Great video! Ok, after I was quite busy with the Beatles comments and they took a good bunch of work and as I´m in holiday from tomorrow on, I´m keeping it shorter for this series. MY RANKING: 1 - The Velvet Underground & Nico (A+) COMMENT: This is a classic in rock music´s history and a very progressive album for 1966. With a combination of blues, psychedelic rock, rock ´n´ roll and avantgarde, the band creates a very unique style that is also defined by unadorned, honest, taboo breaking lyrics about the New York underground life and personal experiences in it. The songs are very moody with a range of - I agree with you on that totally - very beautiful, dreamy songs over casual, dirty songs to brutal, experimental piece. The production is basically playing, arranging and that´s it - I call it "non-production". And I agree with you that it´s part of the Velvet Underground´s music and the necessary addition to the wild genre mix, the either dreamy or noisy parts and the dirty lyrics. Lou Reed isn´t a good singer but also his voice is needed in the music because it fits the style perfectly. Nico´s vocals are much deeper, darker and she pronounces the words more clearly which creates and interesting contrast to Lou Reed´s vocals. THREE FAVOURITE SONGS: "Sunday Morning", "Venus in Furs" (among my favourite songs in general), "Heroin" I love all of the other songs, especially "Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow´s Parties" and "The Black Angel´s Death Song" LEAST FAVOUTIE SONG: "Run Run Run" (still love it) /Jakob, PVS
Great album. Love Nico's contribution. I named a cat after her and a boy cat from the same litter I named Ziggy. My favorite album of theirs. I did a cover of Femme Fatale. I like John Cale's solo albums from the early to mid 70s. Vintage Violence is a good starting point.
Awesome review, I had a similar experience to you Larry where this album grew on me dramatically over the years. Idk if this is a hot take or not but the Nico songs are my favourites on the album (Femme Fatale and I'll Be Your Mirror are just gorgeous). Venus in Furs, There She Goes and Heroin aren't far behind. Curious to hear what you say about the next few albums as I like them all more than this one.
This was one of those albums that I heard about everywhere and saw tons of praise for but never actually heard anything from for a very long time and then a few years ago out of the blue I listened to it and…. believe ALL the hype
All of their albums are great but V.U. and Nico and White light White heat are simply masterpieces.Lou Reed and John Cale were both marvelous musicians even in the seventies. Great video Larry as always
Very excellent album! One of the best debuts of all-time. My three favorite songs are: "I'm Waiting For The Man", "Heroin" and "There She Goes Again". But, I love the Nico lead vocal tracks as well. I give this a well-deserved "A+". One of the first alternative albums, one that helped change and shape rock music for the future.
Good review. One of the greatest albums ever. I loved it from the first listen and I would play Venus in Furs and Heroin over and over. My favourite songs are also Venus in Furs, Heroin and I’m Waiting for the Man. Least is All Tomorrow’s Parties. For me I like their first four albums in order of release. Cheers
One of my all time favourite albums. I love the contrast between the harsh, visceral tracks and the soft, pretty ones. Nico’s vocals are always great and I love Cale’s viola. Favourite songs: I’m Waiting for the Man, Venus in Furs, Heroin Least favourite: Run Run Run (I still like it) 1) The Velvet Underground and Nico (A+)
Excellent album. Very much agree on the difficulty with ranking these Velvet Underground discs; all four are fabulous, and are all different from one another. Insightful comment about the contrast between quiet/beautiful, and loud, discordant and brutal; I love artists that display these contradictory facets. The Velvet Underground were a band of extremes, and all the more fascinating for it. Agree about Maureen Tucker's drumming; very integral part of both the beauty and the fury. Favorite three songs would probably be Sunday Morning, Venus in Furs, and Heroin. Not sure about a least favorite, as I thoroughly enjoy the album.
Hi Larry. I really enjoy your videos. Never really heard Velvet Underground, I will check them out. Do you think you could do some videos about Deep Purple sometime in the future?
