Lou Reed

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND Released Their Underrated 4th Album ‘LOADED’ 55 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

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


.
Bio – All Albums

Two Masterpiece LPs Released This Day in 1971 And 1972

Posted on by JL

Significant longplayers from yesteryear

LED ZEPPELIN 4th ‘s was untitled, but is commonly known
as Led Zeppelin IV. Many critics lauded it as one of their best.

It came out on 8 November 1971. Today 54 years ago.

Rolling Stone said: “Their most consistently good album yet.
Out of eight cuts, there isn’t one that steps on another’s toes,
that tries to do too much all at once.”

It featured their timeless masterstroke
Stairway To Heaven (more than
1,2 billion streams on Spotify).

ALBUM

All LED ZEP Albums

TRANSFORMER was LOU REED‘s 2nd LP.
It was produced by David Bowie and his
guitarist Mick Ronson.

It came out on 8 November 1972. Today 53 years ago.
It went to #13 in the UK and #29 in the US, but went on
selling for many years to come.

It featured his imperishable classic Walk On The
Wild Side (more than 557 million streams on Spotify).

ALBUM


.
All LOU REED Albums

UNCUT Magazine Presents The Ultimate Music Guide to LOU REED

Posted on by JL

25 May 2025

English glossy music monthly UNCUT presents another Ultimate Music Guide.
This time the late genial LOU REED is the focus of attention.

This 148-page deluxe edition celebrates 60 years of Lou’s mature songwriting.
Whether it was the influential sedition of his early work, his unexpected rebirth as
a pop star via the intervention of David Bowie, the adversarial, unexplained soundworld
of Metal Machine Music, through to Lulu, his album with Metallica and his last ambient works, his was a career to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Outside of the music there was clearly a lot going on. For all Laurie Anderson’s efforts
to posthumously rehabilitate Reed as a dog lover, Tai chi master and amateur watch repairer, loving partner, family member and electronics whiz, we’re still compelled
by the jaggedness of the man. The horrifying onstage schtick. The interviews that
make your blood run cold. It’s rage-filled, often misanthropic and it’s complicated.

These days, Lou’s archives (his tapes, his doo wop records, college accreditations, and clippings archive; his swords, but not his hats) are in the special collections department of New York Public Library. One of the most interesting artefacts to be discovered, however, may have been one of the first, found behind Lou’s work desk.

You can purchase a copy and have it sent to your home. Info HERE.

WAVES OF FEAR
(One of my Reed’s favs)

LOU REED – 50th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Of Controversial Double LP ‘METAL MUSIC MACHINE’ Out Tomorrow On Record Store Day

Posted on by JL

11 April 2025

Next July, 50 years ago, late musical genius LOU REED (1942-2013) released his 5th LP,
named METAL MACHINE MUSIC. One of the most controversial albums ever, a double one, because of its 64 minutes of almost unlistenable, distorted noise. A torture for you ears (tried again just now, but gave up after 7 minutes).


Original cover

It was clear that Reed was tired of his own commercial work and image at the time
and wanted to shock the record label with an unsaleable longplayer. Why RCA
released it anyway, was never clear.

It was recorded on a three-speed Uher machine and featured no songs or recognizably structured compositions, eschewing melody and rhythm for modulated feedback and noise music guitar effects, mixed at varying speeds by Reed.

It ruined Reed‘s reputation (temporary) and the record was panned by critics.
Yet, in 2008, Reed went on a tour playing a free improvisation of MMM and in
2011, a remastered version came out. That’s what sometimes happens with
heavily critiqued albums hated on release, but appreciated as a bold
accomplishment many years later.

A special remastered vinyl edition is being launched
tomorrow, as part of Record Store Day, edition 2025. More
info on RSD‘s website right here.

Original album
Listen at your own risk.


.