Any Lou Reed love out there ?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Steve B, Mar 18, 2016.

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  1. Steve B

    Steve B Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago
    He's been a top 3 favorite of mine for years despite the bad rap he's received through books, concerts and his notorious interviews. I also think that with his 44 yr output, from Velvet Underground & Nico to Lulu, unlike other musicians, he managed to be pretty consistent with very few bad albums.

    My favorite albums change from time to time but the one's that always standout include Coney Island Baby, Blue Mask, New York and Berlin.

    Coney Island Baby - great slide guitar from Bob Kulick with a good mellow vibe in general

    Blue Mask - great lead guitar from Robert Quine with an excellent rhythm section from Fernando Saunders and Doane Perry; I also like Lou's very personal lyrics on this album

    New York - reignited his career; best album from a lyrical standpoint IMO; great dialogue with a good stripped down sound

    Berlin - this one is a love hate for me but I like that big band,early 70's sound

    What are your favorite albums and why ?
     
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  2. Radio KTmS

    Radio KTmS i am a dj, i am what i play

    bowie plus ronson plus lou equals a perfect album.
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. the sands

    the sands Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oslo, Norway
    Think I'd choose "New York" (1989) as my favorite. It's got plenty of 'less is more' Lou Reed trademark and great storytelling. Lou Reed was so laidback and groovy yet rocked twice as hard as anyone.
     
  4. Casagrande

    Casagrande Forum Resident

    Lots of love & his death upset me a great deal.

    My favorites are some of his albums on which he seems most personal and honest: The Bells, Growing Up in Public and New Sensations.
     
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  5. Steve B

    Steve B Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago
    # 4 on my Lou list...I do love Ronson's guitar on this album. "Hangin'Round" is my favorite...also had Herbie Flowers and Klaus Voorman on bass...didn't know until now but Trevor Bolder played trumpet...
     
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  6. jimod99

    jimod99 Daddy or chips?

    Location:
    Ottawa, ON
    Street Hassle might not be his best album, but the title track is my all time favourite Lou song.
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2016
  7. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    I saw him on the "New York" tour; the show was amazing.
     
  8. elvismcdouglas

    elvismcdouglas Forum Resident

    Location:
    Monterey CA
    Seriously?

    Okay. Latest fav is New Sensations. Also into Laurie Anderson's Big Science lately.
     
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  9. Purple Jim

    Purple Jim Senior Member

    Location:
    Bretagne
    I've been a fan since the mid 70s when I discovered "Rock & Roll Animal". He's one of my all-time favourite artists. I have all the wonderful VU albums (in the Peel Slowly & See box) and my favourite solo albums are:

    - Transformer
    - Berlin
    - Rock 'n' Roll Animal/Lou Reed Live
    - Coney Island Baby
    - Street Hassle
    - New York
    - Songs For Drella
    - Ecstasy

    Why are those my faves? I just feel that they have the best songs. I must grab The Blue Mask and perhaps Magic & Loss (I saw him in Lyon at that time - great show).
     
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  10. tiger roach

    tiger roach Forum Resident

    For the most part, I'm just a casual fan. But New York is spectacular, one of my favorite ever albums.
     
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  11. Steve B

    Steve B Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago
    The Blue Mask is pretty darn good ;probably one of his best backing bands from a technical standpoint.
     
  12. BryanA-HTX

    BryanA-HTX Crazy Doctor

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    The guy that trashed the Beatles? Not from me.
     
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  13. Sternodox

    Sternodox SubGenius Pope of Arkansas

    Berlin is my favorite. Like all the live stuff too. VU of course is essential ... all of 'em. Only one I don't like is Lulu. I find it completely unlistenable ... painfully so. Don't drink a lot of vodka and listen to Berlin right after your girlfriend dumps you, though. Take my word!
     
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  14. humpf

    humpf Allowed to write something here.

    Location:
    Silesia
    Transformer - perhaps the only glam record I really like
    Berlin - over the top arrangments are not much of my thing in rock usually, but here they made it work somehow, perhaps thanks to the subject matter and some very good songs
    Take No Prisoners - the title says it all, a live album as it should be
    Blue Mask - the album where he found his mature voice, that understated attitude ... with guitars
    New York - here he brought the sound of Blue Mask to the top
    Songs for Drella - back to the roots, just two guys doing their best to honor their old friend
    Magic and Loss - like doing Berlin with the guitar sound
     
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  15. ralphb

    ralphb "First they came for..."

    Location:
    Brooklyn, New York
    Fave studio:
    Transfomer
    Berlin
    Coney Island Baby
    New York
    Legendary Hearts
    The Bells
    Growing Up In Public
    Songs For Drella
    Magic and Loss
    Set The Twilight Reeling

    Live:
    American Poet
    Animal Serenade

    Even the albums not listed have their merits, some more than others. Yes, even the much maligned Lulu.
     
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  16. driverdrummer

    driverdrummer Forum Resident

    Location:
    Irmo, SC
    Ecstacy is my current favorite. Sounds like Lou and Company are jamming in your living room. Possibly some of the best bass lines ever put to tape too (thanks Fernando).
     
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  17. rrbbkk

    rrbbkk Forum Resident

    R+R Animal.
    New York.
    New Sensations.
    Coney Island Baby.
    Street Hassle.

    in no particular order.
     
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  18. stef1205

    stef1205 Forum Resident

    Lots of love for Lou Reed, and his death really upset me.
    While reading, I am listening to Ecstasy, his de facto swan song. What a strong attempt, really, not one weak moment. I have a soft spot for Like A Possum an epic piece of art. In fact, I like his 80s/90s output a lot more than his 70s albums, it appears to be mature.

    Back to the OP question: My favorite album is New York - rocks hard, powerful lyrics, awesome interplay between Rathke and Reed. The first album I purchased when it was released. It became an instant classic for me and is the only CD I've had to replace so far since I had worn it out.
     
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  19. dbsea

    dbsea Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Legendary Hearts has really stuck with me lately.
     
  20. Miriam

    Miriam Forum Resident

    Location:
    -
    My favorites are:
    1. Coney Island Baby
    2. Berlin
    3. New York
     
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  21. RayS

    RayS A Little Bit Older and a Little Bit Slower

    Location:
    Out of My Element
    In my humble opinion, there's a terrific little Lou Reed/VU community on this forum. I don't know of too many other places in the world (any?) where I can solicit interpretations on any Lou Reed lyric in the morning and have a batch of thoughtful, insightful, well-formed opinions posted before the sun goes down

    My favorite album is "Magic and Loss". Why? Because it speaks to me very personally and very directly. For someone who "hates that mystic s**t", "life's good, but not fair at all" is a good summation of the way the universe "works".
     
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  22. Fullbug

    Fullbug Forum Resident

    Location:
    Seattle
    Lou Reed Live. It has a better song selection than RnR Animal, from the same show so it has Hunter/Wagner. Velvet tunes dunn inna hard rock style!
     
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  23. DTK

    DTK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Europe
    Love Lou, always have. His music has had a profound effect on me.
     
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  24. Fullbug

    Fullbug Forum Resident

    Location:
    Seattle
    Fun fact: Bernie Sanders (born September 8, 1941) attended PS 197 in Brooklyn at the same time Lou ( born March 2, 1942) was at PS 192 , just a few miles away.
     
  25. ralphb

    ralphb "First they came for..."

    Location:
    Brooklyn, New York
    [​IMG]
    Always like to mention this in threads like this. Lou goes drumless and makes every song count. Worth it for Jane Scarpantoni's hair raising cello solo on "Venus In Fur" and Antony's gorgeous take on "Candy Says".
     
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