Finally, a new Velvet Underground release worth the price of purchase

Courtesy of Music Tap comes word that the end of October will see the release of legendary and oft-bootlegged Matrix Tapes by the Velvet Underground. Unlike many of the bootleg versions, this release should be just about everything from the 1969 run of shows.  

The Matrix Tapes – The Velvet Underground

CD1 – Set One:
01 I’m Waiting For The Man (Version 1) (14:06)
02 What Goes On (Version 1) (8:58)
03 Some Kinda Love (Version 1) (4:59)
04 Heroin (Version 1) (8:13)
05 The Black Angel’s Death Song (6:20)
06 Venus In Furs (Version 1) (4:38)
07 There She Goes Again (Version 1) (3:08)
08 We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together (Version 1) (3:16)
09 Over You (Version 1) (2:24)
10 Sweet Jane (Version 1) (5:12)
11 Pale Blue Eyes (6:08)
12 After Hours (Version 1) (2:58)

CD2 – Set Two:
01 I’m Waiting For The Man (Version 2)
02 Venus In Furs (Version 2) (5:16)
03 I Can’t Stand It (Version 1) (7:54)
04 There She Goes Again (Version 2) (2:54)
05 Some Kinda Love (Version 2) (4:12)
06 Over You (Version 2) (3:07)
07 After Hours (Version 2) (2:37)
08 We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together (Version 2) (3:42)
09 Sweet Bonnie Brown/Too Much (7:54)
10 Heroin (Version 2) (10:08)
11 White Light/White Heat (Version 1) (9:30)
12 I’m Set Free (4.48)

CD3 – Set Three:
01 We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together (Version 3) (3:18)
02 Some Kinda Love (Version 3) (4:40)
03 There She Goes Again (Version 3) (3:02)
04 Heroin (Version 3) (8:34)
05 Ocean (11:03)
06 Sister Ray (37.08)

CD4 – Set Four
01 I’m Waiting For The Man (Version 3) (5:31)
02 What Goes On (Version 2) (4:34)
03 Some Kinda Love (Version 4) (4:46)
04 We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together (Version 4) (3:26)
05 Beginning To See The Light (5:42)
06 Lisa Says (6:05)
07 New Age (6:41)
08 Rock And Roll (6.58)
09 I Can’t Stand It (Version 2) (6:54)
10 Heroin (Version 4) (8:18)
11 White Light /White Heat (Version 2) (8:45)
12 Sweet Jane (Version 2) (4:20)

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

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.

It Was 45 Years Ago Today: The Velvet Underground - The Boston Tea Party, Boston, MA, January 10, 1969

Grab it here

 

1. Heroin (8:25)
2. Move Right In (4:46)
3. I’m Set Free (4:37)
4. Run Run Run (7:49)
5. Waiting For The Man (8:56)
6. What Goes On (4:29)
7. I Can’t Stand It (6:18)
8. Candy Says (4:46)
9. Beginning To See The Light (5:49)
10. White Light/White Heat (5:42)
11. Pale Blue Eyes (6:27)
12. Sister Ray (21:23)

Thanks to Doom & Gloom From the Tomb

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.

It was 20 years ago today: The Velvets at Glastonbury in 1993

The Velvet Underground's Glastonbury setlist from 06.25.93 as written by Sterling Morrison. The list on the right notes which guitar he was using for the particular song. This piece of ephemera can be yours if you act quickly by clicking here. 

Its hard to believe this was twenty years ago. I was lucky enough to catch them at Wembley Arena just a few weeks prior to this. Seeing them was some sort of dream.

Velvet Underground: 1970 Max’s Kansas City Concert Poster

From the collection of the late Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison, a rare 1970  concert poster advertising the Velvet's last shows with Lou Reed, at Max's Kansas City in New York.  These were the shows at which the band's Live At Max's Kansas City album was recorded.  Measuring 28.75" x 11", this is in very nice condition; a high level paper conservator has flattened three horizontal creases and retouched a few small stains (one small line from what looks like a pink magic marker is visible on the back.) At our request, Sterling Morrison's widow Martha has written in pencil on the back "Martha Morrison: Sterling Morrison Collection."  Our letter of authenticity will note that this was part of Morrison's legendary archive.  A classic image with incredible provenance. Buy it.

VU: Jan 9, 1970

Sterling Morrison was a working man (1969)

Source

White Light White Heat: Chicago 1968

 

Yours for $2250.00: Offered here is an extremely rare handbill for a 1968 Velvet Underground show and "the unveiling of the new album--White Light/White Heat with Andy Warhol, movies and dance." This was the launch party for the Velvets 2nd album at the Aardvark Cinematheque in Chicago, taking place the week the album was released. This handbill comes from the collection of the late great Sterling Morrison, guitarist of the Velvet Underground, and comes with a signed letter of authenticity from his widow, Martha Morrison. On the back Sterling wrote the name and phone number of a 60's Chicago record store, Wecord Woom. Folded in quarters by Sterling, but long flattened, in Very Good condition. 5 1/2" x 8 3/4".

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

Movie of the Week - The Velvet Underground

Two parts. Embedding has been disabled, but click through to YouTube to watch.

Collectors take note - rare Velvets & punk memorabilia sales

Two sales of music related ephemera & memorabilia recently came across my radar, and I wanted to share them with you. Maybe if we pool our money we can buy some of this stuff:

VU setlist, circa 1970

The folks at Record Mecca recently announced the acquisition of a serious collection of Velvets' related ephemera from none other than the family of Velvets guitarist, Sterling Morrison. It's an insane batch of everything from show fliers & bills, to receipts from Max's Kansas City, to guitar strings used on the 1993 reunion tour dates. For a complete listing & all the necessary information click over to Record Mecca's Velvet Underground Memorabilia.

Ramones promotional t-shirt, circa 1976

Secondly, the UK-based Dig Gallery has made a plethora of 70's punk related items available courtesy of photographer Eileen Polk. Items include the scarf worn by Jerry Nolan on the back of the Dolls second album, an original Blitz Benefit t-shirt, and a shirt designed by Richard Hell and meant to be sold at Manic Panic. Visit the Dig Gallery for all of this, and more.