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TheCellarTapes · 02-04-2009, 04:32 AM

The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico
(1967)

Tracks

1 Sunday Morning 2:56
2 I'm Waiting for the Man 4:39
3 Femme Fatale 2:38
4 Venus in Furs 5:12
5 Run Run Run 4:22
6 All Tomorrow's Parties 6:00
7 Heroin 7:12
8 There She Goes Again 2:41
9 I'll Be Your Mirror 2:14
10 The Black Angel's Death Song 3:11
11 European Son 7:46

One of the most influential releases ever to grace the world of popular music, its effect shaped the course of Glam Rock, Punk, Goth, New Romantics, Indie and no doubt even music which is not very good. It truly is a special album, which deserves its hype amongst music critics and fans alike.

Released in 1967 on The Verve Record Label, The Velvet Underground and Nico really does stand out from other albums recorded during 1966/67. When we talk about the production efforts going into other 1967 releases like Sgt Pepper, or even the closest British equivalent to the Velvets; Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates, The Velvet Underground's production on their debut is pretty much none existent, but for me that surely is the point.

The album was apparently produced by Pop Art pioneer, Andy Warhol, but in reality his role in the making of this album was to house the band in his eccentric New York art house, The Factory, to sign the cheques and to introduce the band to the mysterious German model come singer Christa Päffgen or Nico as she was known. It also has to be said that Warhol also created the front cover, one of the most iconic front covers ever to come out of America. But in musical terms, this album is really a Lou Reed/John Cale masterpiece.

Instead of producing a typical late sixties album, Reed, Cale and Co produced a beautiful yet stripped down album with songs as poignant as the city it was born. Songs like Heroin and Venus in Furs provide the darkness while songs like the beautiful Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale and I'll be Your Mirror brighten up your day, even if the meaning behind the lyrics are probably just as dark as the previously mentioned songs. Run Run Run and I'm Waiting for the Man are as raw and garagy foot tappy as the best of them, while All Tomorrow's Parties is as avant-garde as they come, what more can you ask?

Like many folk, I tend to avoid things which are clouded in hype because normally they are quite the let down, however with this album; I have nothing but praise and admiration. Believe the hype.

02-04-2009, 04:32 AM	#42 (permalink)
TheCellarTapes Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 490	The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico *(1967)* Tracks 1 Sunday Morning 2:56 2 I'm Waiting for the Man 4:39 3 Femme Fatale 2:38 4 Venus in Furs 5:12 5 Run Run Run 4:22 6 All Tomorrow's Parties 6:00 7 Heroin 7:12 8 There She Goes Again 2:41 9 I'll Be Your Mirror 2:14 10 The Black Angel's Death Song 3:11 11 European Son 7:46 One of the most influential releases ever to grace the world of popular music, its effect shaped the course of Glam Rock, Punk, Goth, New Romantics, Indie and no doubt even music which is not very good. It truly is a special album, which deserves its hype amongst music critics and fans alike. Released in 1967 on The Verve Record Label, The Velvet Underground and Nico really does stand out from other albums recorded during 1966/67. When we talk about the production efforts going into other 1967 releases like Sgt Pepper, or even the closest British equivalent to the Velvets; Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates, The Velvet Underground's production on their debut is pretty much none existent, but for me that surely is the point. The album was apparently produced by Pop Art pioneer, Andy Warhol, but in reality his role in the making of this album was to house the band in his eccentric New York art house, The Factory, to sign the cheques and to introduce the band to the mysterious German model come singer Christa Päffgen or Nico as she was known. It also has to be said that Warhol also created the front cover, one of the most iconic front covers ever to come out of America. But in musical terms, this album is really a Lou Reed/John Cale masterpiece. Instead of producing a typical late sixties album, Reed, Cale and Co produced a beautiful yet stripped down album with songs as poignant as the city it was born. Songs like Heroin and Venus in Furs provide the darkness while songs like the beautiful Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale and I'll be Your Mirror brighten up your day, even if the meaning behind the lyrics are probably just as dark as the previously mentioned songs. Run Run Run and I'm Waiting for the Man are as raw and garagy foot tappy as the best of them, while All Tomorrow's Parties is as avant-garde as they come, what more can you ask? Like many folk, I tend to avoid things which are clouded in hype because normally they are quite the let down, however with this album; I have nothing but praise and admiration. Believe the hype.