THE SONGS OF
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND,
1965–1970
THIS PURPORTS TO BE A COMPLETE LISTING OF ALL SONGS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN done by the band in the five years it existed as a creative entity with its leader Lou in tow. It is a remarkable body of work, and one that Reed himself resolutely plundered throughout the seventies as his solo career began to hit its stride. Indeed, his first three solo albums—which include the classics, Transformer and Berlin—feature thirteen songs in total dating from those halcyon days.
I have also attempted to reference every known recording of the band herein, whether in the studio, in their loft, or out on the road—where the songs usually needed to be played to achieve their full potential. With the cancellation of a scheduled bootleg series by Universal, a number of the most important Velvets recordings are likely to remain unreleased, including mono soundboard tapes from the Gymnasium in April 1967, their last shows in New York for over three years. However, there are few “lost songs.” Those that remain resolutely “underground” are included here, with some basis for their provenance, in the hope that remaining dusty archives may yet spill their goods.
Each song title is divided into five categories of recording as follows:
1. Official studio recordings:
VU&N—The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)
CG—Chelsea Girl (1967)
WLWH—White Light/White Heat (1968)
TVU—The Velvet Underground (1969); CM (closet mix) or VM (Valentin mix)
LO—Loaded (1970)
FLO—Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition (1997)
VU—VU (1985)
AV—Another View (1986)
WGO—What Goes On (1993)
PS&S—Peel Slowly and See (1995)
2. Demo and rehearsal recordings:
These can be found on the boxed sets WGO and PS&S.
The dates relate to the following venues/recordings:
July 1965, Ludlow Street
January 3, 1966, the Factory
January 1966, the Factory
Winter 1967, Ludlow Street
Fall 1969, unknown, possibly Atlantic demos (generally known as “The Countess of Hong Kong” demos)
April 15 and 16, 1970, Loaded demos, Atlantic Recording studios, New York
July 1970, Max’s rehearsal, New York
3. Official live recordings:
LAM—Live at Max’s (1972)
LAM+—Live at Max’s (Expanded ed.) (2004)
1969—1969 (1974)
WGO—What Goes On (1993)
PS&S—Peel Slowly and See (1995)
TQT—The Quine Tapes (2001)
The dates relate to the following venues/recordings:
May 11, 1969, Washington University, St. Louis (TQT)
October 19, 1969, End of Cole Avenue, Dallas (1969)
November 7–9, 1969, Family Dog, San Francisco (1969)
November 12–December 3, 1969, the Matrix, San Francisco (TQT)
July 26, 1970, Max’s Kansas City, New York (LAM) (LAM+)*
August 23, 1970, Max’s Kansas City, New York (LAM) (LAM+)
4. Unofficial live recordings:
The dates of these currently extant, unreleased live recordings relate to the following venues/recordings:
June 23, 1966, Poor Richard’s, Chicago
November 4, 1966, Valleydale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio
April 30, 1967, the Gymnasium, New York
April 28, 1968, La Cave, Cleveland
October 4–6, 1968, La Cave, Cleveland
November 1968(?), Cleveland
December 12, 1968, Tea Party, Boston
January 10, 1969, Tea Party, Boston
January 31, 1969(?), Tea Party, Boston
March 13, 1969, Tea Party, Boston
March 15, 1969, Tea Party, Boston
July 11, 1969, Tea Party, Boston
August 2, 1969, Hilltop Festival, Rindge, New Hampshire
October 18, 1969, End of Cole Avenue, Dallas
October 19, 1969, End of Cole Avenue, Dallas
January 3, 1970, Second Fret, Philadelphia
April 17, 1970, the Paramount, Springfield, Massachusetts
May 1970, Second Fret, Philadelphia
5. Rumored recordings and performances:
Any songs rumored to have been recorded and/or performed by the band, along with a general description of the sources of information.
