Guess I'm Polling in Love: The Lou Reed Memorial Velvet Underground (and solo material) Ballot Poll Thread

All Velvet Underground material, as well as the solo albums of various members (including Nico) is eligible. Because this is such a large body of work, I'm going to limit the number of songs per ballot to 50. Not that I expect a lot of 50-song ballots but it really isn't hard for me to think of that many so hey why not. Scoring will be weighted as usual 1:50, 2:49, etc.

BALLOTS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15th.

E-mail your ballots to me at conditionofmuzak at yahoo dot com

I had originally intended this to be a poll strictly of solo career material but people bitched about it. Dunno if nominations are really necessary (surely we all have heard everything, right? RIGHT?) but have at it...

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1381864_10201945029779263_1775634873_n.jpg

^ haha love that

50! You've got your work cut out for you...

li'l Thurston!

Hah that Thurston photo is the best. His sense of humor can pretty much be summed up by that finger-snapping gesture.

yeah sure I listened to all these records 20-30 years ago. No time now, certainly.

this predates the Velvets but will still be on my ballot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgdZFnZ6M0k

Will live versions be counted separately?

I was wondering that too, as the 1993 live version of "Hey Mr. Rain" (last best thing they did) may scrape into the lower reaches of my ballot.

if specific live versions are cited yeah sure I'll count those separately.

I'm voting for every version of 'Disco Mystic' I can find.

I hope it goes without saying that "Hey Mersh!" belongs on the list, but I'm going to say it anyway.

It'll be on mine

I can't see how the canon won't dominate the top 20 or so, but the lower rungs of this will be really interesting.

(Though obv in the case of the Velvets, "the canon" means pretty much everything they recorded.)

i wouldn't vote for everything they recorded. i wouldn't vote for the gift.

I can and will so there

huh, never heard of this. from Alfred's favorite period:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Ar4xsNNE8

i could do 50 songs easy though.

always felt this was underrated gem off an otherwise pretty shitty album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXHpZq0_F0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeBL37MVP3U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIndW6-g7z8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIndW6-g7z8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2TejpTmbhU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgAqWsv7xMs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqpmZ4w2J-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYbCHKcT5Q0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-ZqAU4zWyE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDIa8C-V30

Cale/Conrad/Young/MacLise/Zazeela's Day Of Niagara's going on my ballot.

"always felt this was underrated gem off an otherwise pretty shitty album"

i don't like it as much as "ride sally ride", "animal language", "n.y. stars", "kill your sons", "ennui", or "sally can't dance", but "billy" is okay. never liked the sax though. would have been cooler if just lou + guitar.

would be v surprised if anyone votes for any of the Pickwick stuff, Albert. well, maybe Why Don't You Smile Now.

the sax on "Billy" is SO 70s singer-songwriter, it's kind of the closest Lou comes to Paul Simon

Sorry, there's just too much stuff to chose from. It's impossible.

What's wrong with having polls with a narrower focus?

Broader focus generally draws more participants. And you get 50 spots on your ballot in this one compared to the usual 20, so how impossible is it really?

What's wrong with having polls with a narrower focus?

not enough people care about the solo careers, apparently

I'm curious what the results are going to be but I must say that if the top 25 is all Velvets tunes I'm gonna be kind of bummed

more participants leads to more predictable results

haha yeah that's true

"Cycle Annie" has a groove, and Lou's sense of humour..

Though Reed's involvement in it was at best peripheral... TIGER IN MY TANK FTW

so how impossible is it really?

As a fan/fanatic, it's impossible

wait so this includes solo john cale too?!
yikes

Big fan of this one. I know it's the big-obvious-rocker on Ecstasy, but I like big obvious rockers, and the guitars and words are so exuberant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9MoQadD-o

yes this includes solo John Cale

looooove that long held note in "Big Sky," tipsy

Filling in some gaps in my solo listening. Lou Reed album is surprisingly good, but wow, this version of "Lisa Says" is a real stinkeroo.

Wait to hear his singing on "Ocean". Of course I lvoe that album.

Jesus, typing gone wrong.

man I don't like the debut at all apart from a couple - "Wild Child" is pretty funny

No love for "I Love You"? "I Can't Stand It"?

I forget - the only tracks I kept from that album are Wild Child and Ride Into the Sun. the dry, proggy arrangements just grate on me

I wasn't looking forward to Lou's "I Can't Stand It," since the Velvets' is easily one of my favorite things (and the first song of theirs I heard), but Lou's isn't bad at all.

listening now - ugh those backup singers

I was talking to ILX's Colonel Poo on the night Lou Reed died and he was saying how disappointed he was when he heard the VU version 'cos he loved Lou's version so much. It's the only song on the album where Clem Cattini's irritating clodhopping drumming actually fits.

my main memory of the album is how there is absolutely zero reverb on it - every instrument sounds like it was recorded separately in a closet, totally airless

xp

i wouldn't vote for the gift.

― scott seward, Tuesday, 29 October 2013 17:45 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

love the gift. also love "a gift" from coney island baby

Yes the album is ineptly produced and features a bunch of players who couldn't play rock 'n' roll if their lives depended on it - thank God for Lou and his songs!

there is not a single song in his catalogue where the solo version is better than the vu version

au contraire! solo version of Sheltered Life is hilarious

The slower, melancholy solo "Ride Into The Sun" is better than VU version.

I can think of a few - mind you, mostly the fairly ropey demos on the expanded "Loaded"

there is not a single song in his catalogue where the solo version is better than the vu version

― iatee, Wednesday,

jazz Lou! flute solo!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtxMgZSKGI8

there is not a single song in his catalogue where the solo version is better than the vu version

― iatee, Wednesday, October 30, 2013 2:26 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'm finding that out (now onto Transformer). I'm really, really glad I heard the Velvets' versions of these first. Although, I can imagine what a revelation it must've been for those familiar with the Lou versions to hear VU for the first time.

"She's My Best Friend" versions are about equal, to my ears

shakey yr call completely obv (and if you've got ballots where ppl have two different versions of a song on there in different places i guess there's no work around) but i would suggest for tracks where ppl vote for this live version or that live version or the album version or a demo version that you might only allow one vote for the track but if ppl want to specify a specific version they can and then when you roll out the results you note it when you list the totals for that track. basically what they do for remixes on year end polls or w/ a few other artist polls. that way certain tracks don't have their vote watered down or aren't basically competing against themselves. anyhow stoked for this, i'm sure it'll end up velvets top heavy (it should end up velvets top heavy) but i think there will be some great diversity and maybe FACTIONS will emerge. make the rollout as long as possible imo. i mean elton john got a hundred track rollout, would guess you rank the velvets at least equal to elton john. maybe i'm wrong though.

lol you didn't read the elton rollout thread did you

yr suggestion re: various versions sounds good, was mostly waiting til I see ballots to make that kind of call

I think Sally Can't Dance is actually a really fun, underrated album. I don't actively dislike any of the songs, and I can probably only say that about one other solo Lou LP (Coney Island Baby, my fave). It's a weird record. I like weird touches like the "you can just keep it" thing in "Baby Face." I assume Lou was pretty strung out during the making of that LP.

