Velvet undergrounds lou reed and john cale released songs for. This is a rock group called the velvet underground. In january 2006, he released a second book of photographs, lou reeds. The avalanche of rock n roll death the new york times. A life, but for such a pivotal musical career, there shouldnt be a dull moment in the book.
The legacy of lou reed and andy warhol will be forever entwined. The velvet underground was not a commercial success during its existence, but became regarded as one of the most influential bands. Lou reed and john cale honored andy warhol on songs for drella. The mercurial reed whose group the velvet underground may have been the first artrock band. Lou reed john cale songs for drella 1990, box set discogs. Lewis allan lou reed march 2, 1942 october 27, 20 was an american rock musician. Lou reed, john cale forever changed lyrics genius lyrics.
Few would deny reeds immense importance and considerable achievements. Black silhouettes, crisscrossed tracks never came back. While the book covers the usual highlights, such as the late musicians. A 1995 story in interviewdeclared, since the 1960s, lou reed has arguably been one of the most influential figures in rock n roll. Anthony decurtis does a brilliant job of synthesizing the disparate parts of lou reeds life into an insightful, moving narrative. Mar 02, 2020 late rock icon lou reed saved his favorite songs on spotify with the velvet underground and in his solo career, reed changed rock forever.
A life can sometimes give you the feeling that the author cant wait for the absurd to quit courting the vulgar, but decurtis a longtime mvp of the rolling stone writers stable knows he cant completely gloss over the seamy, abrasive, riveting spectacle reed made of himself in those early. Reed had a reputation for being something of a crank, especially when it came to journalists. Since cofounding the velvet underground in 1963, mr. Anthony decurtis does somewhat better than that with the 500page tome lou reed. It was produced by richard robinson and reed and features london session musicians as reed s backing band, two of whom, rick wakeman and steve howe, were from the british progressive rock band yes. The velvet underground may have influenced hundreds of bands since the late 1960s, but it was lou reeds second solo album transformer 1972 that contained walk on the wild side, a surprise hit single that introduced the iconoclastic new yorker to the general public. Iggy pop an eloquent account of a harrowing life transformed by love in the end. A life is an absorbing read, full of new insights delivered masterfully by decurtis. Lou reed was an influential american rock singersongwriter and guitarist. This highly recommended purchase will open up the world of lou exploring his solo capacity. John cale and lou reed collaborated on songs for drella, a.
As a founding member of the velvet underground in the 1960s, he chronicled that decade with songs that journeyed into the worlds of. He moves to new york city, falls under the spell of andy warhol, ditches him, collaborates with the classically trained john calewho adds viola and avantgarde credibility to lou reeds limited musicianshipforms the velvet underground, the most influential smalltime band in the history of rock and roll, balks at sharing credit, and. The first part of the book is a compilation of interviews with lou reed taken from different sources talking about his career, with some bw photos. Unlike leonard cohenanother literary songwriter drawn to lifes darker themesreed did not leave college and start publishing poetry. Lou reed was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1996 and is a founding member of the legendary velvet underground. He wrote evocative music using his knowledge of poetry while exploring a variety of genres and personas over his. White lightwhite heat, and had tensions with lou reed then and in the decades that. Though i didnt know much about them, they certainly influenced my life on many. Reeds papers date from 1958 to 2015, and chronicle his career through audio and video recordings, office files, photographs, artwork, and press clippings. Nov 01, 2015 lou was a prince and a fighter, she wrote. Few artists, let alone musicians, have had a more fruitful yet tempestuous creative life, the results of which forever changed perceptions of popular music and art. Songs for drella is a 1990 album by lou reed and john cale, both formerly of the velvet. It seemed to take him eternity to change it and i was standing there really embarrassed. The album would have ended just fine with forever changed.