THE SONGS
1. Afterhours
Official studio recording: TVU
Official live recordings: November 8, 1969 (TQT); August 23, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recordings: October 18, 1969; October 19, 1969
2. All Tomorrow’s Parties
Official studio recordings: VU&N; VU&N CD (alternate mix); PS&S (45)
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1965 (PS&S)
Unofficial live recording: November 4, 1966
3. Andy’s Chest
Official studio recording: VU
4. Beginning to See the Light
Official studio recording: TVU
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); July 26, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; December 12, 1968; January
10, 1969; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; October 18,
1969; October 19, 1969; April 17, 1970
5. The Black Angel’s Death Song
Official studio recording: VU&N
Official live recording: November 23, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recording: November 4, 1966
6. Blue Velvet Jazz Jam
Unofficial live recording: October 19, 1969 (an informal jam at the end of the band’s second night at the End of Cole Avenue recorded by the person responsible for taping both nights)
7. Booker T
Official live recording: April 30, 1967 (PS&S) (The instrumental part of “The Gift,” this track can also be heard in its studio incarnation by isolating the right-hand channel of the stereo mix. Indeed, it was issued as a bootleg single in this form.)
8. Candy Says
Official studio recording: TVU
Official live recording: August 23, 1970 (LAM+)
Unofficial live recordings: December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; October 18, 1969; April 17, 1970; May 1970; August 23
9. Chelsea Girls
Official studio recording: CG
10. Coney Island Steeplechase
Official studio recording: AV
Official studio recordings: LO; FLO (early version)
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Unofficial live recording: May 1970
12. The Countess of Hong Kong
Demo/rehearsal recording: F69 (PS&S)
13. End of Cole Avenue Jam
Unofficial live recording: October 19, 1969 (another informal jam at the end of the band’s second night at the End of Cole Avenue, recorded by the person responsible for taping both nights)
14. European Son (to Delmore Schwarz)
Official studio recording: VU&N
15. Femme Fatale
Official studio recording: VU&N Official live recordings: October 19, 1969 (1969); November 7, 1969 (TQT); August 23, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recordings: November 4, 1966; October 18, 1969
16. Ferryboat Bill
Official studio recording: AV
Unofficial live recordings: March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969
17. Foggy Notion
Official studio recording: VU
Official live recording: November 8, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; December 12, 1968; January 3, 1970; April 17, 1970
18. Follow the Leader
Official live recording: November 27, 1969 (TQT)
19. Get It on Time
Rumored recordings/performances: Copyrighted on April 22, 1966, the only known recording is from an as-yet-uncirculated rehearsal tape at the Factory on March 7, 1966.
Official studio recording: WLWH
21. Guess I’m Falling in Love
Official studio recording: AV (backing track only)
Official live recording: April 30, 1967 (PS&S)
22. Head Held High
Official studio recordings: LO; FLO (alternate mix); FLO (early version)
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Unofficial live recording: May 1970
23. Here She Comes Now
Official studio recording: WLWH
Demo/rehearsal recording: winter 1967—two takes (PS&S, take 1)
24. Heroin
Official studio recording: VU&N
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1965 (PS&S)
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969; 1969 CD); November 23, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recordings: June 23, 1966; November 4, 1966; April 28, 1968; October 4–6, 1968; November 1968(?); December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; August 2, 1969; October 18, 1969; October 19, 1969; April 17, 1970
25. Hey Mr. Rain
Official studio recording: AV (two takes)
Rumored recordings/performances: April 28, 1968 (This song was certainly performed live in 1968. According to legend, it preceded the performance of “Sweet Sister Ray” at La Cave in April, but was accidentally erased at a later date.)
26. I Can’t Stand It
Official studio recording: VU
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969 CD); November 8, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; January 10, 1969; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; October 18, 1969
27. If I Tell You
Rumored recordings/performances: Mentioned in a 1973 VU retrospective in Phonogram Records by Richard Cromelin, “If I Tell You” apparently included the following lyric:
If I tell you all the pretty things
And if I give you what tomorrow brings
Would you stop being mean to you
Stop those things that hurt only you.