I dig Lou's "She's My Best Friend," "Love Makes You Feel," and "Oh Jim" more than the VU versions.

first ballot received! featuring a song I've never even heard of in the number one spot lol.

Gun vs the gun

http://images1.mtv.com/shared/media/images/amg_covers/200/drf500/f514/f51483unkw1.jpg?width=300&height=300&enlarge=false&matte=true&matteColor=black&quality=0.85

Sally Can't Dance boasts "Kill Your Sons," "Billy," the title track, and "Animal Language." Four more, I might add, than Rock and Roll Heart (his most forgotten album? will anyone defend it?) and Berlin

Drella counts right? the more i listen to it, the more i think it's one of the best albums ever made and totally a one-off within the history of music.

some genius has uploaded the entire live version which astonishingly is *still* unreleased on DVD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djwtXCzW5BY

grab it fast before it gets taken down again.

(xp) "Animal Language" is terrible though! I would add "Ride Sally Ride", "Ennui" and "Baby Face" to that list of good tracks though. "Rock and Roll Heart" has been discussed on ILM before.

I listened to the entirety of Drella yesterday and a lot of it is solid but it drags on in the middle. and it's on the whole a huge bummer :(. agree that that live performance is the best, I remember seeing that broadcast on PBS as a teen.

Yeah, I was in college, I made my roommates let me have control of the TV so I could watch it. Thought it was great, but haven't seen it since except a few snippets on YouTube.

In other news, I was listening to "I Heard Her Call My Name" on the way to work today AND MY MIND SPLIT OPEN.

I know the results are gonna end up pretty lou reedy because of circumstance

but let us not forget john cale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEpMMMWB3GU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeFYJdW3xDg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D47E4CNWmZc

looooove that '85 version of "Dying on the Vine," especially the guitar work.

If I vote in this it will be a cale-heavy ballot for sure

yeah this board has a heavy Cale-bias

as has been borne out in multiple polls already

I would be surprised if a single cale solo song is in the top 10 let alone 20

due to circumstance but also because he doesn't have the same # of agreed-upon hits

Shakes, I know we discussed it already, but this is gonna be an unwieldy poll: Velvets AND solo material?

I know probably nobody wants to change the rules once it's started, but one possible alternative would be two ballots -- 25 Velvet votes, 25 solo. But that would entail more work in the counting and rollout, obviously.

Velvets AND solo material?

this is not what I wanted. this is what everybody else said they wanted.

It's on now..

Still tho.

I got no problem splitting my ballot.

feel free to do that if you like, but each of your number 1s is just gonna get 25 points, and I'm not gonna roll out separate results

somebody can just split up the results afterwards, it's not gonna change things drastically

if anyone has ideas/time to develop graphics for this btw I'm open to suggestions. interested in doing something besides just a bunch of youtube links but I dunno

oh I don't care about point assignment at all; just assign them the usual.

have a lot of ballots come in already?

also, damn "Hedda Gabbler" is awesome! never heard it before today.

I only have 2 so far

i don't closely follow the Timing and Order of ILM Polls thread (or whatever it's called) so i missed the argument about how to conduct the VU (& friendz) poll. but i can't imagine who was arguing that there wouldn't be enough interest in the solo members to warrant their own polls. i'm sure there'd be lots of interest in them! and plus it's your poll, you should do it the way you want it!

anyway, i realize you probably already had the debate and made your decision, and plus you've probably already received some ballots with solo songs on them and don't want to force those people to revote.

yeah it's too late to turn back now. the initial debate was on the Timing and Order thread and there were several people who said they would not vote in a solo careers-only poll, and consensus was that a combined VU+solo poll would attract more voters. I was basically alone in wanting the solo careers-only path (I don't really care about the Velvets' part tbh) but felt I was on the hook to do something, so this is it.

i'll definitely be looking forward to seeing the full ballots of everyone and finding some lesser-known solo gems. enjoying the cale's 1977 Animal Justice EP so much.

I have never heard a John Cale record. I don't really know why, other than when I first got into the Velvets I liked guitars and I liked Lou, and I figured Cale records wouldn't have much of either.

i can't imagine who was arguing that there wouldn't be enough interest in the solo members to warrant their own polls

balls, clemenza, somedude, seandalai, Euler, WilliamC

I'm considering an all Angus Maclise and Willie Loco Alexander ballot in protest.

Jail them (xp)

Wait, I'm totally wrong, I have those Sun Blindness Music records and I love them.

I have never heard a John Cale record. I don't really know why, other than when I first got into the Velvets I liked guitars and I liked Lou, and I figured Cale records wouldn't have much of either.
Wha?! Not even Vintage Violence?!

Yeah, Cale's a fantastic guitarist.

Church of Anthrax? I sincerely hope Church of Anthrax doesn't get buried but I suspect it won't.

Wha?! Not even Vintage Violence?!

― sweat pea (La Lechera), Friday, November 1, 2013 2:37 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(sheepishly)...um...no.

But I love The Marble Index nearly as much as any Velvets record (and more than most Lou records), and Cale's obviously all over that.

then today is your big day! i think you'll like church of anthrax because it's extremely groovy iirc.

yeah it's a totally different john cale! he has a lot of sides. it's one of the things i like about him.

Listening to CoA on youtube now...holy crap, how did I miss this? Groovy indeed, and very Can-ny.

Yaaaay.

I know it's not groundbreaking or anything, but Gideon's Bible is one of my favorite songs of all time and it's just a plain old regular normal song that's special because it's John Cale singing it. (sorry for the embed if we're not supposed to do that)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EF0vSV2-TI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZaykeu_dis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRRtSmzkByE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0eqW7612KU

3 ballots in and so far results are very lol

I would just release the results now, every future ballot just waters down mine

I know it's not groundbreaking or anything, but Gideon's Bible is one of my favorite songs of all time and it's just a plain old regular normal song that's special because it's John Cale singing it. (sorry for the embed if we're not supposed to do that)

This is pretty great. I was checking out some other parts of Vintage Violence and it totally didn't square with my impression of what a John Cale record would sound like.

#TeamBrandenburgGate

it totally didn't square with my impression of what a John Cale record would sound like.

I had a similar reaction upon first hearing Paris 1919 years ago. For the longest time I had assumed that Cale's solo output was dominated by droning dirges (a la Nico) or aggro noise freakouts (what with album titles like the Church of Anthrax and Vintage Violence, etc.) and was totally surprised.

I probably won't vote in this, bcz I only really know the VU stuff really well. But this thread has been great for getting me to listen to some of the solo stuff I've never investigated. Hedda Gabler is amazing!

I know I said this somewhere else, but my first reaction when I finally found a copy of Fear was "jeez, I could have been listening to this great stuff instead of slogging through those lame solo Lou Reed albums"

and yes, Hedda Gabbler is amazing, top five Cale tunes for me

John Cale has some really excellent songs from the 80s. Dead Or Alive from Honi Soit and Hungry For Love from Caribbean Sunset are particularly strong.

Here is Dead Or Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddR7zJcGjtY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJis65pCrJI

My fave Cale song

Caribbean Sunset is exactly the sort of title I'd avoid, since we were talking about that! What's it like?

Caribbean Sunset will not make you forget Fear, but it's pretty solid. Hungry For Love is essential.

