The Velvet Underground & Nico [debut]
release date: Mar. 12, 1967
format: vinyl (reissue) / cd (2012, 45th Anniversary Edition)
[album rate: 5 / 5]
[4,88]
producer: Andy Warhol
label: Polydor Records - nationality: USA
Tracklist: A)
1. "Sunday Morning" -
2. "I'm Waiting for the Man" -
3. "Femme Fatale" (5 / 5) -
4. "Venus in Furs" (5 / 5) -
5. "Run Run Run" -
6. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (5 / 5) - -
B)
1. "Heroin" -
2. "There She Goes Again" (5 / 5) -
3. "I'll Be Your Mirror" -
4. "The Black Angel's Death Song" -
5. "European Son"
[
full album ]
Studio album debut by The Velvet Underground originally released on Verve Records and, according to the album credits, produced by Andy Warhol, which does sound unlikely as Warhol didn't have any recording experiences - however, he did pay for the studio sessions. Allegedly, his producing method was to direct the band that they should go ahead and do whatever they felt like. Actual technical producer is most likely Tom Wilson. The Velvet Underground is in its classic line-up with Lou Reed on lead vocals & lead guitar, John Cale on electric viola, piano & bass guitar, Sterling Morrison on guitar, bass guitar & backing vocals, and with Maureen Tucker on drums & percussion. Nico was never part of the band but she often participated when playing live, and she is here credited as lead vocalist on tracks #3, #6 and #9 and doing backing vocals on track #1. And although, Warhol may have suggested to include Nico in the band - as he liked the idea of having a woman in front of this masculine project, but both Cale and Reed was against his idea, and then again Warhol's untrained musical background didn't help him to pursuade Reed nor Cale. Instead, Nico participates as featuring solo artist, and she already released her solo album debut
Chelsea Girl in October that same year. Lou Reed is songwriter and composer of all songs - only tracks #A1 and #B4 are co-written with Cale and #B5 is credited the whole band.
The album is one of the most iconic and legendary albums in rock history. Although, the initial reception wasn't just positive, its status has put it among the utmost influential albums ever released. The cover has its own story, and the tracks, dealing with all kinds of touchy subjects, have their particular background stories. Soundwise and in terms of style, this was something out of the blue highly original, and then they didn't exactly do much good for a potential career by choosing to sing about drugs and sex. But the band stood on its own values and most certainly didn't give a hoot about anyone's opinion. Nowadays, it's dificult to point to an album of greater influence than this one.
I don't remember exactly the first time, I listened to this album but in the late 1970s my older brother introduced it to me, and I do remember that I liked it from the first minut on, and I have loved it ever since. Every now and then, I put it on, and I'm always amazed of how fine and fresh it still sounds production-wise, as well as the immediate and direct appeal every single track conveys.
Naturally, this is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
This very album is a strong contender to the best and the most important rock-album ever released.
Highly recommended.
1967 Favourite releases: 1. The Velvet Underground and Nico
The Velvet Underground & Nico - 2. Jimi Hendrix
Are You Experienced? - 3. The Doors
The Doors
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| org. cover |
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This post is part of
MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.