Heroin was on the soundtrack to the movie "The Doors", pretty sure that's the first thing I heard by them. Got a compilation cassette after that, and really liked them. There's an Iggy Pop song called "Turn Blue" on the Lust For Life album that's similar, I think. From the point of view of someone overdosing on heroin. John Cale produced some of the Modern Lovers album, as you may know. And the first Stooges album. Haven't listened to his solo work either. And I agree on Moe Tucker, also amazing that she played standing up
John Cale also produced Patti Smith's debut Horses among many other artists. His collaboration with Nico, as her producer and arranger on her album trilogyThe Marble Index, Desertshore and The End would have a massive impact on Postpunk and Goth. On the Velvets first two albums he should have been co-credited for the music, as being the main driving force behind their then groundbreaking sound, but Reed's enormous ego stood in the way. His influence in the shaping of the early Punk/Alternative sound is bar to none and yet, until today he is so criminally overlooked, it beggars belief. As for his solo work, John Cale is one of the very rare Rock chamaleons, always reinventing his sounds and musical styles, like a fountain full of creativity. Some of his live performances have been spectacular, he would display a sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality on stage, ranging from melancholic and mellow ballads, to ferocious outbursts of rage and insanity, often leaving the audience perplexed. It's a pitty that you and so many others have missed out on John Cale's music, as there are so many different facettes to this mans career in Modern music, be it as musician, producer or arranger. His contribution and true value to music are yet still to be revealed and acknowledged by so many Rock critics and Fans.
One of the most influential rock albums ever. An unique and many- sided piece of art, I love every moment of it! It´s an A+. Three favorite songs: Sunday Morning, Venus In Furs and There She Goes Again Least favorite song: The Black Angel´s Death Song
This album is probably my favorite album of all time, the production may not be the best, but once you get used to it, its atmosphere will catch you! My Favorite songs are(Although I love every single one): Sunday Morning, Venus In Furs, Heroin. Good video as always Larry :)
It's definitely my favorite of their albums, but their second one I love too. I just can't get into their other two besides a couple of songs. But this was an alternative album before that was a thing. I can't hear Sunday Morning without being taken back to the early nineties and a girl who put it on a compilation tape, and it was my first exposure to them as a group besides one or two covers I'd heard of their songs.
Hey Larry, I'm writing this before watching the video as I'm guessing your ranking & ratings for this series. Please don't read further until the end of the series, thanks :). Larry's ranking guessed: 1 - White Light / White Heat (A+) 2 - The Velvet Underground & Nico (A+) 3 - The Velvet Underground (A) 4 - Loaded (A-)
An undisputed classic. Not a huge seller. Probably sold about 6 copies in its first year or so(all of Lou Reeds friend probably) but it influenced so many musicians and started more bands then most other albums.
By chance a friend and I heard Heroin on KPPC and we were totally taken in by the unique sound which was unlike anything before it. We were 13 year old suburban kids and didn't even know what heroin was but that didn't matter. We didn't have the money so we stole it from a department store. Wish I still had my original copy. It was stolen while I was in the Navy. One of the greatest albums ever.
Great album and cover. Some songs are very innovative, others are very soft and nice, a couple are more melodic and commercial. So Velvet Underground were able to do different stuff. Heroin is my favourite (or maybe Venus In Furs, or All Tomorrow's Parties, or Sunday Morning), Run Run Run my least favourite. Sunday Morning has influenced dream pop for sure, All Tomorrow's Parties is a precursor to gothic rock (I love Nico's deep vocals), and Heroin is basically experimental rock. There She Goes Again it seems like they're trying to imitate The Beatles.
That’s funny that you used to hate run run run, that was my favorite song the first time I listened to the album but most people don’t agree. Goes to show the variety on the album and how different songs can hit people in different ways!
I think the reason they made Sunday Morning was because Andy Warhol was hoping the album would be a commercial success yet he just greenlit anything the band wanted to do (which gave them a lot of creative freedom but also made the record pretty strange and uncommercial due to the production and how weird the album actually got). Then Brian Eno or some other producer came in at the last second and decided the Velvets needed something a bit more pleasant for mainstream listenters. Because of this Lou and the band put together Sunday Morning.
