The Velvet Underground Nico The Velvet Underground Nico

Description

We would argue anyone to the ground who say there is a cooler, more iconic 1960s album than the Velvet Underground’s self-titled release. When the Velvets recorded this debut, they were best known as the protégées of Andy Warhol (who designed the sleeve), and as a grating, combustive live band.

Fuelled by drummer Moe Tucker’s no-nonsense wham and John Cale’s howling viola, some of the straight-up rock and roll and arty noise extravaganzas here bear that out. But before Lou Reed was singing about sadomasochism and drug deals and writing lyrics inspired by his favourite poets, he was a pop songwriter, and this album has some of his prettiest tunes, mostly sung by Nico, the German dark angel who left the band after this album.

Even the sordid rockers are underscored by graceful pop tricks, like the two-chord flutter at the center of the classic ‘Heroin’. Truly essential listening.

Tracklist
A1 Sunday Morning
A2 I’m Waiting For The Man
A3 Femme Fatale
A4 Venus In Furs
A5 Run Run Run
A6 All Tomorrow’s Parties
B1 Heroin
B2 There She Goes Again
B3 I’ll Be Your Mirror
B4 The Black Angel’s Death Song
B5 European Son To Delmore Schwartz