The Velvet Underground & Nico

Description

The Velvet Underground & Nico album, also referred to as
“The Banana Album” designed by Andy Warhol (who also produced it) was released
in March 1967. Most of the songs were recorded the previous year in a run-down
studio before the band even had a record contract. Verve had decided to add
alternative music to their label and picked up the group’s recordings. It
features the classic tracks “Heroin,” “I’m Waiting For The Man,” and “Sunday
Morning.” When the Velvets recorded this debut, they were best
known as the protégés of Andy Warhol (who designed the sleeve), and as a
grating, combustive live band. Fueled by drummer Moe Tucker’s no-nonsense wham
and John Cale’s howling viola, some of the straight-up rock & 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 favorite
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
disc. Even the sordid rockers are underscored by graceful pop tricks, like the
two-chord flutter at the center of the classic “Heroin.” –Douglas Wolk

Features:

Product Details:

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.88 x 5.59 x 0.47 inches; 3.32 Ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Polydor
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 2138954
• Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 1996
• SPARS Code ‏ : ‎ DDD
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 9, 2007
• Label ‏ : ‎ Polydor