my kid ever said "yay!" about at the end)
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Monday, 4 November 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
Not having Mdou Moctar doing "Run Run Run" seems like a real missed opportunity
― chr1sb3singer, Wednesday, 14 July 2021 21:27 (two years ago) link
yeah at this point with VU covers, you may as well go in unusual directions. a bunch of indie rockers is a little dull. kurt vile doing "run run run" sounds exactly like you'd expect it to.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 14 July 2021 22:30 (two years ago) link
Idk a lot about Gillespie but I think it's actually pretty smart for Thurston to focus on the guitars in "Heroin" and let someone more, uh, experienced handle the words. He wouldn't be a very convincing junkie.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Wednesday, 14 July 2021 23:15 (two years ago) link
Iggy Pop / Matt Sweeney is kinda cool pairing.
― aging goth couple™ (morrisp), Thursday, 15 July 2021 01:31 (two years ago) link
only 10,000 people bought the first Velvet Underground album, and all of those people formed bands, but all of them are now free to also get into some more recent music
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Thursday, 15 July 2021 11:54 (two years ago) link
it's hard to actually hear this album over all the overbearing mythology. including about its influence which the tribute album makes look narrower and more insular than it probably is
what was the thread about things you don't like but have to admit are good? this album and band are mostly that for me. I like the dream pop songs but reed and nico are unlikable characters (presumably the point) and the whole grimy nyc boho heroin thing is so unappealing. which may also be the point but if they weren't glamourising it the subsequent mythology certainly has done
― Left, Thursday, 15 July 2021 12:22 (two years ago) link
oh it was a movie thread
― Left, Thursday, 15 July 2021 12:23 (two years ago) link
Please shut up
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 15 July 2021 13:33 (two years ago) link
Last three tracks are making me sit up..
Could potentially be great.
Mickey Stripe on track one is a safe, certainly...
― Mark G, Thursday, 15 July 2021 14:07 (two years ago) link
R.E.M. already covered two of the songs from this record.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 15 July 2021 14:12 (two years ago) link
― Planck Generation (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 15 July 2021 14:28 (two years ago) link
HI DERE!
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 15 July 2021 15:39 (two years ago) link
hey ward eat shit
the influence of the band is certainly wider than suggested by the tribute album lineup but if i were to take that at face value then it has not been a positive one at all afaic. moore/gillespie says it all really
― Left, Thursday, 15 July 2021 15:44 (two years ago) link
I'm more interested in this:
What Goes On: Songs of Lou ReedThe latest in Ace Records’ Songwriters series takes the listener from a version of ‘Why Don’t You Smile Now’ from Lou Reed’s pre-Velvet Underground days through selections from the band’s albums to songs from 1972’s solo “Transformer”. Tracks: 1. I'm Waiting For The Man - Beck, 2. What Goes On - Bryan Ferry, 3. Vicious - Lloyd Cole, 4. Perfect Day - Kirsty MacColl & Evan Dando, 5. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - Nico, 6. New Age - Rachel Sweet, 7. I'll Be Your Mirror - The Primitives, 8. Run, Run, Run - Echo & The Bunnymen, 9. Train 'round The Bend - The Soft Boys, 10. Pale Blue Eyes - Alejandro Escovedo, 11. All Tomorrow's Parties - June Tabor & Oysterband, 12. Why Don't You Smile Now - The Delmonas, 13. Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies, 14. Jesus - Swervedriver, 15. Femme Fatale - Tracey Thorn, 16. I'm Set Free - Yo La Tengo, 17. Sunday Morning - Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, 18. Rock 'n Roll - Detroit featuring Mitch Ryder, 19. Walk On The Wild Side - The Dynamics, 20. We Are The People - Iggy Pop
(Always craved more country takes----Elizabeth Cook did cover "Sunday Morning." and Lee Ann Womack/Willie Nelson (or Kelly Hogan/Mike Ireland) "Pale Blue Eyes"= mah ideeel)
― dow, Thursday, 15 July 2021 15:57 (two years ago) link
surely these people can find black artists who cover these songs?
― Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:05 (two years ago) link
It is true that thanks to Lou Reed I took heroin and now the heroin and I are married.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:10 (two years ago) link
i'm sure they could have done if they'd tried but also it's not at all surprising they didn't or couldn't xp
― Left, Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:12 (two years ago) link
yep. looking at these tribute albums really puts the vu in the past in a way that feels like a misstep. also the songs are maybe less interesting if the people who are interested in covering them are like median age 50.
― Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:20 (two years ago) link
“The Black Angel’s Song of Death”It would be funny if all the titles were like this
― aging goth couple™ (morrisp), Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:39 (two years ago) link
9. Walk On The Wild Side - The Dynamics. The Dynamics are Black. Black Rock Coalition members Eye & I covered "Venus In Furs," which was pretty good, I thought, but can't think of other Black covers of Reed. although his friend from pre-VU days Garland Jeffreys has some live versions of "I'm Waiting For My Man" on the 'Tube. Most of those Ace comp versions were recorded when the cover artists were under 50 (a long time ago), and the ones I'm familiar with are really good, esp. Nico's "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" and Detroit/Mitch Ryder's "Rock & Roll."
