The Velvet Underground (album)
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The Velvet Underground is the eponymous third album by The Velvet Underground, their first with Doug Yule, John Cale's replacement. It was recorded in October 1968 at TTG Studios, Hollywood, rather quickly after Cale's depature, and marks a radical shift in sound and approach. The album was the first for record label MGM (the band's first two albums had been issued by MGM subsidiary and legendary jazz label, Verve). Apart from the cover and back photographs taken by Factory associate Billy Name, the previously strong Andy Warhol influence is gone.
The record was produced by the band themselves, and issues simultaneously in two mixes: one done by sound engineer Val Valentin, and one by Lou Reed, dubbed the 'closet mix' by guitarist Sterling Morrison because he thought it sounded flat, as if recorded in a closet. The two can easily be told apart by the use of entirely different takes for track 3, "Some Kinda Love". Subsequent domestic and foreign re-issues of the record dither between the two mixes; the CD issues have always used the Valentin mix. The Reed mix can be found on the 1995 box set Peel Slowly and See. The Velvet Underground is number 314 on the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
After The Velvet Underground was issued, the band recorded fourteen tracks that were to become their next MGM album, but they were released from their contract and the tracks remained unissued until 1985 and 1986, when they were collected on outtakes compilations VU and Another View (both on Verve).
The band went on to sign a two-record deal with Atlantic subsidiary Cotillion.
Track Listing
- Candy Says (lead vocals by Doug Yule)
- What Goes On
- Some Kinda Love
- Pale Blue Eyes
- Jesus
- Beginning to See the Light
- I'm Set Free
- That's the Story of My Life
- The Murder Mystery (lead vocals by Sterling Morrison and Lou Reed, chorus vocals by Maureen Tucker and Doug Yule)
- After Hours (lead vocals by Maureen Tucker)
Personnel
- Lou Reed lead and rhythm guitar, piano, lead vocals except as noted
- Sterling Morrison rhythm and lead guitar
- Doug Yule bass guitar, organ, backing vocals
- Maureen Tucker percussion