28. I Found a Reason
Official studio recording: LO
Demo/rehearsal recordings: F69 (FLO); July 1970
Unofficial live recording: October 18, 1969
29. I Heard Her Call My Name
Official studio recording: WLWH
30. I’ll Be Your Mirror
Official studio recording: VU&N
Official live recordings: October 19, 1969 (1969); August 23, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recording: October 18, 1969
31. I Love You
Official studio recording: FLO
Demo/rehearsal recording: April 16, 1970 (PS&S)
32. I’m Gonna Move Right In
Official studio recording: AV
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969
33. I’m Not a Young Man Anymore
Unofficial live recording: April 30, 1967 (Part of the Gymnasium performances in April 1967, this seven-minute blast-out has the simplest of lyrics and a nagging, insistent riff.)
34. I’m Not Too Sorry (Now That You’re Gone)
Demo/rehearsal recording: Winter 1967 (PS&S)
35. I’m Set Free
Official studio recording: TVU
Official live recording: July 26, 1970 (LAM+)
Unofficial live recordings: November 1968(?); December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; October 18, 1969; October 19, 1969
36. I’m Sticking with You
Official studio recordings: FLO; VU
Official live recording: November 8, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recording: October 19, 1969
37. I’m Waiting for the Man
Official studio recording: VU&N
Demo/rehearsal recordings: July 1965 (PS&S); July 1970
Official live recordings: October 19, 1969 (1969); November 8, 1969 (TQT); November 27, 1969 (TQT); July 26, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recordings: November 4, 1966; April 30, 1967; October 4–6, 1968; November 1968(?); December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; January 31, 1969(?); March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; August 2, 1969; October 18, 1969; April 17, 1970; May 1970
38. Index
Official studio recording: WGO
39. It’s Alright (the Way That You Live)
Demo/rehearsal recording: winter 1967 (PS&S)
40. It’s Just Too Much
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Official live recordings: October 19, 1969 (PS&S; WGO); November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); November 8, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recording: October 18, 1969
41. It Was a Pleasure Then
Official studio recording: CG
42. Jesus
Official studio recording: TVU
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; December 12, 1968; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; October 18, 1969
Rumored recordings/performances: This has generally been credited, by both Reed and other writers, to the Velvets era (or possibly earlier), though no VU recording is known. However, it is one of the seventeen songs demoed by Reed for his first RCA album in late October 1971, even though it would have to wait until 1974 for inclusion on Sally Can’t Dance.
44. Lady Godiva’s Operation
Official studio recording: WLWH
45. Lisa Says
Official studio recording: VU
Official live recording: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969)
Unofficial live recordings: October 19, 1969; April 17, 1970
46. Little Sister
Official studio recording: CG
47. Lonely Saturday Night
Rumored recordings/performances: According to reviewer Aral Sezen, an early version of “Lonely Saturday Night,” was performed at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco on November 8, 1969.
48. Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Official studio recordings: LO; FLO (early version)
Official live recordings: July 26, 1970 (LAM); August 23, 1970 (LAM+)
49. Loop
Official studio recording: Aspen #3 (a multimedia magazine published by Warhol)
50. Love Makes You Feel Ten Feet Tall
Demo/rehearsal recording: FLO
51. Melody Laughter
Official live recording: November 4, 1966 (PS&S, edit; WGO, alternate edit)
52. Men of Good Fortune
Rumored recordings/performances: Performed at the January 3, 1966. Factory rehearsal, this song did not emerge until Lou Reed’s fabled second solo album, Transformer.
Demo/rehearsal recordings: January 3, 1966 (Scheduled for inclusion on the deluxe two-CD version of Velvet Underground and Nico, “Miss Joanie Lee” was pulled at the last minute when members of the band began to demand a renegotiation of their contract [thus scuppering further volumes of their own official bootleg series into the bargain!]. However, the song, which is an eleven-minute assault on one’s frontal lobes, has subsequently circulated, presumably from a pre-release dub. As Olivier Landemaine puts it on his fabulous VU website, “It really is an unbelievable song/jam similar in sonic spirit to ‘European Son’ but with lots of Bo Diddley thrown in for fun.”)
