Velvet Underground - Lost 4th album + Cale-era tracks

Don't know if we ever had a thread on this topic.

Wouldn't it be cool if Universal released some kind of document on the 1969 sessions?

If the album had happend then, I don't believe all 14 tracks would / should have made the cut though.

What we DO have is the following:

Foggy Notion May 6, 1969 6:56 (The vinyl has an intro which all cd's has chopped off)

Coney Island Steeplechase May 6, 1969 2:26

Andy's Chest May 13, 1969 2:50

I'm Sticking With You May 13, 1969 2:28

She's My Best Friend May 14, 1969 2:47

I Can't Stand It May 20, 1969 2:47

Ocean June 19, 1969 5:10

Ferryboat Bill June 19, 1969 2:11

Rock And Roll June 19, 1969 5:15

Ride Into The Sun September 5, 1969 3:24 (instrumental - an alternate 'Acetate' mix with vocals also exist)

One Of These Days September 23, 1969 3:59

I'm Gonna Move Right In September 27, 1969 6:29 (instrumental)

Real Good Time Together September 30, 1969 2:56

Lisa Says October 1, 1969 2:57

Which tracks should have made the cut, and which ones should have got the boot?

Also, if a compilation of the 1969 material ever should be released, what could be done with the 'loose' Cale-era tracks, found on VU & Another View?

Guess I'm Falling In Love (instrumental)
Stephanie Says (2 official mixes exist)
Temptation Inside Your Heart (2 official mixes exist)
Hey Mr. Rain (version one)
Hey Mr. Rain (version two)

 

I'm okay with the way they've been released: cream of the unreleased tracks on V.U., lesser material on Another View. Those '69 tracks don't add up to a coherent album no matter how you arrange them or what you cut, IMO. There's some great songs there though.

 

VU and Another View are great as is. I kinda like the 80's production of some of those songs, like "I Can't Stand It".

 

I just want the complete recording of 'Melody Laughter' put out officially. After all these long, LONG years, is that really too much to ask?

 

VU was my introduction to the Velvets as far as albums go. I purchased that one first and then proceeded to go back and get the rest of the official albums as they were reissued in the mid-80's. I'm happy enough with both of them.

 

Now that, I would definitely buy.

 

I'm not sure which songs should have made the cut, but my favorite song from this era of VU would have to be "Stephanie Says". I love that song. Cale's playing on it is beautiful.

 

Here's the order I've always played them on itunes.


Lisa Says 2:59
We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together 2:57
I'm Gonna Move Right In 6:32
One Of These Days 4:03
Ride into the Sun 3:26
Rock and Roll 5:15
Ferryboat Bill 2:15
Ocean 5:12
I Can't Stand It 3:24
She's My Best Friend 2:49
I'm Sticking With You 2:31
Andy's Chest 2:52
Coney Island Steeplechase 2:29
Foggy Notion 6:50

 

I remember Dylan saying somewhere around the time when the Basement Sessions were officially released "I thought everybody had them already". I think the situation with "Melody Laughter" may be similar, in that anyone with a compelling desire to hear it already has.

 

Any chance of the 4th album turning up twenty fourteen ?

 

Let's hope so!

 

I think we'd likely see the third album first, no? Unless maybe they feature that later stuff on the s/t deluxe edition.

 

Their fifth album which has been out for years as a double CD was loaded with even more hits. Their missing 4th (68/69)basically VU/Another View .. Perhaps even more expanded. It would be great if that ever materialised as a complete album.

 

Nothing gets released without the OK of the surviving original members. That means John and Mo. Without Lou's involvement, I don't know if we'll see any more deluxe editions at all.

 

Cup half full.

 

Isn't VU the equivalent?

Evan

 

No. Hence thread title.

 

That material, along with the 3rd proper release, "The Velvet Underground", are my absolute faves...and I say that choosing faves among faves...they have a great & flawless catalog as far as I'm concerned!! When "VU" came out I was a huge fan & it blew my mind...arguably the 80's equivalent of what "The Basement Tapes" was to the 70's.

 

Never liked the artwork for either VU or Another View. Any idea what a good Art Design would suit the missing link aka 4th album ?

 

see the cover for the version in the 2012 Sundazed box set -- in fact, the designer is a member of this forum.

 

The other four albums have such enigmatic covers.. dunno about this one.

 

Apart from White Light/White Heat named after one of the albums songs the VU did not have good album titles. Why was the 3rd album called The Velvet Underground ? Apeing The Beatles double which came out a few months earlier ? Candy Says would have been cooler. Loaded works ( as in with hits) New Age another song title would have made a great album title with futuristic bent and a better artistic curve. Regarding the 4th >Foggy Notion <would have worked much better than the uninspired VU. Anyway thoughts on a rainy day.

 

I Can't Stand It runs for 3:21 or 3:22.
One of These Days runs for 4:02 on Peel Slowly and See due to a longer fade.
I'm Sticking with You is 2:31 on Peel Slowly and See, with the final chord a bit louder.
She's My Best Friend goes on for about 3:06 on the promo cassette of VU (who is that yelling at the end?)

By now of course your question about the loose Cale-era tracks has been answered by the release of the White Light/White Heat Deluxe Edition. I'd like to hear fresh remixes of the 1969 tracks (other than "Ocean" which was a vintage stereo mix) just like the ones we got for the Cale-era tracks that didn't have vintage mixes.

 

You would have to include "I'm Not A Young Man Any More" as one of the Cale-era songs.

 

Doug Yule, simulating the "falling down, falling down" outro refrain (ruins the song, in my opinion, sounds goofy),