The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat (Favorite Track Poll & General Discussion Thread)

Yes, finally! Someone mention's this track. It's my favorite as well. I love how they pan the vocals all over the place (in the stereo version--I've never heard the mono version so I don't know if this song sounds as cool on it).

 

No. 4 Here She Comes Now (sounds like the title of an MBV song)

I know who MBV are not clear what they have to do with the VU, coming decades later, and I always wonder why it's been added to the title of that song.

 

it's mentioned three times on the first page alone--including the vocal mix, specifically.

still a killer cut. pun intended.

I agree that the title 'here she comes now' is pretty Shields-esque. what would be the reverse?

 

I edited my post. But I said 'inverse'. It means it's more true to say that the MVB song titles sound like a VU title as the VU came first chronologically. But really just not sure why it had been made such a prominent feature of the tracks listings.

 

Ànd now the humour is deader than the sailor.

 

My fave VU LP though I usually skip The Gift.

 

1. Sister Ray
2. Lady Godiva
3. Hear Her
5. Here She Comes Now / The Gift
6. WL/WH

 

You're right in that a couple people mention that song being their favorite. I somehow overlooked that; I only noticed the one person who gave it a backhanded compliment. But I don't see anyone mention anything about the vocal mix on the song. Point me to that post and I will gladly throw my hands up in surrender and admit my mistake (it won't be the first time).

 

I just wanted to comment it cuz I thought it was funny/interesting. It sounds like an MBV title to me.

 

Ok - maybe they/he was a fan. In all likelihood, probably was.

 

he has confirmed this in interviews many times.

not that it's not extremely apparent just in looking at them.

 

It doesn't surprise me, but i get no strong connection between the two bands that makes me want to listen to mbv.

 

Even the VU came to regret the recording approach they took as it diminishes the impact. Probably should have been recorded live.

I Heard Her Call My Name was my pick FWIW.

 

It's really a toss-up between I heard her call my name and White light/White heat.

Yet another fan of the end section of the title track. To me, it's the sound of somebody's eyes rolling back in their head.

 

This album absolutely destroyed me when I first heard it. One of the loudest, filthiest, and most revoultionary things i'd ever heard. Its bonkers this was released when it did, I can say the same about their debut. 'Sister Ray' and 'I Heard Her Call My Name' will make you soil yourself.

 

"Sister Ray"....if only for that ecstatic moment when the whole degenerate works collapses on itself....then....somehow...impossibly...resurrects. One of the great moments in all of rock for me.

But the entire record is sublime. Listening to it now.

 

Hey, just listened to The Gift on the live gymnasium recording. Why is it my fave Version ever?...no vocals/lyrics!

 

One of their best songs at the time was perversely not even recorded for the album - I Guess I'm Falling in Love.

It's hard to imagine where on the album it would've fitted - maybe in place of 'The Gift' with one or two of the demo-ed songs from early 1967?

 

One of my favourite albums. Wore out my vinyl copy. I have a great memory of listening to "Sister Ray" loud with a friend, after having smoked some Afghan from a frost bong. The music made it so much more powerful! We both hallucinated, and my friend freaked out at one point, and had to stop the track.

I can't bring myself to pick one favourite song, but my three favourite moments on the album are:

1: "And then my mind split open..." -> ( ( ( FEEEEEEEED ) ) )
2: The last 30 seconds of the title track - especially John's bass
3: About 13 minutes into "Sister Ray" with Lou going siiiiiiiiidahwaaaaaaays, and the whole band steadily disintegrating for a few minutes before reaching yet another climax

 

So hard to pick - one of those albums where each song flows into the next perfectly. I picked White Light/White Heat because it's the first track. You know you're in for a ride when that comes on. I might have to spin this tonight...

 

I like the 3 shorter tracks and really don't care for the 3 longer ones.
Heard Her Call however has possibly one of the greatest solos of all time

 

I voted White Light / White Heat, because I still can't describe its sound.

Can't stand I Heard Her Call My Name, though...

 

Aw, man, it's brilliantly funny. The relentless length being part of that.

(Someone ~ um, Lou in the deluxe edition liner notes ~ first had to point me to the situation of one thing going on over here, while a completely different thing is going on over there, before I could appreciate it.)

 

I went with "Sister Ray." Oh, do I love sweet "Sister Ray."

I'm pretty sure I've heard every version committed to tape that has circulated, and while I love 'em all, the studio version remains my favorite. It's the epitome of rock and roll in all its tattered glory.

 

I bought an old CD copy today for 2€ to compare with the mid 90s remaster...I've never heard an old German CD version of that album - and sound is quite an issue on this album, whether you love it or hate it! Will spin it tonight.