Following the departure of John Cale in 1968, and the addition of Doug Yule on bass, the Velvet Underground released their self-titled third LP in 1969. More subdued and lyrically compassionate than the first two records it is nonetheless equally powerful and many consider this to be the band's finest work. The Velvet Underground certainly features some of Lou Reed's finest song writing from the narcotic beauty of Candy Says and I'm Set Free, to the angular jangle of What Goes On and I'm Beginning To See The Light. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl reissue.

VELVET UNDERGROUND THE ANDY WARHOL (NICO)

If the Velvet Underground's debut record was a shot at the conventions of rock music then White Light/White Heat, released later that same year (1967), was a full on nuclear blast. The Velvet Underground & Nico was a gentle slab of folk-rock compared to this. From the amphetamine fueled opening of the title track to the the 17 minute assault that is Sister Ray White Light/White Heat hardly lets up for a second, with the haunting Here She Comes Now being the album's only mellow moment. One of the most difficult, challenging, and ultimately beautiful pop records of all time, considered by many to be the Velvets' greatest record. Reissued on deluxe 180 gram vinyl.

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Genre: Popular Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
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Release Date: 10-MAR-1989

Quite possibly the most influential rock album and great debuts of all time, despite its initial lackluster sales. The Velvet Underground & Nico has, in the 40+ years since its 1967 release, influenced the significant works in almost every sub-genre of rock from glam to punk to new wave to industrial noise to twee to indie rock. From the gentle pop opener of Sunday Morning to the dissonance of closer European Son, with stops at garage rock, R&B, and mellow love songs in between, The Velvet Underground & Nico is an all-time classic whose influence and power still can not be denied. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl with gatefold jacket.

Quite possibly the most influential rock album and great debuts of all time, despite its initial lackluster sales. The Velvet Underground & Nico has, in the 40+ years since its 1967 release, influenced the significant works in almost every sub-genre of rock from glam to punk to new wave to industrial noise to twee to indie rock. From the gentle pop opener of Sunday Morning to the dissonance of closer European Son, with stops at garage rock, R&B, and mellow love songs in between, The Velvet Underground & Nico is an all-time classic whose influence and power still can not be denied. Deluxe 180 gram vinyl with gatefold jacket.

Recorded in 1969 between the release of their self-titled third album and 1970's Loaded, VU is comprised of tracks intended for the Velvet Underground's fourth Verve release, and features the same post-John Cale line-up (Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, Doug Yule and Maureen Tucker) as the third album. However, before the album was completed MGM/Verve dropped the Velvet Underground (along with the Mothers of Invention and others) for their association with drugs and the hippie counter-culture. These recordings, including Lou Reed solo classics such as She's My Best Friend, Ocean and Lisa Says, sat on the shelves until 1985 when VU was finally released. A lost classic back in print on vinyl for the first time in over 20 years.

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

Japanese-only double SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2009.