I don't want to clutter this thread with videos so just take the hyphen out if you want to hear it. And if you like good music, you'll want to hear it.

http://www.you-tube.com/watch?v=U2xO94wEsDY

ehh caribbean sunset is pretty bad

oh man, i'm a fool. i had never heard VU before. i didn't realize there WERE studio versions of songs like Foggy Notion and I Can't Stand It! i'm familiar with most of the songs from various live releases and bootlegs, but it's still an eyeopener.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owest-or4gg

does moe have a chance at placing anything in this poll? i've never really heard any of her solo stuff. is there a consensus for her best song? can't really say i like her on I'm Sticking With You or After Hours

I dunno that I will put in a ballot but I'm gonna tag along for the ride so I can get some more listening recommendations & learn some more catalog learnin'. Have just cued up Vintage Violence from the talk itt and I'm already thrilled by it

v excited for the rollout

doing a poll of the solo careers of Reed, Cale, etc. together but not including the actual band they were in together would be kinda goofy imo. i could see doing just a Reed solo poll, but even then, his discography and VU's are inextricably tangled up with each other, it just seems willful. plus VU don't have THAT many songs so even if they dominate the upper reaches of the countdown there'll be lots of room for the other stuff in a top 50 or whatever.

can't really say i like her on I'm Sticking With You or After Hours

http://www.solaronemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Angry-Dog.jpg

From the White Knights soundtrack...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgd1hh_KaS0

like it!

what's the policy on collaborations w/non-VU people? Can I vote for "Spinning Away"?

There are a bunch of fabulous performances of "Fear Is A Man's Best Friend" on Youtube. Here are two of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHaDnhHFiJY

Collaborations w non-VU members (ie Mettallica) are allowed

man some of these demo versions on Fully Loaded are pretty weird. that they managed to fashion pop-rock gems out of these is remarkable.

get those ballots in folx, only 3 so far....

i'm planning on submitting a ballot, but i'm trying to improve my familiarity with some solo stuff i haven't heard yet before i put it together.

thinking my ballot is gonna be all solo stuff

I will submit a ballot, but probably at the last minute

I had totally forgotten about "My Love Is Chemical" - thanks!

I made up mine on the weekend, will send it along tonight. I think I had a 14/6 group/solo split.

I'll definitely send a ballot, just gotta get past this week's deadline hell first.

You know you get 50 votes right? Xp

I know. With the rare exception (Neil Young), I cut my ballots at songs I absolutely love, as opposed to merely like.

i didn't realize there WERE studio versions of songs like Foggy Notion

Oh, the studio version of "Foggy Notion" is rhythm section heaven! Bit of a krautrock thing going on too.

ah, fair enough xp

man....never listened to the Quine Tapes before, this is awesome.

if only there were more volumes!

I can't help but make my poll virtually all VU. They were too great.

man....never listened to the Quine Tapes before, this is awesome.

― lorde willin' (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, November 5, 2013 1:51 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

if only there were more volumes!

― reckless woo (Z S), Tuesday, November 5, 2013 1:52 PM

there are the infamous unreleased Matrix tapes too

ums I envy your 1st listen to the Quine box, that thing is a world unto itself

iirc, there was some wrangling between the owners of the Matrix tapes and Polydor which basically caused Lou to say fuck it to any further bootleg series volumes (either the Matrix tapes folks wanted too much money, or Polydor was balking at releasing them).

I find this impossible to vote in, if only because I wouldn't be able to rank the various solo releases, let alone square those against the VU corpus

plus doing weird things like voting for the etc version of "I'm sticking with you"

whoah I never realized those were different, just cross-checked

those Etc, NYC, and And So On boot LPs were crucial to troo kult fans back in the day

hey so I started a rough ballot and I hope this is still mostly how it's gonna be:

shakey yr call completely obv (and if you've got ballots where ppl have two different versions of a song on there in different places i guess there's no work around) but i would suggest for tracks where ppl vote for this live version or that live version or the album version or a demo version that you might only allow one vote for the track but if ppl want to specify a specific version they can and then when you roll out the results you note it when you list the totals for that track. basically what they do for remixes on year end polls or w/ a few other artist polls. that way certain tracks don't have their vote watered down or aren't basically competing against themselves. anyhow stoked for this, i'm sure it'll end up velvets top heavy (it should end up velvets top heavy) but i think there will be some great diversity and maybe FACTIONS will emerge. make the rollout as long as possible imo. i mean elton john got a hundred track rollout, would guess you rank the velvets at least equal to elton john. maybe i'm wrong though.

― balls, Wednesday, October 30, 2013 2:47 PM (6 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

lol you didn't read the elton rollout thread did you

yr suggestion re: various versions sounds good, was mostly waiting til I see ballots to make that kind of call

― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, October 30, 2013 2:57 PM (6 days ago) Bookmark

cuz I am voting for some weirdo versions, just like EIII mentions... I mean, the slow burn Quine tapes version of "Waiting For My Man" is genuinely my favorite!

also there's this weird awesome take of "Guess I'm Falling In Love" from the "And So On" boot LP that I will definitely vote for

Cale & Reed started slugging it out for solo material ballot spots well within my top ten

same take but I can't stand the reverb on the VU version

dry version sounds like "after hours" kissin' cousin, reverb version sounds like some shit lou scraped off his shoe on the curb outside the studio

xp

I just found out moe is apparently a tea party crazy nowadays and it's bumming me out

I found that out last week and it bummed me out so bad I didn't mention it here. :(

We created a thread for it three years ago. Not a surprise tbh

Actually, no: discussion here: TS: Mo Tucker vs. Ringo Starr

Moe's complicated, but awesome. I did this interview with her in 2002:

http://www.metropulse.com/news/2002/feb/14/velvet-undergrounds-moe-tucker-comes-knoxville/?preventMobileRedirect=1.

HEre I get to mention again, I met Moe and Sterling when they played Reading Univ.

Someone needs to get with Moe and ghostwrite an autobiography.

Why? She can write, you know...

That would be great, too. Just sort of figure if she was gonna do it she'd have done it by now. Might need someone to talk her into it. Anyway, a project for some enterprising writer. Go to it, kids.

Four ballots received so far...

cuz I am voting for some weirdo versions, just like EIII mentions... I mean, the slow burn Quine tapes version of "Waiting For My Man" is genuinely my favorite!

this is all fine and good, but bear in mind that insisting that your votes for particular takes of songs be counted separately from other versions basically guarantees that they will not make it into the final results, due to the unlikelihood of anybody else specifying that particular take.

Depending on how the votes come in, I may just tally all the votes for a given song together, while noting that a certain portion of those votes were for various versions, but I dunno, depends on people's ballots really.

For Metal Machine Music, is it all one thing or do we vote by side?

I was wondering the same thing. Each side seems to pick up exactly where the previous one left off, and it was once released as a single, uninterrupted piece (on 8-track, but still).

I find this impossible to vote in, if only because I wouldn't be able to rank the various solo releases, let alone square those against the VU corpus

plus doing weird things like voting for the etc version of "I'm sticking with you"

Gonna consider MMM a single piece of music

btw if you don't vote you are a pussy

don't settle for lurking

All right, my tinnitus-having, Michael-Moorcock-reading friend, you have thrown down the gauntlet. You will see my 50 picks before next Friday.

