Showing posts with label Velvet Underground. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Velvet Underground. Show all posts

Lou Reed Archival Release Collects Early Versions of Velvet Underground Songs and More


From the news release:

I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Heroin,” “Pale Blue Eyes” — In May of 1965, Lou Reed, with the help of future bandmate John Cale, recorded the very first known versions of these iconic songs along with a handful of others and mailed the tape to himself as a “poor man’s copyright.” The tape remained sealed in its original envelope and unopened for nearly 50 years — entirely unheard and forgotten, until now.
 
In partnership with @lightintheatticrecords and @laurieandersonofficial, the tape will be released for the first time (remastered from the original analog tape) on Deluxe Edition LP, Standard LP, CD, Cassette Tape, and Digital on 8/26.

The first single, “I’m Waiting For The Man is available to stream now. Throughout 2022 and beyond, Light in the Attic will continue to honor the music and influence of Reed through the Lou Reed Archive Series. Visit LouReedArchive.com to learn more, and stay tuned for forthcoming releases.

Words & Music, May 1965 will be available on August 26th in a variety of formats, including LP, cassette, 8-track, digital, and CD. 

The centerpiece of the inaugural Lou Reed Archive Series release is the Deluxe 45-RPM Double LP Edition of Words & Music, May 1965. Limited to 7,500 copies worldwide, this collection was designed by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike and features a stylized, die-cut gatefold jacket manufactured by Stoughton Printing Co. Housed inside are two 45-RPM 12-inch LPs, pressed on HQ-audiophile-quality 180-gram vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) featuring the only vinyl release of “I’m Waiting for the Man - May 1965 Alternate Version.” A bonus 7-inch, housed in its own unique die-cut picture sleeve and manufactured at Third Man Record Pressing includes the only vinyl release of six previously-unreleased bonus tracks providing a never-before-seen glimpse into Reed’s formative years, including early demos, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and a doo-wop serenade recorded in 1958 when the legendary singer-songwriter was just sixteen years old. An accompanying saddle-stitched, die-cut 28-page book features lyrics, archival photos, and liner notes. Also included is an archival reproduction of a rarely-seen letter, written by Reed to his college professor and poet, Delmore Schwartz, circa 1964. The set includes a CD containing the complete audio from the package, housed in a die-cut jacket. 
 
The 11-track digital release of Words & Music, May 1965 will be available across all platforms, alongside the physical formats, on August 26th. A six-song digital EP, Gee Whiz, 1958-1964, drops on October 7th, offering the above-mentioned bonus content.

 

Watch a new trailer for the new Velvet Underground documentary airing on Apple+ starting Oct. 15

Details:

The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock and roll’s most revered bands. Directed with the era’s avant-garde spirit by Todd Haynes, this kaleidoscopic oral history combines exclusive interviews with dazzling archival footage. 

Coming Soon: Velvet Underground 5-CD 45th anniversary box set

Out Oct. 30.


Details:
- The original album remastered in both stereo and mono
- A generous selection of demos, early versions and alternate mixes from that era
- A newly remastered/re-edited version of Live At Max s Kansas City
- Two high resolution mixes, plus a surround sound mix in DTS and Dolby Digital
- An unreleased May 1970 concert recorded in Philadelphia

The final disc is an audio only DVD that features three different mixes of Loaded:
- Surround Sound Remix in DTS and Dolby Digital
- 96/24 High resolution Stereo Downmix
- 96/24 High resolution Original Stereo Mix
For the Surround Sound and Stereo Downmix, the original track listing has been re-sequenced slightly to include the segue that was originally planned for I Found A Reason/Head Held High.

Pop focus: Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground

This week we look back at Lou Reed, who passed away earlier this week, and his pioneering work with the Velvet Underground, along with some of his solo music.

Brian Eno famously relayed a quote from Reed that only 30,000 people bought the first Velvets album, but everyone of them started a band. That's not true. If it were, there would've been a lot more interesting bands through the late 60s and early 70s.

But there's no denying that Reed's mixing of street poetry and garage rock with the avant garde touches of John Cale -- not to mention the icy vocals of Nico on the band's first LP and the primal drumming of Moe Tucker -- runs as a thread all through the rock'n'roll that followed: glam, punk and indie. Reed, and the group, are bound to be talked about for a long time to come.

Here's a clip of artist Andy Warhol, who famously "discovered" and promoted the group, and the Velvets.






And here's the full PBS "American Masters" profile "Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart."





 
 Reed penned one of rock's great guitar riffs with the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane." Here he demonstrates it to Elvis Costello:





 Here's Reed jamming in 2007 with Pete Townshend.



And, as a special bonus, here's Lou Reed's Honda scooter ad. Why settle for walking on the wild side? 








BBC Radio 6 pays tribute to Lou Reed

The pioneering rocker Lou Reed passed away over the weekend. BBC 6 looks back with a slate of programs that at his impact, and that of his band, the Velvet Underground.

Look here.

Meanwhile, here's the Velvets: