Just Because: The Velvet Underground at the Gymnasium (1967)

Grab it here.

The Velvet Underground Map of New York

 The Velvet Underground Map of New York

Just Because: Lou Reed on WPIX in 1979

Loaded: Lou Reed & John Cale at Lou's house in New York, Christmas 1977 - by Kate Simon

Originally surfacing a little over a year ago, I was listening to this wonderful bit of audio ephemera tonight, and then came upon the Soundcloud upload...This guest DJ spot by Lou Reed on WPIX in 1979 is definitely worth a listen - if you've heard it before, or especially if you haven't. There's great music & talk, Lou takes calls, and does what he was great at, i.e. being Lou. John Cale shows up at one point as well. You can skip segment #12 if you're pressed for time as that has nothing to do with Lou's appearance.

You don't really hear people who speak like this any longer. From Lou, to the call in guests, there's a definite NY in the accent as well as some slight neurosis & attitude.

This just in: Velvet Underground Matrix recordings to be included with deluxe reissue of 3rd album

Doom & Gloom From the Tomb reports:

The Velvet Underground :: Matrix Tapes Sampler

Thrilling news for VU heads — apparently a portion of the Velvet Underground’s fabled Matrix Tapes will be part of a deluxe reissue of the band’s self-titled third album, slated for release later this year. The Holy Grail! You can still go check out my write-up and the sampler of tantalizing snippets over on Aquarium Drunkard. Cannot wait to hear this stuff in full. 

Found: 33 minutes of The Velvet Undergound at the Boston Tea Party, 1967, in color!

Mind: boggled. Thank you, internet. Here is some color footage of the Velvet Underground live in Boston from 1967. The sound quality pretty much suck, but who cares? If you listen closely you'll be able to make out some of the tunes. According to the uploader this was "directed" by Andy Warhol. I'm not not sure what that means exactly, but this is truly a treasure. Here is the description:

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND IN BOSTON (1967, sound, color, 33 mins. Dir: Andy Warhol):

This newly unearthed film, which Warhol shot during a concert at the Boston Tea Party, features a variety of filmmaking techniques. Sudden in-and-out zooms, sweeping panning shots, in-camera edits that create single frame images and bursts of light like paparazzi flash bulbs going off mirror the kinesthetic experience of the Exploding Plastic Inevitable, with its strobe lights, whip dancers, colorful slide shows, multi-screen projections, liberal use of amphetamines, and overpowering sound. 

It is a significant find indeed for fans of the Velvets, being one of only two known films with synchronous sound of the band performing live, and this the only one in color. It's fitting that it was shot at the Boston Tea Party, as the Beantown club became one of the band's favorite, most-played venues, and was where a 16-year-old Jonathan Richman faithfully attended every show and befriended the group. Richman, who would later have his debut recordings produced by John Cale, and later yet record a song about the group, is just possibly seen in the background of this film.

Lou Reed's Private Memorial, Apollo Theater, NYC 12.16.13

Lou by David Gahr

This past Monday, friends & family of Lou Reed gathered at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for a private, invite-only memorial service. Jim Fouratt was kind enough to tape it, and its an incredible document. 

Jim writes: THIS A IS A LOW RES GOOD AUDIO DOCUMENTATION OF MOST THE PERFORMANCES AT THE Memorial. Includes Laurie Anderson, Mo Tucker, John Cale, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Paul Simon, Antony, John Zorn, Jenny Muldar, Lenny Kaye, Mark Ribot, Hal Wilner + others. I made it for myself and share it with all LOU fans who were not able to attend. Let me put the memorial into context: In the Buddhist tradition it takes days 49 days for the spirit to leave the body. It is called "bardo." Like Jewish Shiva, Irish wakes and different cultural rituals, it is a time for the living to share stories and simply just sit together to help each other and most importantly help the spirit be fully freed into into the Cosmos, December 16 was the fiftieth day and at the Apollo Theater a celebration of Lou Reed's life and work took place with his friends and family gathered with his wife the artist Laurie Andersen all saying goodbye, good speed Lou.

Friday Ephemera: Stooges 1969 French picture sleeve

Courtesy of Bedazzled & Derek's Daily 45

The Big Read: The story of White Light/White Heat by the Velvet Underground

As you may know, The Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat will be getting the deluxe reissue treatment shortly (order here). This morning, Mojo Magazine ran a great article by David Fricke about the album that looks like it may be a new(?) feature for Mojo's website called the Big Read. Anyway, the article is excellent, including great quotes from all concerned, and the layout online is gorgeous. The images contained here are from it, and i thought this a good excuse to run them. Read the article here.

More Velvets goodies: Color film from Boston, 1967

Courtesy of Doom & Gloom From the Tomb comes this very cool color footage shot at a Velvets gig in Boston at the Boston Tea Party, circa August 1967. As stated in the D&G post, the sound isn't great, and the band barely appears, but who cares? Its STILL cool as fuck.

3/5's of the Velvet Underground is better than none at all: Amazing footage of Lou, John & Nico at Le Bataclan 1972

 

This is amazing and a must see for fans of the Velvet Underground - fantastic footage shot in France in 1972. It marked the occasion of the first appearance together of Lou Reed, John Cale & Nico, since the break up of the band that these three appeared on stage together. Recordings have been bootlegged over the years (now available legally), but I've never seen the footage. Just amazing! Unfortunately I can't post it here as embedding has been disabled, but you can see it here on YouTube.

More info on the new Velvet Underground box

 Here is a more detailed look at the contents of the Velvet Underground box I mentioned last weekend. Stay tuned to Sundazed Records for more info.

New Velvet Underground boxset coming soon from Sundazed

It appears Sundazed Records has been busy busy busy putting together what looks like to be a beautiful new vinyl box for the Velvet Underground. According to the text above it will include the first three albums, a definitive collection of recordings made for the band's fourth & unfinished LP for MGM, and the first solo album by Nico. More to come...it seems the label hasn't formally announced this yet other than on their Facebook page.

Between this and the upcoming new Mingus box from Mosaic, it's going to be an expensive autumn...good thing my birthday is coming up!

Friday Ephemera - The Velvet Underground & Nico ad

John Cale Sampler over at Ze Records

Following their recent Lizzy Mercier Descloux giveaway, Ze Records is now offering a John Cale sampler at their website...all they ask for is your email address. Grab it here.

Before and After: Rosegarden Funeral of Sores

Before - John Cale (Femme Fatale/Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores (Live)):


After - Bauhaus (In the Flat Field):