Is The Soul of Patrick Lee eligible? Also, who is Adam Miller?!

lol @ buzza

Four ballots received so far...

cuz I am voting for some weirdo versions, just like EIII mentions... I mean, the slow burn Quine tapes version of "Waiting For My Man" is genuinely my favorite!

this is all fine and good, but bear in mind that insisting that your votes for particular takes of songs be counted separately from other versions basically guarantees that they will not make it into the final results, due to the unlikelihood of anybody else specifying that particular take.

Depending on how the votes come in, I may just tally all the votes for a given song together, while noting that a certain portion of those votes were for various versions, but I dunno, depends on people's ballots really.

― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 7 November 2013 21:07 (Yesterday) Permalink

hi Shakey what I was trying to say there was yes, please count all the different versions together. That way I can vote for my fave weirdo live version of a classic song and it gets counted.

does moe have a chance at placing anything in this poll? i've never really heard any of her solo stuff. is there a consensus for her best song?

― reckless woo (Z S), Friday, November 1, 2013 6:12 PM (1 week ago)

love this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI9zyWu_POk

Is The Soul of Patrick Lee eligible?

As noted upthread, collabs with non-VU members are acceptable so yes. Don't pass up this rare opportunity to vote for the entirety of Wrong Way Up!

I feel like you're kidding but

not entirely kidding - it just happened to be what I'm listening to at the moment. it's not bad but it's not really good either.

it's not bad but it's not really good either.

bullllshiiiiiittttt

Spinning Away is way up there for me

got a couple more ballots in, keep em coming

I'm almost done. Road testing my list during my walks to/from work today. SO FAR SO GOOD! Spinning Away totes gonna make my list too. Love that song.

Hoping/planning to work on my ballot over the weekend and send it Sunday or Monday.

Working through Angus Maclise today, think I'll vote for Chumlum at the very least.

"Sun Blindness Music" will probably make it; gonna re-listen to the Cale/Sterling duo, too.

I can't even wrack my brain into thinking of Wrong Way Up options.

Working through Angus Maclise today, think I'll vote for Chumlum at the very least.

― famous for hits! (seandalai), Friday, November 8, 2013 10:57 AM

damn I forgot about Universal Solar Calendar, that is my jam

gonna re-listen to the Cale/Sterling duo, too.

"Stainless Steel Gamelan" is on my ballot.

It's pretty fascinating how those records point to later Velvets tracks (even stuff Cale's not on, e.g., "Sun Blindness Music" --> "What Goes On").

for your ballot consideration, all 40 minutes of Sweet Sister Ray (edit URL):

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFaOyQbDTKs

couple more ballots in over the weekend, keep 'em coming...

I didn't include any wrong way up stuff cause the album feels more eno than cale

Voted! Decided to leave off "Spinning Away" for the same reason iatee said, but I did include "Cordoba" as it's obviously a Cale track.

c'mon guys we have to at least get the ballots into double digits here

You gave us until Friday. There is a lot of material to sift through.

which I'm sure none of you have ever listened to before lol

I'm sending you mine asap but that moment hasn't happened yet!

I hope there is a strong showing for Lady Godiva's Operation even if it ends poorly. The first few verses are sublime and then it's kinda funny when Lou pops in to hork his lines SWEETLY.

He sounds like a zitty teenager next to John Cale.

i love that part

the first time i heard it it scared the bejeezus out of me. it still does sometimes.

the whole song is pretty spooky, the thump thump heartbeat/surgery theme and all
i love it

SENT

Can I vote if I my ballot is all VU and "I wanna be black"?

of course

Thought I was going to get my ballot done early, but I'm going to take until the deadline after all.

I should be able to send mine tonight, I am just fussing with the order.

(by the way shakey I left off any specific versions of tracks, I will just rep for them in teh results thread)

my draft ballot is now at 65 songs and i feel like i'm underrepresenting some great stuff still.

don't even know what i'm going to cut

voted

top 10 disappointingly predictable so far - where is ye contrarian ILX spirit of olde, I aske

lol wait till you get my ballot

Ballot sent. Such a boring selection, but I did it quick, from memory, so very very VU-heavy. Kind of wish I had time to re-listen to the whole discography (and there are albums I haven't heard yet) (including ALL of Mo Tucker's and John Cale's solo records) but WTF.

this is just a tracks poll, right? no album ballots?

my ballot totally betrays my album choices but i'm ok with that

Same here. I think I had three songs from my least favourite album among my top eight or nine--just an indicator of how amazing they were.

Not all of the songs on my favorite album made my ballot, but all the songs on my second-favorite did.

I did my best to spread my votes across albums, though I think I had five from VU+N.

Four songs from New Sensations, six from Mistrial.

lol

ultra-boring 25 track ballot submitted ... looking forward to getting educated about the solo Reed and Cale I have not heard

it would be wrong to vote for hot hips wouldn't it

Making my ballot now. In the wake of Lou's passing, I'm keeping it all VU and Lou solo, no John Cale, Nico, etc.

You gave us until Friday. There is a lot of material to sift through.
― Pazz & Jop 1280 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, November 12, 2013 2:54 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

which I'm sure none of you have ever listened to before lol
― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:00 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Of course I've heard the four VU albums and the better-regarded Lou solo albums and some cuts from most of the others, but before this poll I knew a shameful minority of Cale's output, about half of Nico's and only a few slices of Moe's solo career. I remain completely unfamiliar with anything Doug Yule did post-VU, as well as many of the VU live recordings (Quine tapes, wow!). My ballot will be Lou-centric, somewhat intentionally.

otm. Listened to a bunch of JC solo material in the past year and of course am a big fan of Paris 1919 but I can never seem to remember the names of any of the tunes.

ballot sent!

Is VU considered canon? I always put it right up there with 3rd and WL/WH (slightly prefer it to both, in fact).

sure it is. as an "album" it's better than Loaded.

Yeah, I love Loaded, but VU is more, um, loaded.

yeah VU is great, though I sort of prefer the 1969 sessions disc I've pulled together from VU and Another View

sent!

Sundazed put together a "1969" album in the vinyl box they put out last year:
http://www.sundazed.com/shop/images/special_page_gfx/vu_mgm/LP5415-VU-JKT-Labels-web.png
1. Foggy Notion
2. One Of These Days
3. Lisa Says
4. I'm Sticking With You
5. Ocean
6. I Can't Stand It
7. I'm Gonna Move Right In
8. We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together
9. Rock & Roll
10. Ride Into The Sun

The 80s mixes were used, and it's the only source (other than the original VU vinyl) to hear the opening six guitar notes of "Foggy Notion."

ugh i forgot to vote for foggy notion
i knew something would come up almost immediately
oh well!

xp yeah, that looks pretty good, though I have some quibbles w/ song sequencing/selection. why have the (obviously incomplete) "move right in" when you could have "andy's chest" and/or "she's my best friend" or even "ferryboat bill"?

Yeah, "Move Right In" feels like a random pick, and putting "I'm Sticking With You" in the middle just doesn't seem right.

the opening six guitar notes of "Foggy Notion."

this has come up repeatedly so i have to ask - is there something really special about the first 6 notes?

