Vu

Wow, how good is this collection of unreleased Velvet songs? Well, these odds and ends all flow together so well that it's hard to believe that this is not a proper studio album. I like this way better than their self-titled third album and their final release LOADED (and those two records are borderline great in a lot of ways). This long player is comparable to their third album in that both feature mostly soft, melodic songs best enjoyed indoors on a rainy day or night. But unlike VELVET UNDERGROUND, V.U. doesn't have a single song that is depressing (the VELVET UNDERGROUND cuts "Candy Says", "Jesus", and "I'm Set Free" make me want to reach for the Prozac...I don't mind mopey music - especially from this band - but if there is no accompanying irony and/or beauty, then it just doesn't do anything for me). V.U. is low key, but it isn't afraid to let loose and have fun in a groovy kind of way ("I Can't Stand It", the rockabilly-flavored opening track, pretty much sets the tempo for the record). Kudos to Lou Reed for putting this together in the mid-eighties for us Velvet Underground addicts hungry for unreleased material, AND luckily the sound on this is not bad at all...too many records remastered or re-released in the 1980's featured this odious gated reverb production that is something of a musical signature from that decade. Luckily it is absent here, and the original sound from the 60's is pretty well preserved here. A remix might be in order, but all in all, considering this was bundled out in the mid-80s....BRAVO!

the band-forget the stones-the beatles etc....with joy division the most important band point

The sound quality on this re-release is very good. It's a great album with most of the X says songs on it, and the only 'must have' Velvet Underground record missing from the box set.Four Men with Beards did decide to print their name on the label in a much much larger font than the album or band name which is a little annoying, but apart from that there is nothing wrong with this release.

I've owned this on cassette, CD, MP3, and now I have it on vinyl. This record is like mac & cheese - it's comfort food and fits a variety of moods, seasons, settings, and situations.

Took longer than expected to come in but I love it and it's in perfect condition. This album is great!

Hey all... Just to make a few things clear that are not correct in the other review of this wonderful album. First off there is an official Fourth Velvet Underground Lp although the band line up is slightly different. But it is an incredable album called "LOADED" Released in 1970. This album here was originally relesed as the Velvet underground VU in 1984 on PolyGram records. But as far as it being some long lost or rumured Fifth Velvets album ? I'd have to say No it isn't, mostly based on the fact many of these songs were being played years ealier even before "Loaded" was released. Check out the Velvet Underground Live 1969 (2 Lp) set one recorded in Texas and the other in San francisco and featuring songs as yet unreleased like Ocean, I Can't Stand It, Over You and We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together (That didn't officialy get released untill Lou's Street Hassel CD years Later) But even more telling is the 5 CD Box set "Peel Slowly and See" were extreamly early versions of most every song on this album can be heard as unrelesed demos or alternative versions... So I just wanted to clear up an easily made mistake and add a few morepieces to this mysteriously wonderful puzzle that makes up a body of Music like no other in the annals of Rock n' Roll History...

None of the Velvet Underground's first three albums sold well. Their debut peaked at #171 on the charts; the next two didn't even make it that high. For years, rumors persisted of a fourth album of material, but nothing ever came of it. Then in 1985, shortly after Verve remastered and released the groups first three albums, the tapes for _VU_ were discovered; the album's release was accompanied by triumphant reviews. "Foggy Notion" combines Reed's bizarre lyrics with a rock solid rhythm section; Mo Tucker is in rare form here, laying out a metronome beat that just will not die. "Ocean" hypnotizes the listener with its rolling cymbals and dreamy vocals, while the opening track, "I Can't Stand It," paints a hilariously accurate picture of what it means to live among bohemians-from-hell. While most bands change their sound over the years, the Velvets recast themselves with each new release. _VU_ is no exception; the album's ballads, such as "Stephanie Says" and "She's My Best Friend," combine Reed's wry sense of humor with energetic arrangements. Closing the album is a soft duet between Reed and Mo Tucker, "I'm Sticking With You." While many of these songs were later recorded by Lou Reed on his solo albums, these arrangements are vastly superior. It's rare that a good album is released fifteen years after a band breaks up, but that's exactly what happened here. Brian Eno once joked that only a handful of people ever bought a Velvet Underground album, but those who did went on to start their own band. You may like the Velvet's, you may dislike them, but it's impossible to be neutral.

🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾

サード・アルバムを出した後に、ヴェルヴェット・アンダーグラウンドが制作していた「幻の４ｔｈアルバム」が有ったというのは、マニアには早い頃から知られていたようです。僕はちっともマニアではないので、それらの音源が、公式に「ＶＵ」や「アナザー・ヴュー」として発表された経緯や時期はよく知らないのですけれども…。まぁ、そういったことは、ＣＤ買ってライナー読めよ(笑)。英語わかんなきゃ国内盤買えよ(笑)。　これらの音源のうち、1968年に録音されたものは、ジョン・ケイル時代の未発表音源で、「幻の４ｔｈアルバム」とは無関係です。でまぁ、それらの音源は「 ホワイト・ライト/ホワイト・ヒート(45周年記念デラックス・エディション) 」 でも聴くことができるんですね。そいで、そっちのほうで言及しちゃったので、ケイル時代の楽曲は今回はパスね。「幻の４ｔｈアルバム」関連の音源に絞ってみていきます。　ライヴでは“フォギー・ノーション”“キャント・スタンド・イット”“オーシャン”“アイム・スティッキング・ウィズ・ユー”と言った曲がバリバリ演奏されていました。ファンはこれらの「レコードになっていない曲」を聴いて狂喜していたのでしょうか。　“キャント・スタンド・イット”と“フォギー・ノーション”、“は無性にかっこいいロックン・ロール。“フォギー・ノーション”で歌われている「calamine lotion」て、コースターズの“Poison Ivy”(ストーンズが１ｓｔＥＰでカヴァーしてました(^_^;)で歌われていたアレでしょうか。なんかの薬なんですかね。　“アンディーズ・チェスト”は陽気な佇(たたず)まいで陽気なリズムの楽曲。どこかユーモラスな印象もありますね。　“アイム・スティッキング・ウィズ・ユー”は、サードの“アフター・アワーズ”に続く紅一点モーリン・タッカーのリード・ヴォーカル曲。今回はルー・リードも一緒にデュエットしていて、なかなか微笑ましいですね。　“シーズ・マイ・ベスト・フレンド”は一流のポップ・ソング。もちろん、ルー・リードの事ですから、ここでの「彼女」は恋愛対象ではなく、文字通り「友達」なのでしょうね。例えば、“リサ・セッズ”に出てくる「リサ」がそうだったりするのでしょうか。この曲は美しいバラードです。リードの「〜セッズ」ものは、美しい楽想の曲が多いように思います。　“オーシャン”は、リードにとっては自信作らしいのですが、正直だらだらした楽曲で、どこが良いのか、僕にはさっぱりわからないです。「ローデッド」のセッションでも採り上げていたようですが、結局物にならず、ヴェルヴェッツ脱退後の１ｓｔソロで採り上げています。他にも１ｓｔで取り上げた曲は“I Can't Stand It”“Lisa Says”と言ったところ。　リードがソロになってから採りあげ直した曲は他にも在って、“アンディーズ・チェスト”が「トランスフォーマー」(1972)、“シーズ・マイ・ベスト・フレンド”が「コニー・アイランド・ベイビー」(1976)に収録されています。僕はこれらは音源としては持っているのですが、諸事情有ってちゃんと聴きこんでいません。　“ワン・オブ・ジーズ・デイズ”はゆったりしたテンポですがポップな楽曲。ルー・リードの裏声がちょっと面白いですね。　とまぁ、だらだら感想を書いてきましたが、これらの楽曲のクォリティからするに、「幻の４ｔｈアルバム」は、完成間近だったのではないでしょうか。サウンドの傾向としては、「'V」に在った静謐さは後退し、よりポップな方向性に振れているように思います。これらの音源が当時ちゃんとしたアルバムとして発表されていたら、ヴェルヴェッツの人気や評価はどう変わっていたか…。多分相変わらず売れなかったとは思いますが(笑)。 ホワイト・ライト/ホワイト・ヒート(45周年記念デラックス・エディション)