The first 3 Velvet Underground albums were released by Verve. However Verve wasn't making money and The Velvet Underground albums weren't big sellers. They were released from theircontract and signed with Atlantic where they released Loaded.
However, tracks had been recorded for a 4th album with Verve. The recordings were, of course, lost and eventually rediscovered. They were released over two albums, VU in 1985 and Another View in 1986.
Of these VU is by far the stronger. Of the 10 songs on the album 6 of them were released on Lou Reed's solo albums. This album is a great mix of ballads and heavier rock songs. Different from Loaded, this still has the same sort of balance, The Velvets were heading this way for their 4th album anyway.
Sample mp3s:
I Can't Stand It
Foggy Notion
Temptation Inside Your Heart
Buy the album here.
Another View is weaker in comparison and it's much more an album for completists. That's not to say it's in any way bad, but it's ok rather than great. Highlights are We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together and an early version of Rock And Roll.
Sample mp3s:
We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together
Coney Island Steeplechase
Buy the album here.
Now, onto the live albums.
1969: Velvet Underground Live. I consider this a double album, even though it's released on two seperate discs. When it was first released on vinyl it was a double album, and that's good enough for me.
The album is made up of gigs recorded over clubs sound systems at two seperate venues, one in Dallas and one in San Francisco. What's immediatley notable is the sheer energy that comes through on the songs, out and out aggresion in some places. As always it's easy to view the Velvet Underground as Lou Reed's band before he went solo but the full band is on form here. Reed and Morrison complement each other perfectly, Mo Tucker's drumming is sublime and even the much maligned Doug Yule shows his ability. Basically the band out and out rocks.
Highlights of the album are What Goes On, New Age, (with an almost completley different set of lyrics than the version on Loaded) and Heroin from Volume 1 and Ocean, Pale Blue Eyes, Heroin (again) and I Can't Stand It from Volume 2.
As always below are some sample tracks but bear in mind that, as with any live album, it's best to hear it in full.
Lisa Says (Volume One)
New Age (Volume One)
Heroin (Volume Two)
Over You (Volume Two)
I Can't Stand It (Volume Two)
Buy Volume 1 here and Volume 2 here.
Bootleg Series, Vol. 1: The Quine Tapes
Despite what the title of this album suggests there is no volume 2. This was released in 2001, so I think it's fair to say there won't be a volume 2 now.
It's a 3 disc set and the recordings on it come from gigs The Velvets did in two clubs in San Francisco during November and December 1969 as well as one track from a gig in St. Louis. The recordings were made with the bands consent by Robert Quine. Quine would later tour with Reed and play guitar on his album The Blue Mask.
During 1969 The Velvets toured extensively, the normally quoted figue is 70+ gigs, and this album is a comprehensive look at just how well the band was playing at that time. From the sametime span as the above 1969: Velvet Underground Live this album is more of the same and I think a more essential purchase. If you're only going to buy one live Velvets album get this one. As well as all the tracks you'd expect the album contains songs from the first album that were played live less often.
Here's 3 sample mp3s, one from each disc:
Some Kinda Love (This track contains the lyric 'Between Thought and Expression')
Venus In Furs
Rock And Roll
Buy the album here.
Which brings us to the last live album and the end of my posts on The Velvet Underground.
Live At Max's Kansas City is reputed to be the last ever concert The Velvets ever played. The audio quality is acceptable for a bootleg but not great, there's a lot of audience chatter, Mo Tucker is pregnant and Billy Yule fills in on drums and really it's an album best bought by fans. It's by no means for completists only though. Listening to the album it seems obvious how weary Lou Reed has become with it all. His introduction to and vocals on Sunday Morning are the best example of that.
Buy the album here.
The album contains both sets they did. White Light/White Heat is from the first set, Sunday Morning and Lonesome Cowboy Bill from the second set. Lonesome Cowboy Bill was actually played in both sets. The mp3 below is, as mentioned, from the second set. It was the last song played at their last gig so it seemed an appropriate place to finish. I hope you've enjoyed these posts and most importantly the music.
White Light/White Heat
Sunday Morning
Lonesome Cowboy Bill.
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