Not really. It's just Lou messing around before the take starts. But I always thought it integral to the song: there's these notes, then there's silence, then the band comes charging the fuck in. It works so perfectly. It's just jarring to me to hear it without those notes (and kind of annoying that two CD reissues haven't fixed it).

First six tracks are the 1969 tracks from "VU", the last four are the 1969 tracks from "Another View"

Missing "Ferryboat Bill", "Andy's Chest" and "She's my best friend" for some reason

Whoa, this whole time I had no idea that was Doug singing She's My Best Friend.

funny, i don't think i've ever had trouble telling lou and doug apart, but as a kid (having only heard New York) I remember thinking there was no way the dude singing "sunday morning" was lou reed. it must be this other Cale guy...

Doug just does a really good job with She's My Best Friend of inhabiting Lou's register and delivery to my ear. And I totally thought the dude singing Sunday Morning was Nico for a good while, lol

I knew the Wedding Present version of She's My Best Friend for a long time before hearing the original and the original sounds much worse to me.

Nico does sing backups on Sunday Morning, I think in unison with Lou at one point

she does the la la las there at the end

Oh yes, I meant to say I thought the lead vocal from the top of the song was Nico when I first heard it. Got to know her voice after a few spins and realized she just did the backing.

top 10 disappointingly predictable so far - where is ye contrarian ILX spirit of olde, I aske

― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 13 November 2013 00:41 (22 hours ago) Permalink

this is just how polls work, even if everyone's ballot consists of 75% deep cuts it's gonna be the famous stuff that ends up w/ the most overlap

Yeah, pretty much. Kind of regretting giving any points to VU or Lou though...

Sunday Morning was written with Nico in mind for the load vocals IIRC; Lou may have been trying to ape her style.

this is just how polls work, even if everyone's ballot consists of 75% deep cuts it's gonna be the famous stuff that ends up w/ the most overlap

― iatee, Wednesday, November 13, 2013 5:49 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

your Beach Boys showed this isn't always the case - "'Til I Die" and "Surf's Up" were near the top and hardly amongst their most famous stuff. Likewise "Powderfinger" topping the Neil Young poll.

lead vocals

I followed clemenza's lead this time. only voted for 10 tracks (two Reed, one Nico, two Loaded, one for VU&Nico/WLWH/Third/VU/AV each) to avoid voting for "obvious" stuff everyone would include on a top 50 list.

this is just how polls work, even if everyone's ballot consists of 75% deep cuts it's gonna be the famous stuff that ends up w/ the most overlap

pretty much, which is why I didn't want to include the Velvets stuff cuz oh look people really love Heroin, Sister Ray, etc. gee I had no idea

People expecting to learn about deep cuts gonna be disappointed with the results unless I count down like 200 tracks.

which I might do SO WATCH OUT

GONNA HIT HIM

I supposed you could tabulate the votes for non-VU tracks separately and do non-VU and VU rollouts separately, retaining the overall placement number in the countdown nonetheless - i.e a top-50 solo cuts countdown where the ranks may countdown with 94, 91, 88, 77, 72, etc., and may end at 8 if that's the top-placing solo track, then do a VU countdown that will likely have higher overall rankings but count them down to (I assume) 1st place separately. Or reverse the two if you find the placing songs amongst the solo acts more interesting. Or something like that - - something that still respects/acknowledges how voters ranked solo tracks against VU tracks as per the already established scoring methodology. Maybe do the VU rollout first if you think the solo tracks results are more interesting and less predictable.

I loved my ballot more than usual. Alfred Soto had reached his limit.

I just voted for the favorites I knew with some strategic front loading of songs I thought deserved a boost. If my choices are predictable, that's because I just voted for old favorites.

Did not vote Heroin though bc I don't like that song all that much.

dunno if I have time/energy to do two spreadsheets + results, I'm pretty stressed at the moment

I still support the joint poll, for what little it's worth - band plus solo careers makes sense to me as a body of work. How many VU songs are there anyway - 60? A top 100 joint list shouldn't look too different from a top 50 solo careers list imo.

I don't know, sometimes the obvious stuff is obvious bcz it's awesome? Like if Sister Ray comes in first (which I think is probable and maybe likely) that's bcz it's fucking Sister Ray, not bcz people are voting in a boring way.

Just went through all the VU albums and wrote down my favorite songs and I only have like 12 songs so far.

I'll stand by my prediction that "Sister Ray" will not win this. It'll be "Heroin" or one of Loaded's two signature songs.

Vegas has installed Waiting For The Man as the favorite.

The Quine tapes are kicking my musical butt right now. Had no idea.

I am trying to compile a ballot, but this is so terribly difficult when trying to be fair to the VU, solo Lou, and bits of Cale & Nico...

Speaking of Nico, no one has declared much love for any of her solo stuff. "Frozen Warnings" is really mesmerizing/transcendent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XJC0cZD6zg

And I think there's something special about "I'm Not Saying."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgdZFnZ6M0k

Voted. 49 Velvets/Lou, 1 John Cale

man really regretting my 'go ahead and poll the velvets at the same time' lobbying

I voted for Nico's "These Days".

weird to vote for a Browne song in a Velvets poll but These Days is seriously beautiful

i think the real question is if/where lou's MMM will place. like a lot of conceptual art, i like reading about it more than actually experiencing it, even though i generally enjoy noisy things.

Not really. It's just Lou messing around before the take starts.

That's Sterling surely... I'm assuming it is 'cos he plays all the solos on "Foggy Notion"

Even I voted for MMM and I only voted for like 5 Lou tracks.

19 ballots in, get 'em in folks...

I guess I could have voted for MMM but I don't really enjoy listening to it that much. I like noisy things too, but I don't like contests of endurance. Sorry in advance for ruining the poll results.

have people listened to the "creation of the universe" thing (which is a live recording of the metal machine trio)? it's kind of great -- noisy in the MMM sense, but more dynamic.
http://www.loureed.com/metalmachinetrio/

That's Sterling surely... I'm assuming it is 'cos he plays all the solos on "Foggy Notion"

― Thomas K Amphong (Tom D.), Thursday, November 14, 2013 10:49 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Weird, I didn't know Sterling did the solos! And I didn't know until yesterday that Doug sang "She's My Best Friend!" My favorite Velvets record is changing before my eyes!

ha yeah, i don't think lou was ever able to play quite as fast as sterling does on "foggy notion"

"Frozen Warnings" was in my top 10.

It barely made my ballot, but another Nico track was #2.

I'm close to the frozen borderline here, across it the last few days, so this is Nico season. woulda voted The Marble Index #1 if we'd polled albums.

I'm wondering how many #1 votes won't be for VU tracks. O/U 10% of voters?

i would like to take a moment to appreciate the languid pace, unusual lyrics, and velvety vocals on this solo john cale song that should not fall out of consideration -- i know a lot of his songs won't make it, but this is pretty universally lovely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGPC-ZKrrtY

and the state insurance regulators, singing the same song:

"This decision continues different rules for different policies and threatens to undermine the new market, and may lead to higher premiums and market disruptions in 2014 and beyond."

god, what an unforced fuckup.

wrong thread, oops!

god, what a "ship of fools" those state insurance regulators are, eh?

