The Velvet Undergound – The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)

The early Sixties were mostly filled with bands trying desperately to be the New Beatles, but in New York City a small group had formed intent on experimentation.  They became the Velvet Undergound and were managed by avante-garde artist Andy Warhol who incorporated them in his multi media travelling show ‘The Exploding Plastic Inevitable’.  They released the album to poor sales as it was years ahead of its time both in sound and lyrical content.  Nico was a German model and singer who had drifted into Warhol’s orbit and occasionally sung with the band.  Lou Reed was lead singer and guitarist was Sterling Morrison, John Cale was mostly keyboards and drums were Moe Tucker.  Their sound was often brash or built on heavy grooves, but sometimes they could be very quiet and gentle.  Nobody knew how to pigeon-hole them and they were a minority interest. But slowly as more and more musicians like Bowie quoted their influence and a couple of songs became well-known such as ‘I’m Waiting For My Man’ (a drug reference). I’m not sure where I heard about it but it must have been the early Seventies when I discovered Warhol and his influence.  I loved the album with it’s banana sleeve – though by then you couldn’t peel the fruit as you could on first pressings.  The record has sold well over the years and many of the tracks have featured in films and TV.  The band were never really successful and broke up in the early Seventies.  My favourite tracks are ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’, ‘Sunday Morning’ and ‘Heroin’. In some ways this album was as influential in its influence as Sargeant Pepper.