Here are five things we learned, annotated by the author in a recent interview with pitchfork. Train entering the city i lost myself and never come back took a trip around the world and never came back black silhouettes. Mar 02, 2017 beginning march 2, 2017, in honor of the 75th anniversary of lou reeds birthday and our recent acquisition of the lou reed archive, t he library is kicking off a celebration of the late rock icon with free limitedtime collection displays at two locationsthe stephen a. Lou reed was an american musician best known for cofounding the velvet underground, and his fivedecade long career as a solo artist. That uneven album set the stage for much of his career reeds personal, commercial and artistic interests.
I have had a copy of new york which, for a number of years, has rarely been far from my turntable. Lou reed creates a list of the 10 best records of all time. Lewis allan reed march 2, 1942 october 27, 20 was an american musician, singer. Only months before, we had been working on the setlist for lous show at the 20 coachella festival. Forever changed chords by lou reed songsterr tabs with. Schwarzman building on 42nd street and the library for the performing arts at lincoln center. Hed left arista and gone back to rca, he was married to his manager sylvia morales, and hed started going to alcoholics.
The band gained little mainstream attention during their career, but in hindsight became one of the most influential of their era. In 1964, he moved to new york to begin work as an inhouse songwriter for pickwick records, soaking up the music around him through his pores, transmuting it into his own warped take on early hits like his dance craze, the ostrich, which included. Forever changed chords by lou reed songsterr tabs with rhythm. Between rock and an art space at the boston universitys photographic resource center and later in. In january 2006, he released a second book of photographs, lou reeds new york. From songs for drella, their tribute to andy warhol. He wrote evocative music using his knowledge of poetry while exploring a variety of genres and personas over his career including glam rock and heavy metal. Costello reveals the process behind writing and recording legendary albums like my aim is true, this years model, armed forces, almost blue, imperial bedroom, and king of america.
Lewis allan reed march 2, 1942 october 27, 20 was an american musician, singer, songwriter and poet. But as anthony decurtis makes clear in his new book, behind the image and the rumors, lou was one thing. Andy was a catholic, the ethic ran through his bones he lived alone with his mother, collecting gossip and toys every sunday when he went to church hed kneel in his pew and say, its just work, all that matters is work. Critic mark deming wrote of quines eclectic style embraced influences from jazz, rock, and blues players of all stripes, and his thoughtful technique and uncompromising approach led to rewarding. Often cynically, but sometimes wrenchingly, he spent much of the decade treating his genius, which the velvets largely posthumous legend had enshrined beyond his solo careers. Robert wolfe quine december 30, 1942 may 31, 2004 was an american guitarist. He began experimenting with photography in the 1990s and first exhibited his work in the 1997 group show extended play. Oct 01, 2015 biography books two lives of lou reed. Reed was the son of toby nee futterman 192020 and sidney joseph reed 192005, an accountant.
Late rock icon lou reed saved his favorite songs on spotify with the velvet underground and in his solo career, reed changed rock forever. When lou reed died on october 27th, he left behind a legacy as nuanced as. Magic and loss 1992 lou reed is a pivotal figure in the creation of the new york rock sound. The discography of the american rock musician lou reed consists of 22 studio albums and live albums, and 44 singles.
Apr 10, 2019 the heavy metal grifter gabe reed was a failed rock star who reinvented himself as a concert promoter. Forever changed forever changed forever changed forever changed got to get to the city, get a job got to get some work to see me through my old lifes behind, i see it receding my lifes disappearing, disappearing from view hong kong and i was changed burma, thailand and i was changed a few good friends to see me through henry and brigid to see. Lou reed is the debut solo studio album by american musician lou reed, released in april 1972 by rca records, two years after he left the velvet underground. A native of akron, ohio, quine worked with a wide range of musicians, though he himself remained relatively unknown. The library has just announced the acquisition of the lou reed archive, and were celebrating the life and legacy of this rock icon with a series of displays, programs, and performances at the stephen a. Published in 1994, the first version of this biography by jeremy reed no relation was lous favorite of the materials on him. Nov 23, 2017 he moves to new york city, falls under the spell of andy warhol, ditches him, collaborates with the classically trained john calewho adds viola and avantgarde credibility to lou reeds limited musicianshipforms the velvet underground, the most influential smalltime band in the history of rock and roll, balks at sharing credit, and.