@@catsofsherman1316 I love Loaded but I don't think it's quite as good as the first three. Some of the songs are among their very best though. It would be a best album by about any other band.
Listen to this for the first time to play along with larry. Listened to it 3 times. Very different and fascinating indeed no denying that. However i dont find myself worshipping this as a classic like everybody else theres some good songs and i like the nico songs and lou reeds singing style however i find theres some tracks I don't care for or that just dont standout i also find some of this album is just noise to me ill keep trying but for now... Velvet underground and nico - B+/B
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8:21-8:30 is amazing with no context
Yep, it’s my favorite album of all time. I literally have a shrine dedicated to it in my home! Thanks for reviewing it, Studmuffin! 💛🖤🤗
Thank you Larry for the high quality content
Great video!
Ok, after I was quite busy with the Beatles comments and they took a good bunch of work and as I´m in holiday from tomorrow on, I´m keeping it shorter for this series.
MY RANKING:
1 - The Velvet Underground & Nico (A+)
COMMENT:
This is a classic in rock music´s history and a very progressive album for 1966.
With a combination of blues, psychedelic rock, rock ´n´ roll and avantgarde, the band creates a very unique style that is also defined by unadorned, honest, taboo breaking lyrics about the New York underground life and personal experiences in it. The songs are very moody with a range of - I agree with you on that totally - very beautiful, dreamy songs over casual, dirty songs to brutal, experimental piece.
The production is basically playing, arranging and that´s it - I call it "non-production". And I agree with you that it´s part of the Velvet Underground´s music and the necessary addition to the wild genre mix, the either dreamy or noisy parts and the dirty lyrics.
Lou Reed isn´t a good singer but also his voice is needed in the music because it fits the style perfectly. Nico´s vocals are much deeper, darker and she pronounces the words more clearly which creates and interesting contrast to Lou Reed´s vocals.
THREE FAVOURITE SONGS: "Sunday Morning", "Venus in Furs" (among my favourite songs in general), "Heroin"
I love all of the other songs, especially "Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow´s Parties" and "The Black Angel´s Death Song"
LEAST FAVOUTIE SONG: "Run Run Run" (still love it)
/Jakob, PVS
I’m a huge Lou Reed fan. Loved your Lou Reed episodes along with the rest of your content. Keep up the amazing work!
One of the best albums ever, glad you gave a like to my ranking it of it in my 1967 rock albums today in instagram 👍🏼👍🏼 was an honor
Great album. Love Nico's contribution. I named a cat after her and a boy cat from the same litter I named Ziggy. My favorite album of theirs. I did a cover of Femme Fatale. I like John Cale's solo albums from the early to mid 70s. Vintage Violence is a good starting point.
You can’t go wrong with the following three John Cale solo albums: Vintage Violence, Paris 1919, and Fear.
Like David Bowie meets Lou Reed
Such a fascinating band, I’ve been looking forward to this series!
Cool to see a ranking top video from you of Velvet Underground i'll be waiting for this
Awesome review, I had a similar experience to you Larry where this album grew on me dramatically over the years. Idk if this is a hot take or not but the Nico songs are my favourites on the album (Femme Fatale and I'll Be Your Mirror are just gorgeous). Venus in Furs, There She Goes and Heroin aren't far behind. Curious to hear what you say about the next few albums as I like them all more than this one.
Great video Larry! You rock! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
VU, from 1985, is worthy of mention, as is Live 1969.
Good reviews.
I’ve been meaning to listen to this album I do like a song or two from it but now that I’ve watched this video I’ll finally give it a listen!
This was one of those albums that I heard about everywhere and saw tons of praise for but never actually heard anything from for a very long time and then a few years ago out of the blue I listened to it and…. believe ALL the hype
Great album. Very ahead of its time. My favorite song is Venus in Furs.
