The Velvet Underground & Nico. That’s an album that’s pretty good! I did an informal poll of the Tiny Mix Tapes staff and at least five of our staffers referred to the album in terms at least as complimentary as “pretty good.” One of those staffers was me! I think that album is at least pretty good. However, I have never formed a band. I think the statute of limitations on that old thing might be over anyway.
As FACT Magazine reports, Warner is celebrating the album’s 45th anniversary with a six-disc reissue out on October 1. Clearly, the first disc is the album in stereo mix and, obviously, the second disc is the album in mono mix. Beyond that, things get a little less clear and obvious. The set’s third disc swerves from the predictable anniversary set path: a remastered edition of Nico’s 1967 debut Chelsea Girl. Strange! But not that strange, considering that Chelsea Girl contains music and songwriting contributions from members of The Velvet Underground. For maximum cheekiness, disc four of this set should just be The Velvet Underground’s 1969 self-titled album.
It’s not, though. Instead, the set’s fourth disc contains tracks from a session at Scepter Studios, which were sourced from an acetate cut on April 25, 1966, as well as six unreleased tracks from a rehearsal at Warhol’s Factory during January 1966. Rounding out the set are two discs of live material from shows at Columbus, Ohio’s Valleydale Ballroom. This is a good bit of Velvet Underground & Nico material. This is pretty good for an album that’s at least pretty good.
Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary Edition tracklist:
Disc One: The Velvet Underground & Nico (Stereo Version)
01. Sunday Morning
02. I’m Waiting for the Man
03. Femme Fatale
04. Venus in Furs
05. Run Run Run
06. All Tomorrow’s Parties
07. Heroin
08. There She Goes Again
09. I’ll Be Your Mirror
10. The Black Angel’s Death Song
11. European Son
12. All Tomorrow’s Parties (Alternate Single Voice Version)
13. European Son (Alternate Version)
14. Heroin (Alternate Version)
15. All Tomorrow’s Parties (Alternate Instrumental Mix)
16. I’ll Be Your Mirror (Alternate Mix)
Disc Two: The Velvet Underground & Nico (Mono Version)
01. Sunday Morning
02. I’m Waiting for the Man
03. Femme Fatale
04. Venus in Furs
05. Run Run Run
06. All Tomorrow’s Parties
07. Heroin
08. There She Goes Again
09. I’ll Be Your Mirror
10. The Black Angel’s Death Song
11. European Son
12. All Tomorrow’s Parties (Single Version)
13. I’ll Be Your Mirror (Alternate Ending)
14. Sunday Morning (Alternate Mix)
15. Femme Fatales (Single Version)
Disc Three: Nico’s Chelsea Girl
01. The Fairest of the Seasons
02. These Days
03. Little Sister
04. Winter Song
05. It Was a Pleasure Then
06. Chelsea Girls
07. I’ll Keep it with Mine
08. Somewhere There’s a Feather
09. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
10. Eulogy to Lenny Bruce
Disc Four: Scepeter Studio Sessions (Tracks 1-9)/Factory Rehearsals (Tracks 10-15)
01. European Son (Alternate Version)
02. The Black Angel’s Death Song (Alternate Mix)
03. All Tomorrow’s Parties (Alternate Version)
04. I’ll Be Your Mirror (Alternate Version)
05. Heroin (Alternate Version)
06. Femme Fatale (Alternate Mix)
07. Venus in Furs (Alternate Version)
08. Waiting for the Man (Alternate Version)
09. Run Run Run (Alternate Mix)
10. Walk Alone
11. Cracking Up/Venus in Furs
12. Miss Joanie Lee
13. Heroin
14. There She Goes Again (w/ Nico)
15. There She Goes Again
Disc Five: Live At Valleydale Ballroom, Columbus, OH
01. Melody Laughter
02. Femme Fatale
03. Venus in Furs
04. The Black Angel’s Death Song
05. All Tomorrow’s Parties
Disc Six: Live at Valleydale Ballroom, Columbus, OH
01. Waiting for the Man
02. Heroin
03. Run Run Run
04. The Nothing Song (see below!!!!!!!!!!)
• Warner: http://www.wmg.com
• Lou Reed: http://www.loureed.com
More about: Nico, The Velvet Underground