― dow, Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:47 (two years ago) link
unbelievably boring choices of cover artist imo
― imago, Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:57 (two years ago) link
Reminds me: most of this (12 out of 17 tracks so far) is good---...Modern Love, a diverse compendium of specially commissioned cover versions of rarities and classics in tribute to David Bowie.Featuring an array of artists such as Jeff Parker, We Are KING, Meshell Ndegeocello, Helado Negro, Khruangbin, Matthew Tavares, Nia and more, Modern Love seeks to champion Bowie’s lesser-known connection to soul, R&B, jazz, funk, and gospel. The prominent jazz influences throughout Bowie’s final album, Blackstar, were a key inspiration for curating this collection of reimagined Bowie songs with these artists. The resulting album is an eclectic tribute featuring a group of artists who not only fit together creatively, but who, like Bowie, straddle different worlds musically, with soul and jazz at their core...https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/modern-love
― dow, Thursday, 15 July 2021 17:00 (two years ago) link
"European Son" would seem ripe for a jazz musician, but I love Iggy so I can't complain.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 15 July 2021 17:19 (two years ago) link
John Zorn would be too right but maybe too familiar given his collaborations with Lou. If Ornette Coleman were alive and well, I would have loved to hear him try it.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 15 July 2021 17:21 (two years ago) link
*right (not too right)
If this was a response to me, I am more than fine with people writing or singing about things they haven't experienced firsthand. (I'm not even sure Reed had done heroin yet when he write the song.) I just don't think Thurston Moore would be convincing delivering those lyrics but do think he could sound great doing the music.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 15 July 2021 17:40 (two years ago) link
*wrote
Thurston Moore could interpolate the words to "Junkie's Promise" while Gillespie sings the original lyric, so everyone knows where he stands.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 15 July 2021 17:46 (two years ago) link
Cale did some 50th anniversary shows where every song on the LP was performed and nearly every one covered by someone else with Cale accompanying. If it was recorded, it would be nice to put this out somewhere like on Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, etc. The visual element was quite nice.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 15 July 2021 18:00 (two years ago) link
"wouldn't be a very convincing junkie" = "wouldn't do a convincing job as a vocalist of portraying a junkie", although it can get tricky to sort out what every mind-melting take is responding to
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 15 July 2021 19:04 (two years ago) link
It's about three notes in all so Bobby should be able to handle it.
― Wouldn't disgrace a Michael Jackson (Tom D.), Thursday, 15 July 2021 19:13 (two years ago) link
Halfway there OTM though
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 15 July 2021 19:32 (two years ago) link
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, July 15, 2021 1:40 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
No. Left.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 July 2021 19:35 (two years ago) link
Thurston spent the early 80s selling Chipwich ice cream sandwiches out of a freezer-cart, those were nearly as addictive.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 15 July 2021 19:55 (two years ago) link
Ah, sorry, Alfred.
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 15 July 2021 19:57 (two years ago) link
On my 90s show this week I had a 55th birthday celebration for this album:
FIRST HOUR:Nina Hagen - Sonntagmorgen (1996)Vanessa Paradis - I'm Waiting for the Man (1992)Teenage Fanclub - Femme Fatale (1997)The Ukrainians - Chekannya (Venus in Furs) (1993)Bettie Serveert - Run Run Run (1998)Bryan Ferry - All Tomorrow's Parties (1993)Billy Idol - Heroin (1993)John Doe - There She Goes Again (1995)Richard Barone - I'll Be Your Mirror (1990)Smile Kick - The Black Angel's Death Song (1999)Ride - European Son (1990)Mike Flowers Pops - The Velvet Underground Medley (1996)
SECOND HOUR:Luminous Orange - Sunday Morning (1999)Blackbird - I'm Waiting for the Man (1990)Orly Zilbershatz-Banai - פאם פאטאל (Femme Fatale) (1991)Psychopomps - Venus in Furs (1997)Motorcycle Boy - Run Run Run (1990)Iva Davies & Icehouse - All Tomorrow's Parties (1995)Angry Samoans - Heroin (1996)Cosmic Psychos - There She Goes Again (1992)Los Nikis - Yo soy tu sombra (1987)Clowns Smiling Backwards - The Black Angel's Death Song (1992)Bettie Serveert - European Son (1998)
― ArchCarrier, Saturday, 19 March 2022 09:04 (two years ago) link
Three years ago, we had a string duo play Sunday Morning as our wedding processional. Best cover ever.
― doug watson, Saturday, 19 March 2022 09:24 (two years ago) link
<3
― ArchCarrier, Saturday, 19 March 2022 10:34 (two years ago) link
I may be incredibly hungover but I struggle to hear European Son in that Ride track.
― kraudive, Sunday, 20 March 2022 16:30 (two years ago) link
It's slowed down, but it's the same bassline and (such as it is) melody.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 20 March 2022 16:37 (two years ago) link
!
https://press.warhol.org/press/the-warhol-announces-the-discovery-and-digitalization-of-the-rare-master-tapes-of-the-velvet-undergrounds-debut-album-the-velvet-underground-nico/
The Andy Warhol Museum announces the discovery and digitization of the rare master tapes of the Velvet Underground’s debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967, Verve Records). Recently identified while processing Andy Warhol’s archive at The Warhol, the nine initial tracks recorded by the band were the bedrock of the album that became one of my most jarring and influential albums in rock music. The monophonic reel-to-reel ¼” tapes feature alternate versions and mixes of songs later issued on the 1967 release.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 9 November 2022 18:10 (one year ago) link
just in time for a 56th anniversary box!
assuming there's nothing unheard on here, but it'll be cool to hear the Scepter stuff minus the acetate crackles.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 9 November 2022 19:04 (one year ago) link