54. The Murder Mystery
Official studio recording: TVU
Unofficial live recording: included in “Sister Ray” performance from Boston Tea Party, January 28, 1969
55. Never Get Emotionally Involved with Man, Woman, Beast, or Child
Rumored recordings/performances: This legendary title was mentioned by Sterling Morrison as one of the songs worked up in the summer of 1965 in their Ludlow Street loft. Moe Tucker has confirmed that such a song did exist.
56. New Age
Official studio recordings: LO (edit); PS&S (long version); FLO (full version) Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); November 24, 1969 (TQT); July 26, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recordings: April 17, 1970; May 1970
57. Noise (see Index)
58. The Nothing Song
Unofficial live recording: November 4, 1966 (One of two long instrumentals that the band played at the Exploding Plastic Inevitable shows [the other being “Melody Laughter”], this title was the one given it by the band.)
59. Ocean (Here Come the Waves)
Official studio recordings: VU; FLO
Demo/rehearsal recordings: April 16, 1970, number one (PS&S); April 16, 1970, number two (FLO)
Official live recording: November 12–December 3, 1969
(1969) Unofficial live recordings: October 18, 1969; October 19, 1969
60. Oh Gin (later Oh Jim)
Official studio recording: April 16, 1970 (PS&S)
Demo/rehearsal recording: April 17, 1970
61. Oh Sweet Nuthin’
Official studio recordings: LO; FLO (early version)
Unofficial live recording: May 1970
62. One of These Days
Official studio recording: VU
Unofficial live recording: October 19, 1969
63. The Ostrich
Official studio recordings: The Primitives 45 (Pickwick 1001).
Rumored recordings/performances: Though the original recording of this Pickwick 45 featured a prototype Velvets, no documented Velvet recording of it has ever emerged, and surprisingly enough the original 45 has never been re-released officially.
64. Over You
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); November 25, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recording: January 3, 1970
65. Pale Blue Eyes
Official studio recording: TVU
Official live recordings: October 19, 1969 (1969); August 23, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; November 1968(?); December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; January 31, 1969(?); July 11, 1969; August 2, 1969; October 18, 1969
66. Prominent Men
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1965 (PS&S)
Official studio recording: AV (backing track only)
Demo/rehearsal recordings: F69 (WGO); April 16, 1970 (PS&S)
Official live recording: November 24, 1969 (TQT)
68. Rock and Roll
Official studio recordings: AV; LO; FLO (alternate mix)
Demo/rehearsal recording: April 15, 1970 (FLO)
Official live recording: November 25, 1969 (1969; TQT, same performance, different recording)
Unofficial live recordings: October 19, 1969; May 1970
69. Run Run Run
Official studio recording: VU&N
Unofficial live recordings: November 4, 1966; April 30, 1967; January 10, 1969; July 11, 1969; August 2, 1969
70. Sad Song
Demo/rehearsal recording: April 16, 1970 (PS&S)
71. Satellite of Love
Demo/rehearsal recordings: April 15, 1970, number one (PS&S); April 15, 1970, number two (FLO)
72. Sheltered Life
Demo/rehearsal recording: winter 1967, two takes (PS&S, take two)
73. She’s My Best Friend
Official studio recording: VU
74. Sister Ray
Official studio recording: WLWH
Official live recordings: November 11, 1969 (TQT); November 7, 1969 (TQT); December 3, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recordings: April 30, 1967; October 4–6, 1968; November 1968(?); December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; January 31, 1969(?); March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; October 18, 1969; October 19, 1969; January 3, 1970
Rumored recordings/performances: According to Cale, in his autobiography What’s Welsh For Zen?, this was a specific, extended version of “Sister Ray” that the Velvets performed as an encore on occasions. They would ”start way off left of field, with something totally chaotic, and gradually work our way back to the version on the record. Very long, very intense, with Lou becoming a Southern preacher man, telling stories and just inventing these fantastic characters.”
76. Some Kinda Love
Official studio recordings: TVU (CM); TVU (VM)
Official live recordings: November 8, 1969 (TQT); November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); August 23, 1970 (PS&S)
Unofficial live recordings: October 19, 1969; April 17, 1970; May 1970
77. Stephanie Says
Official studio recording: VU
78. Sunday Morning
Official studio recording: VU&N
Official live recordings: November 9, 1969 (TQT); August 23, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recording: October 18, 1969
79. Sweet and Twenty
Rumored recordings/performances: A song copyrighted by Lou Reed (music) and William Shakespeare (words) on June 10, 1969. The title comes from Twelfth Night, act 2, scene 3, part of a two-verse snatch from a love song of sorts:
In delay there lies no plenty,
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty,
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.