If that's a John Cale tune, why'd they put a picture of Todd Rundgren?
(ha, xp)

Anyway thinking of voting for the entire tracklist of The Island Years + Paris 1919 and throwing in the two songs I like on Legendary Hearts.

still not sure if I'll get around to doing a ballot but if I do the chances of my voting for every song on fragments of a rainy season & paris 1919 + about half of wrong way up are pretty high tbh

lol xp!

i should have done that for a few albums -- i had spots left!
i was hasty in turning in my ballot
sorry, john cale :(

sorry, john cale :( should be the title of the rollout thread by the sounds of it

2 solo cale songs in my top 5!

did not rate the VU as high as I feared I would, more of an album group to me, like I wouldn't skip "Lady Godiva's Operation" if I put on WL/WH but I would never ever single it out as a noteworthy track on its own

Ha, I considered voting for all of Paris 1919, though I decided against it. But I guess I can still change my mind.

i gave him my #1 so that's something i did

ship of fools is so dreamy

dont forget "Big White Cloud" guys

my ballot:
1-9: Paris 1919
10: I Wanna be Black
11: Walk on the Wild Side (Take no Prisoners Version)
12: After Hours

i'm on the "Big White Cloud" boat for sure.

it's kind of obvious but i'm hoping that Satellite of Love has an excellent showing

another beautiful cale song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR4-spaE1AQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjkr_I_64E4

does lou's "thinking xxx" extra feature count as a "track"? If so that could get my #1 vote

re ship of fools -- i like that it is a super dreamy song buried in an album called fear with songs about the types of people who cannot afford "to orgy"

also how dare anyone compare john cale's face to todd rundgren's face -- not even close!

i voted for lots of solo cale songs but tbh big white cloud is not one of my favorites. i think satellite of love will be fine.
right?!

Holy shit, I'd forgotten about "Soul Man."

Wonder if Satellite of Love votes will be split between the VU and the Lou versions? Could happen to lots of songs, actually.

this poll would have been better if we would have combined it the rolling stones

did not specify which version so as to force the organizer to make the tough calls (i.e. hoping they'll be counted together)

Ok why have I never listened to "Street Hastle" before. This is way better than Velvet Underground. "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together?" and the title track both do the minimal experimental sound poem thing way better than "Heroin" imo.

"I Wanna Be Black": I wouldn't write those lyrics, but clearly Lou is trying solely to offend (MLKingJr) and it comes across as proto punk shock rock. The actual music style is Blueshammer-sort of parody, and it ends with backing singers singing the title over and over again, solo, which is a cool moment and makes the whole event kind of silly. It is essential to this song that they get to make fun of Lou.

That version of We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together cracks me up. Spacemen 3 owes a big debt to that record.

xp

It is essential to this song that they get to make fun of Lou.

you should hear the Take No Prisoners version!

"Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together" is the answer to the "which Lou versions are better than the VU versions?" q from upthread imo.

I hope wins and all other members of Cale Cru manage to vote!

The way Cale pronounces "orgy" always cracks me up.

or
ghee

"Real Good Time Together" should be covered by Deerhunter.

i was wondering if that was a regional thing or ??? i have never heard the word pronounced that way.

The Man Who Couldn't Pronounce Orgy

think of the milk man
think of the tax man
think of the poor man who couldn't pronounce the orgy

idgi but i'm sure he had a reason? i dunno. maybe a welsh person can explain?

idgi but i'm sure he had a reason?

drugs iirc

i was wondering if that was a regional thing or ??? i have never heard the word pronounced that way.

― sweat pea (La Lechera), Thursday, November 14, 2013 4:42 PM (21 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think it's a Britishers thing. John Lennon said it the same way.

another VU heavy poll sent

never in all my time on these islands have I heard anyone say it like that

and I've been to a lot of orgies.

^^^ this

orghees

The Man Who Couldn't Afford Arby's

The Man Who Couldn't Afford a Yorkie

i just sent my ballot in. there's not really any rhyme or reason to it, and it's only a top 40, but i'm going to be busy tonight and most of tomorrow and wanted to make sure i got SOMETHING in.

making this ballot has been pretty enlightening. for one thing, as much as i enjoy listening to old lou doing his thing over squiggle bass, there's still like 30-40 velvet songs i like more than almost any of it

do we have til the end of tomorrow EST?

yes

will no one vote for Coyote

awesome, i'm in....thanks

I will cut voters into bits and mail them to Waldo Jeffers' girlfriend if they don't vote for "I Love You, Suzanne," "Waves of Fear," "Set the Twilight Reeling," or "Fear is a Man's Best Friend."

went with Suzanne out of that bunch.

this will roll out at the same time as the R Kelly results?

only 20 ballots? I'm sure there are at least 50 competent and enthusiastic VU fans on ilm. what are you guys waiting for?

i will send one in soon

"Fear" is currently my highest Song Not First Recorded By Velvets, slipped "Suzanne" at the bottom (though I'm going to revisit the Blue, Legendary and New Sensations tomorrow in case something else is DYING to be #43). But I'm not checking out solo albums I don't already know like twilight (or anything by nico), because they're all fighting for low rungs.

you scream I steam

we're at 23 ballots at the moment fwiw

xp everyone is voting Egg Cream, right?

I dunno, I like it though!

this is my favourite nico, great cale drone + creeeepy kids' choir:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuWiriChrQs

"Paris 1919" is a perfect album but I had to ignore all solo Cale. It's all about Lou.

????

sorry, john cale :( should be the title of the rollout thread by the sounds of it

don't be ridiculous, if any individual Velvet regularly gets the shaft around here, it is definitely Lou (well, and Doug).

done and sent

But I'm not checking out solo albums I don't already know like twilight (or anything by nico), because they're all fighting for low rungs.

mine's gotta be close to 50% Cale

I included a couple of Moe songs. Cale probably suffered most, although I still included a half dozen of his tunes.

Egg Cream rules

Because of Lou's passing my ballot basically ignored John Cale. But he is great and you all should listen to his song Ski Patrol, the Stairway To Heaven of songs about the Ski Patrol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xS9cVNRO4E

I'm a bit of a contrarian just like my hero Lou Reed, so that means in spite of Lou's recent passing I will probably load up my ballot with a bunch of John's tunes.

Yeah, I think my ballot's going to have a lot more solo Cale than solo Reed.

Note to self: photoshop Metal Machine Music by Jerry Reed album cover

Ha. I thought you were out of that business.

If not, I just thought of another to request but I shall use the appropriate thread designated for that purpose.

Inspiration rarely strikes. Maybe Raggett Brain broke my spirit. xp

You think it was all downhill after that? What about Tuomas Is Real?

I thought Raggett Brain came after that! Maybe not.

Thought RB kicked off the thread. Also, don't forget lil ken c somersaulting on the NYPL sorting conveyor belt, another lost classic.

No, you are correct about the order.