All of their albums are great but V.U. and Nico and White light White heat are simply masterpieces.Lou Reed and
John Cale were both marvelous musicians even in the seventies. Great video Larry as always
Very excellent album! One of the best debuts of all-time. My three favorite songs are: "I'm Waiting For The Man", "Heroin" and "There She Goes Again". But, I love the Nico lead vocal tracks as well. I give this a well-deserved "A+". One of the first alternative albums, one that helped change and shape rock music for the future.
Good review. One of the greatest albums ever. I loved it from the first listen and I would play Venus in Furs and Heroin over and over. My favourite songs are also Venus in Furs, Heroin and I’m Waiting for the Man. Least is All Tomorrow’s Parties. For me I like their first four albums in order of release. Cheers
My 5 favorites (no order):
1. Sunday Morning
2. Venus In Furs
3. Heroin
4. There She Goes Again
5. Black Angel’s Death Song
One of my all time favourite albums. I love the contrast between the harsh, visceral tracks and the soft, pretty ones. Nico’s vocals are always great and I love Cale’s viola.
Favourite songs: I’m Waiting for the Man, Venus in Furs, Heroin
Least favourite: Run Run Run (I still like it)
1) The Velvet Underground and Nico (A+)
Excellent album. Very much agree on the difficulty with ranking these Velvet Underground discs; all four are fabulous, and are all different from one another. Insightful comment about the contrast between quiet/beautiful, and loud, discordant and brutal; I love artists that display these contradictory facets. The Velvet Underground were a band of extremes, and all the more fascinating for it. Agree about Maureen Tucker's drumming; very integral part of both the beauty and the fury. Favorite three songs would probably be Sunday Morning, Venus in Furs, and Heroin. Not sure about a least favorite, as I thoroughly enjoy the album.
Hi Larry. I really enjoy your videos. Never really heard Velvet Underground, I will check them out. Do you think you could do some videos about Deep Purple sometime in the future?
Thank you. Not a big fan of theirs overall but of course love Machine Head and a few of their early songs.
@@canadianstudmuffin Yes, they do have a very extensive discography. I mostly just like the Mk 2 albums and the Coverdale albums from the 70's
My exposure to the Velvets was on The Doors motion picture soundtrack
Wasn't Heroin on that one?
Heroin was on the soundtrack to the movie "The Doors", pretty sure that's the first thing I heard by them. Got a compilation cassette after that, and really liked them. There's an Iggy Pop song called "Turn Blue" on the Lust For Life album that's similar, I think. From the point of view of someone overdosing on heroin.
John Cale produced some of the Modern Lovers album, as you may know. And the first Stooges album. Haven't listened to his solo work either.
And I agree on Moe Tucker, also amazing that she played standing up
John Cale also produced Patti Smith's debut Horses among many other artists. His collaboration with Nico, as her producer and arranger on her album trilogyThe Marble Index, Desertshore and The End would have a massive impact on Postpunk and Goth. On the Velvets first two albums he should have been co-credited for the music, as being the main driving force behind their then groundbreaking sound, but Reed's enormous ego stood in the way. His influence in the shaping of the early Punk/Alternative sound is bar to none and yet, until today he is so criminally overlooked, it beggars belief.
As for his solo work, John Cale is one of the very rare Rock chamaleons, always reinventing his sounds and musical styles, like a fountain full of creativity. Some of his live performances have been spectacular, he would display a sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality on stage, ranging from melancholic and mellow ballads, to ferocious outbursts of rage and insanity, often leaving the audience perplexed.
It's a pitty that you and so many others have missed out on John Cale's music, as there are so many different facettes to this mans career in Modern music, be it as musician, producer or arranger. His contribution and true value to music are yet still to be revealed and acknowledged by so many Rock critics and Fans.
The Black Angel’s Death Song might be my favorite on here but this album’s so good it’s baffling.
One of the most influential rock albums ever. An unique and many- sided piece of art, I love every moment of it! It´s an A+.
