One of the most iconic bands of the 60s/70s, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
released their 4th and final LP, titledLOADED, 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?”
PRIMAL SCREAM was conceived in Scotland in 1982. That’s a looooong time ago. And it was a highly turbulent journey with good to sublime albums (with 1991’sScreamadelica as their magnum opus), chaotic gigs, and human drama (guitarist Robert Young passed away in 2014, only 49 and keyboardist Martin Duffy died in 2022 after a fatal fall at his home).
As of today, frontman/lyricist Bobby Gillespie and guitarist Andrew Innis (both 63 now) are the only original members, with awesome bassist Simone Marie Butler (since 2013) and relentless drummer Darrin Mooney (since 1997) as longtime additions.
Last November The Scream released their 12th, critically acclaimed LP,
named Come Ahead (with Gillespie‘s young father on the cover).
NME said: “Personal and political, Bobby Gillespie and co’s David Holmes-assisted first album in eight years wants us to dance our way to justice… ‘Come Ahead’ may have a whole lot of funk on its surface but still packs oodles of punk and grenades of protest in its trunk.” Score 4/5.
New album, new tour.
The band is in my Top-5 of best live ones for a very long time now, so when they
landed in The Netherlands, in the cozy city of Utrecht last Monday, I was upfront for
another spiritual Primal Scream gathering.
Yes, that’s what a PS concert is all about. It’s an euphoric and uplifting celebration of
life (oh yeah, just look around, hug your beloved family and friends, it’s not like if all in
our tormented world is shit), a festive jamboree for your heart, soul and vocal cords. Screamdelica‘s highlights Don’t Fight It Feel It, Movin’ Up, Loaded, as Come Together are
the emotive exponents of the exuberant mindset throughout the night.
The fact that a full orchestra is up there, including two soul-powered voices and a sultry saxophonist, shows the group’s determination to walk it like they talk it and give the people an all-in sonic gospel-like treatment.
The album’s singles Ready To Go Home, Love Insurrrection and The Centre Cannot Hold, fitted the fervent flow just perfectly. A couple of other newbies were integrated, but of course everybody went berserk when the aforementioned e-tastic highlights and 24 Carat firecrackers Rocks, Jailbird, Medication, and Country Girl made the sweaty venue shake to its foundations. What can I say. There’s no such thing as an expiration date for The Scream. Not on record, not on stage. Hail hail!
An idea of the live Scream spirit
SETLIST
1. Don’t Fight It, Feel It 2. Love Insurrection 3. Jailbird 4. Ready to Go Home 5. Deep Dark Waters 6. Medication 7. Innocent Money 8. Heal Yourself 9. I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have 10. Love Ain’t Enough 11. The Centre Cannot Hold 12. Loaded 13. Swastika Eyes 14. Movin’ on Up 15. Country Girl
From their groundbreaking 1991 masterpiece LP Screamadelica.
Just what is it that you want to do?
Well, we wanna be free, we wanna be free to do what we wanna do
And we wanna get loaded and we wanna have a good time
And that’s what we’re gonna do (away baby, let’s go)
We’re gonna have a good time, we’re gonna have a party
Three years ago an alternate version of THE VELVET UNDERGROUND‘s 4th LPLoaded featuring demos, out-takes and alt mixes of the songs, came out. A new front and back cover was designed. Quite funny.
Band: Primal Scream Single: Loaded B-side: I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have
Actually the song from their debut LP (1999) that
became ‘Loaded‘ after it was remixed by genial
producer Andrew Weatherall who recently
passed away, only 56 Released: February 1990 – 30 years ago this month Album: Screamadelica – the band’s third, landmark LP Note: The song starts with a sample of Frank Maxwell
and Peter Fonda from the movie The Wild Angels…
Just what is it that you want to do?
We wanna be free
We wanna be free to do what we wanna do
And we wanna get loaded
And we wanna have a good time
That’s what we’re gonna do
(No way, baby, let’s go!)
We’re gonna have a good time
We’re gonna have a party
Now and then we all need captivating songs to cry to. Harrowing melancholy coming straight from a sorrowful heart is what I cherish in moments of sadness and I had some this year, privately (my father died) and more in general (the loss of human solidarity). RICH GIRLS is one of those bands you want to have close by when tristesse haunts you. Led by songwriter and endearing voice Luisa Black they released a gripping 5-track EP, titled Love Is The Dealer last September. Five tender pearls to soundtrack gloominess filled twilights. For me, opener LOADED was the track that colored the whole picture just perfectly. Imagine walking into a dim bar, late at night, alone and heavy-hearted. And while ordering your next drink the radio plays some forgotten song, Brenda Lee’s comin’ on strong. Here’s my favorite track of several nights in 2016…
Slow to begin
since it’s a sin
I only want to see you
loaded
slow to pretend
only a friend
Ii only want to see you
holding
love is the dealer
love is the drug
love is the dealer
love is the loaded gun
slow to begin
it only makes it
it only makes it
worse
to be the prick
drunk on the phone
the whole night before
I only want to see you
anymore
love is the dealer
love is the drug
love is the dealer
love is the loaded gun
so shoot baby
shoot baby
shoot aim it
shoot aim
it’s too late yeah
too late yeah
love is the dealer
love is the drug
love is needle
love is damage done