"Words were not something I was totally adept with...I loved all sorts of English language experimentation"
The most adept, the most fun to watch. I like watching people talk, but for some reason John Cale really takes the cake for loading his manner of speaking (and songwriting/singing) with all sorts of pleasant to observe idiosyncrasies. (orghee)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySKrgnVXDNs

ha yeah, i don't think lou was ever able to play quite as fast as sterling does on "foggy notion"

Probably was but don't expect him to hit all the right notes

don't be ridiculous, if any individual Velvet regularly gets the shaft around here, it is definitely Lou (well, and Doug).

― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, November 15, 2013 12:40 AM (9 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I hope you're right, shakey. I hope you're right.

In fairness my comment was made after seeing like 6 ppl say they voted all-lou but it seems a little more balanced now

I'm gonna abstain from voting because I don't know the entire discography well enough, but I'll be interested in the results

What time is the cutoff?

That cale album with bob whatsisname is kinda hilarious, might vote for something off that. Is it funnier than the funniest Lou stuff tho idk

Raymond: vote! I don't think SMC will be grading ballots--you can't fail. Lou and Nico and Sterling are dead, so they won't get angry if your ballot is odd or predictable or whatever. You may hear from Cale or Tucker or Yule, but just ignore them.

(Kidding around, but I do think you should go with what you know and vote.)

OK, dig the production and the performances I guess on The Island Years, but not every tune is a knockout. Just realized that "The Man Who Couldn't..." is in 9/8. Thanking you for the interesting time signature before it became de rigueur, Mr. Cale.

It tails off towards the end cuz H of T is self-parodic.

Guys, before you submit your final ballots and the rollout starts I'd like you to just remember different people have peculiar tastes.

just sent mine in, kind of off the top of my head, but hey, some good stuff.

Yeah, that's the only approach

Just threw together a quick 11 song ballot and sent it in. Would have liked to spend more time on this but have been ridiculously busy the last couple of weeks. Ended up only voting for 2 velvet underground songs.

But those two songs each started a band.

Silverfish and the Disco Mystics is my favorite of the bunch.

30 ballots in...

Finishing mine...Nick might be my solo winner.

NICO...stupid phone.

30 is respectable, more would be better!
i can't stop thinking about john cale. it's kind of getting in the way of my life.

Can the following users please clarify which version of Andy's Chest they were voting for - the VU version or the Transformer version:

Nasty, Brutish and Short
Spectrist

Can the following users please clarify which version of She's My Best Friend they were voting for - the VU version or the Coney Island Baby version:

Tarfumes the Escape Goat
Outdoor Miner
Kraudive
Spectrist
Nasty Brutish and Short
Woof
Chris Lowe

anybody who doesn't respond, your vote by default goes to Lou's version why because I am a jerk that way. I am keeping track of these because I am leaning towards splitting out solo results from VU results.

andy's chest is a weird one in that i totally prefer the Lou version

I voted for the Velvets' version. I didn't even know Lou had recorded it! (still haven't heard CIB)

actually on transformer -- you should hear that one too! :)

...chris lowe??

that was the name on the e-mail I got

sorry if I accidentally posted yr government name

would love to think that THE chris lowe is in our midst, voting in VU polls

for ref:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXkridsKM6s

I dunno who that is, didn't mean to out anybody

wait, i thought we weren't distinguishing different versions

i mean, yer the boss, but distinguishing between a velvets demo and a lou reed album track feels arbitrary if we're not distinguishing between a velvets live version and a velvets album track

and to be clear, i vote for not distinguishing - why split up of the votes for "Andy's chest"

the difference is they were released by different acts. velvets live vs. velvets album is still a velvets version, so it doesn't matter for the purposes of splitting velvets results from solo career results.

xp

and the reason I am considering splitting them up is because all the solo stuff is gonna get buried in the Velvets material, which was my original concern.

me otm

lou singing his song with one backing band vs lou singing his song with another - again, it's pretty arbitrary and only serves to give those two songs (or "satellite of love" etc) a lower placing on the poll

if you're worrying about the solo stuff being buried, just credit the track to "lou reed/velvets" and let people distinguish if they must when they post their ballot. removing the velvet votes for these songs wouldn't seem to help push them up the poll

Just sent from my irl email. Lou beating Nico by a nose for solo supremacy.

Sent. Voted for 30 tracks - 20 Velvets, and the rest split between Lou and John.

for ref:

― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, November 15, 2013 3:11 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Huh, that's pretty good! Not as fun as the Velvets', but makes me wanna check out the rest of that record.

lou singing his song with one backing band vs lou singing his song with another - again, it's pretty arbitrary and only serves to give those two songs (or "satellite of love" etc) a lower placing on the poll ... if you're worrying about the solo stuff being buried, just credit the track to "lou reed/velvets" and let people distinguish if they must when they post their ballot. removing the velvet votes for these songs wouldn't seem to help push them up the poll

first of all, lol @ calling the velvets "lou's backing band". Secondly, I'll admit that it's a bit arbitrary, but the issue is really only arising around a handful of songs that Lou recorded with the Velvets and then subsequently re-recorded with drastically different arrangements released on his solo albums. Several voters made the distinction between which version they were voting for. I've assumed that all votes for "Satellite of Love" are for the "Transformer" version, as no one's specified otherwise. Likewise, almost all the votes for "We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together" I've assumed were for the Velvets version, with the exception of a couple who noted their votes were for the "Street Hassle" version. The other two songs already referenced are where there has been a sizeable vote split.

And again, I'm splitting them this way because a) it's apparent that folks are unaware of the solo versions and b) in every case the solo versions are radically different.

hey, it's cool and will change my ballot accordingly before sending it. i'm just saying that - by distinguishing between versions of songs - you're only ensuring that all these versions will place lower in the ballot then they would if brought together under a "lou/velvets" umbrella. that would also give you less work to do re: assumptions.

lower in the poll, i mean

Can the following users please clarify which version of Andy's Chest they were voting for
Lou Reed
Can the following users please clarify which version of She's My Best Friend they were voting for
Velvet Underground

thx

Transformer version of Andy's Chest >>>>> VU version, but that is the only song done by both artists that I would say that about.

I'd also say it for "Satellite Of Love" and maybe "Oh Jim" - but I guess I'm voting for the VU version of "Sad Song" if I have to distinguish

most of the votes for Sad Song so far have specified the Lou version (Chris Lowe's ballot did not - givin it to Lou unless I hear otherwise)

submitted!

Sat of luv?

xpost

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8kdcCdrFFk

while i like this version, transformer gets the nod for better lyrics ("harry, mark & tom" >>>> "wynken, blinken & nod")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxLrb-cuFz4

though voting for the VU's demo of "Sad Song" will do nothing but hamper its placing potential, i prefer this arrangement a lot

yeah, that VU "sad song" is so wonderful.

I liked that since Bowie barred his own music from being used in Velvet Goldmine, Haynes & Co. threw on the solo "Satellite" which has prominent backing vox from the dame.

there's an alternate reality where "what goes on" did well on the charts, the band got a manager that was nice to lou reed, and the velvets remained a tight little groove band through the mid-'70s

was just listening to this weird post-reed "what goes on" -- yeah, basically a "tight little groove band"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smsxCth9144

granted, in that reality their stature is probably more like mott the hoople's (bowie would have hooked up with them either way)

just sent mine. picking a no. 1 was incredibly hard.

Do we have to rank? I never do these big polls don't know the rules.