80. Sweet Bonnie Brown
Official live recording: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969)
81. Sweet Jane
Official studio recording: LO (edit); PS&S (full version); FLO (early version)
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); July 26, 1970 (LAM+); August 23, 1970 (LAM)
Unofficial live recording: January 3, 1970; April 17, 1970; May 1970
82. Sweet Rock and Roll aka Sister Ray, Part Two
Rumored recordings/performances: In his article “Dead Lie the Velvets, Underground,” Lester Bangs refers to just such a song being performed in San Diego in July 1968. Robert Gold’s contemporary review of a show at the Shrine confirms that it was also performed there. According to Sterling Morrison, a recording was made of the Shrine performance, but it has never emerged. He remembered the refrain—“Sweet rock and roll, it’ll cleanse your soul”—and the fact that it was used “as a preamble to ‘Sister Ray.’ It kind of just goes along and then hits the chords, which were very heavy. . . . Cale played keyboard on ‘Sweet Rock and Roll,’ and that was really what carried it. Good keyboards.”
83. Sweet Sister Ray
Unofficial live recordings: April 28, 1968 (An extraordinary thirty-nine-minute jam that prefaced “Sister Ray” at this time, this may well have evolved into “Sweet Rock and Roll” [see above].)
84. A Symphony of Sound
Demo/rehearsal recording: January 1966 (A twenty-six-minute jam at the Factory that was filmed by Warhol, it concludes with the arrival of policemen.)
85. Temptation Inside Your Heart
Official studio recording: VU
86. That’s the Story of My Life
Official studio recording: TVU
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968; March 13, 1969; October 18, 1969
87. There Is No Reason
Demo/rehearsal recording: winter 1967 (PS&S)
88. There She Goes Again
Official studio recording: VU&N
89. Train Round the Bend
Official studio recordings: LO; FLO (alternate mix)
Unofficial live recording: May 1970
Official studio recording: VU&N
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1965 (PS&S)
Official live recording: December 1, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recordings: June 23, 1966; November 4, 1966; April 30, 1967; October 4–6, 1968; October 18, 1969
91. Walk Alone
Demo/rehearsal recording: One of the songs (co-)written by Lou during his time at Pickwick, “Walk Alone” appears to have survived the transition into the Velvets. It is featured on the Factory rehearsal from January 3, 1966.
92. Walk and Talk (It)
Demo/rehearsal recordings: April 16, 1970 (PS&S; FLO); July 1970
93. We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together
Official studio recording: AV
Demo/rehearsal recording: F69
Official live recording: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969)
94. What Goes On
Official studio recording: TVU
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Official live recordings: 1968(?) with Cale (1969); October 4–6, 1968 (PS&S); November 8, 1969 (TQT)
Unofficial live recordings: October 4–6, 1968, two versions; November 1968(?); January 10, 1969; January 31, 1969(?); March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; August 2, 1969; October 18, 1969; October 19, 1969; May 1970
95. White Light/White Heat
Official studio recording: WLWH
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Official live recordings: November 12–December 3, 1969 (1969); December 1, 1969 (TQT); July 26, 1970 (LAM+)
Unofficial live recordings: December 12, 1968; January 10, 1969; March 13, 1969; March 15, 1969; July 11, 1969; January 3, 1970
Official studio recordings: LO; FLO (alternate mix)
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
Official live recording: August 23, 1970 (LAM+)
97. Wild Child
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1970
98. Winter Song
Official studio recording: CG
99. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
Official studio recording: CG
Demo/rehearsal recording: July 1965 (PS&S)
* Though the recent expanded Rhino release of Live at Max’s credits both shows to August 23, 1970, I continue to subscribe to the two separate nights theory, and have dated the “early set” to the usually attributed date in late July.