Significant longplayers from yesteryear
16 November 2025
One of the most iconic bands of the 60s/70s, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
released their 4th and final LP, titled LOADED, on 15 November 1970,
55 years ago.
Just before the album’s release, Lou Reed left the band and when guitarist
Sterling Morrison and drummer Moe Tucker did the same a year later it
was all over, although the band’s then bassist Doug Yule wrote/recorded just
by himself and released, under The Velvet Underground‘s name, the full-length
Squeeze in 1973, regarded as VU’s officially final one.
The final VU line-up
Rolling Stone said: “Although the Velvet Underground are more loose and straightforward than we’ve yet seen them, there is an undercurrent to the album that makes it more than any mere collection of good-time cuts”
Turn Up The Volume: The LP is filled with easy-listening pop songs, with a lot of typical, familiar 60s harmonies à la The Mamas and The Papas and The Beach Boys, sounding like
VU having fun. Despite the LP’s sweet accessibility, it failed to be a hit.
Lou Reed: “I don’t mind a repetitive chorus, I mind a repetitive verse. I mean, it’s the
same amount of space. Why would you have only three diamonds if you can have six?”
SINGLE
ALBUM