Velvet underground live 68 shirt lou reed tee john cale 60s sonic youth punk hippie heroin tshirt retro 70s nyc new york pere ubu no wave freakbeachvintage. Few artists, let alone musicians, have had a more fruitful yet tempestuous creative life, the results of. He was originally from long island, new york and spent most of his life in new york city. He was the rhythmlead guitarist, singer and principal songwriter for the rock band the velvet underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades.
He first came to prominence as the guitarist and principal singersongwriter of the velvet underground 19651973. Oct 12, 2015 lou reed is the focus of a new biography from howard sounes titled notes from the velvet underground. You might think im frivolous depends on your point of view. This version with made in germany on the rear inlay is without sidcodes. Lou reed has 36 books on goodreads with 2792 ratings. Oct 27, 20 lou reed was an influential american rock singersongwriter and guitarist. The details of reeds ascendance, fall, and comeback as a solo artist are so vital and culturally significant they read like a hollywood script, and levy ably captures it. Suzanne vega when most people think of lou reed, they picture the black, rotting heart of rock and roll, full of dissonance, decadence and decay. Lou reeds most popular book is in dreams begin responsibilities and other stories. If you like lou reed and do not have these albums or, like me, only one or two, or if you want to get an intro into lous music, then get this set.
Lou reed is the focus of a new biography from howard sounes titled notes from the velvet underground. Lou reeds incredible music career, both as a solo artist and as a member of the velvet. Lou reed john cale songs for drella 1990, cd discogs. Nonetheless, the lou reed of the 1970s, who was the lou reed my generational cohort got scalded by, was an ongoing reminder that wasted can have more than one meaning. Flanagan backdates his period of constant mourning to 20, when lou reed died at 71.
Cale tried, jeremy reed reports in his book waiting for the man, but wasnt getting too far. Reed also released 5 video albums and 11 music videos. The band gained little mainstream attention during their career, but in hindsight became one of. Train entering the city i lost myself and never come back took a trip around the world and never came back black silhouettes, crisscrossed tracks never came back. Lou reed transformer poster print album as books penguin books standarddesigns. Jun 22, 2018 reeds interest in photography began in the 60s, and he honed the craft in his later years, publishing several volumes of photo books. Lou reed simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Society and who paints and records them the high and the low. Lou reed was a singer and guitarist best known as a cofounder of the influential rock group the velvet underground and later, as a legendary solo artist. Reeds interest in photography began in the 60s, and he honed the craft in his later years, publishing several volumes of photo books. In 2003, reed released a book of photographs, emotions in action. Standard jewel case, 16page booklet plus separate 4page booklet with german translation of lyrics by dietrich sic diederichsen.
A lasting record of originality and inspiring talent, this was the first step in a colourful and rewarding solo career for lou, and a catalogue of great tracks that is his legacy to us. It was produced by richard robinson and reed and features london session musicians as reeds backing band, two of whom, rick wakeman and steve howe, were from the british progressive rock band yes. Schwarzman building and the library for the performing arts. New biography alleges lou reed had a history of violence. Anderson may overlap with howard sounes, the author of the controversial new lou reed biography, notes from. All the books about me are bullshit except jeremy s, he once. If you thought of my work as a book, then you have the great. He is remembered for being in the velvet underground, although he also released solo. That song, lou reed, and the velvet underground were protopunk and changed the sound and face of rock forever. Songs for drella 1990 train entering the city i lost myself and never came back took a trip around the world and never came back black silhouettes, crisscrossed tracks, never came back forever changed forever changed you might think im frivolous, uncaring and cold. The career of lou reed defied capsule summarization. Reed s papers date from 1958 to 2015, and chronicle his career through audio and video recordings, office files, photographs, artwork, and press clippings. This comprised an a4sized book called emotions and a smaller one called actions laid into its hard cover.
810 1412 542 940 1303 859 819 1141 12 1475 1308 919 1287 563 474 645 1210 915 236 1138 1496 278 542 400 696 466 1408 1339 894 279 317 960