Three favorite songs: Sunday Morning, Venus In Furs and There She Goes Again
Least favorite song: The Black Angel´s Death Song
This album is probably my favorite album of all time, the production may not be the best, but once you get used to it, its atmosphere will catch you!
My Favorite songs are(Although I love every single one): Sunday Morning, Venus In Furs, Heroin.
Good video as always Larry :)
It's definitely my favorite of their albums, but their second one I love too. I just can't get into their other two besides a couple of songs. But this was an alternative album before that was a thing. I can't hear Sunday Morning without being taken back to the early nineties and a girl who put it on a compilation tape, and it was my first exposure to them as a group besides one or two covers I'd heard of their songs.
I have the Emerson torso LP. V6-5008. v g condition. Can you give me a ballpark value? Rarity?
I have no idea.
0:23 lmao
Hey Larry,
I'm writing this before watching the video as I'm guessing your ranking & ratings for this series. Please don't read further until the end of the series, thanks :).
Larry's ranking guessed:
1 - White Light / White Heat (A+)
2 - The Velvet Underground & Nico (A+)
3 - The Velvet Underground (A)
4 - Loaded (A-)
Oh! I was wrong, ha ha!
An undisputed classic. Not a huge seller. Probably sold about 6 copies in its first year or so(all of Lou Reeds friend probably) but it influenced so many musicians and started more bands then most other albums.
one of the best rock albums
YAY
By chance a friend and I heard Heroin on KPPC and we were totally taken in by the unique sound which was unlike anything before it. We were 13 year old suburban kids and didn't even know what heroin was but that didn't matter. We didn't have the money so we stole it from a department store. Wish I still had my original copy. It was stolen while I was in the Navy. One of the greatest albums ever.
Great album and cover. Some songs are very innovative, others are very soft and nice, a couple are more melodic and commercial. So Velvet Underground were able to do different stuff. Heroin is my favourite (or maybe Venus In Furs, or All Tomorrow's Parties, or Sunday Morning), Run Run Run my least favourite. Sunday Morning has influenced dream pop for sure, All Tomorrow's Parties is a precursor to gothic rock (I love Nico's deep vocals), and Heroin is basically experimental rock. There She Goes Again it seems like they're trying to imitate The Beatles.
That’s funny that you used to hate run run run, that was my favorite song the first time I listened to the album but most people don’t agree. Goes to show the variety on the album and how different songs can hit people in different ways!
Bananana
I think the reason they made Sunday Morning was because Andy Warhol was hoping the album would be a commercial success yet he just greenlit anything the band wanted to do (which gave them a lot of creative freedom but also made the record pretty strange and uncommercial due to the production and how weird the album actually got). Then Brian Eno or some other producer came in at the last second and decided the Velvets needed something a bit more pleasant for mainstream listenters. Because of this Lou and the band put together Sunday Morning.
Great album
Velvets did some of the greatest songs they wouldn’t play on the radio
‘Produced by Andy Warhol’ in name only.
Yes but as Lou Reed said if it wasn't for him there would never have been The Velvet Underground, so it was more of a tribute to him.
I think their first 3 albums are ALL their best albums.
Don’t forget about Loaded!!
No love for Loaded?
@@catsofsherman1316
I love Loaded but I don't think it's quite as good as the first three. Some of the songs are among their very best though.
It would be a best album by about any other band.
Andy Warhol is half Slovakian from my country
I've always thought that a more polished production would take a lot away from the essence of the music.
Listen to this for the first time to play along with larry. Listened to it 3 times. Very different and fascinating indeed no denying that. However i dont find myself worshipping this as a classic like everybody else theres some good songs and i like the nico songs and lou reeds singing style however i find theres some tracks I don't care for or that just dont standout i also find some of this album is just noise to me ill keep trying but for now...
Velvet underground and nico - B+/B
Still love this album but it’s my least favorite. Nothing wrong with it. They just kept getting better.
femee feytal