RE: Satellite of Love

I've assumed all votes were for the Transformer version unless otherwise noted.

re: ranking

yes please. Just a list, with your no. 1 on top, is fine.

FYI 36 ballots in, voting closes in 3 hrs

Will go w/ Lou versions of Sad Song & She's My Best Friend. Neil agrees w/ me.

Have a good ballot, you guys

3hrs? Man I better get started on this thing.

thx Chris duly noted

I can't do a ballot, it'dbe almost all VU, and some Mo. Also, could not pick or rank or exclude..

Will enjoy the results tho.

Threw together a list now just have to tidy it up

FYI 36 ballots in, voting closes in 3 hrs

what, are there voters in Hawaii I don't know about?

gr8080?

does lou's "thinking xxx" extra feature count as a "track"? If so that could get my #1 vote

― dicktweeter perpetuo (wins), Thursday, November 14, 2013 9:02 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

can we get a ruling on this

if not my #1 will be cale's reading of kerouac's moon, purely for the way he says "mountayne"

not gunna make it :(

you can vote for whatever you want, is my ruling

awes

can I have contenderizer's ballot

Never gonna get it down to 50.

srsly I'm running out of spaces and I haven't got to lou yet :-(

if I could vote for the 3 "Falkland Suite" songs (in their Fragments versions) as 1 track I'd be happy, as it is they'll get the chop

Should be finished with mine within an hour...

Trying to speed rank mine...

my vote for She's My Best Friend is VU version. C'mon.

right I'm cutting out cale's hallelujah cover, I don't wanna be corny

subbing in cale's so long marianne cover, because "mountayne" see above

thx kraudive, duly noted

Oh god I put She's My Best Friend too low.

This band.

I only just realised it sounds like they're doing early Beatles harmonies.

Sent!

sent, I couldn't finish ordering although I know it'll be the difference between my favourites making it or not

Shakey - I'm not sure why you're only asking about those tunes. They are another two on my list where I'd insist VU VERSION!

thanks anyway. Awesome job you're doing.

which ones? satellite of love?

Thank you for doing this, Shakey. Can't wait for results!

I Can't Stand It and Ocean were recorded for Lou's first solo album. I didn't mean those versions.

I don't know. Asking people which version they mean seems a bit odd.

Sent.

I can't send it anymore

But if Shakey you would just come back it would be all right.

good luck ILX

also: why would anyone vote for the VU version of "Real Good Time Together"? to me itisamystery.jpg

It's groovy

Oops accidentally deleted all the VU votes. Guess this is gonna be a solo careers only poll after all!

ha! my Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together was actually a vote for the Street Hassle version. Hmm.

Sorry Shakey, I guess this is what happens with ILM polls. And I why I never put myself forward to do a Coil one. Best of luck. Do what the fuck you want; it'll be lovely.

shit, got home later than i thought i would. did i miss the deadline?

oh well, sent it in, hopefully it gets counted.

Eh its ok send em in

nooooooooo!

I have a ballot almost ready but forgot to put it on my mobile. If polls are open til midnite EST will get home in time to send it. I'm probably the only for the Surfsiders

Can the following users please clarify which version of Andy's Chest they were voting for
Lou Reed
Can the following users please clarify which version of She's My Best Friend they were voting for
Velvet Underground

― Bridge of Size (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, November 15, 2013 8:56 PM

Same versions for me that Nasty specified. Sorry to miss this detail til now. If it's too late nbd.

FUCK YOU!!!!

When is the rollout, Shakey, Monday?

Will probably start monday afternoon

thanks

B-b-but don't you think it should really start Sunday Morning?

'Monday Afternoon' would have been a shit album opener

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/WilliamCrump63/JerryReedMMM.jpg

Shoulda made it "Farm Machinery Music" but I got tired of messing with it.

Ha

Finish it why not

You won't regret it

Just do what you feel most.

Put Jerry on your shoulder.

Roffle
http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/nigel.png?w=361
Seems that Farm Machinery Music is on the charts in Japan

(roffling at put Jerry on your shoulder, not my own post)

Jerryboat Bill won't you please come home...

But if Jerry Reed would just come back it would be all right.

I wanna talk to that Jerry Reed, man, why'd he throw a capo during "Okie"?

I did not actually vote in this poll for reasons I will explain later and will no doubt be chastised for by Shakey, but that will not stop from kibitzing during the rollout, which I'd like to think is the way Lou would have wanted it.

okay voting is closed - 43 ballots total received. I'll start a results thread shortly

woohoo!

Would be a good idea to link to it:
Bimble Says: The Lou Reed Memorial Velvet Underground and Solo Careers Poll RESULTS THREAD

Stilling chuckling in 2014 at "Put Jerry on your shoulder."

Pfork article on "Sweet Sister Ray":

http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/309-invisible-hits-sweet-sister-ray/

hey, i wrote that! be gentle with me.

haha missed that! nice work.

uggghhh i haaaate that guy

oh hey tyler

OK, is this the worst piece of music writing ever?

Nice work Tyler, some of the sounds Lou gets from his guitar on that track are... actually indescibable!

thanks! and yeah, some of that guitar/feedback is one of a kind, not really sure what sort of gear he would be using at this point. btw there's one other complete track from that night, which you can grab here: http://ow.ly/vRMJR

Let’s also take a minute to consider the following anecdote from Michael Carlucci, who says the Cleveland fan who recorded the ‘Sweet Sister Ray” tape “(left) it in his car. His sister used the car, saw the tape, put it in a cassette player and started recording her friends laughing and being stupid. He wanted to kill her.” That’s why the tape fades out just as “Sister Ray” begins. Also missing is a half-hour version of “Hey Mr. Rain.” Read it and weep!

*weeps*

seriously

Great piece, tylerw! As for the gear, maybe Lou's guitar was the insanely hot-rodded Gretsch Jonathan Richman described in Up-Tight. Other than that, they were probably using Vox amps, but dunno if it was US or UK Vox (huge difference).

In that Jonathan Richman interview for Lou's birthday earlier this year posted on another thread, he said he was pretty surprised at first to discover that the Velvets didn't use off-brand guitars but the the same makes and models as everyone else.

yeah! also hilarious to hear jonathan talk about how quiet they actually were (at least compared to the volume of bands now). i dunno, i was listening to that guitar amp tape and the dudes sound fucking loud. like, crazy loud. but i guess in terms of actual wattage, they were limited.

hmm as I think abt that tape anecdote, isn't he talking abt Jamie Klimek of Mirrors? iirc he was the dude who taped all those Cleveland VU shows.

(Xp)Truth be told I kind of wanted more detailed anecdotes about his extensive interactions with them but, Jonathan being Jonathan, it was really more about him reiterating how much he loved them and was influenced by them and still can't get over them, which was still something I guess.

xp i believe so, him and mirrors guitarist jim crook. in fact, i found this while i was researching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVLlSdO539g
pretty sure klimek is at least the guy who taped that later La Cave show with Yule. there are rumors of other tapes, but they might just be rumors.

There was some good stuff about Sterling though: "People talk a lot about Lou Reed, Jonathan, but what they don't realize is that nothing goes on in this band without my say-so."

haha yeah. i thought it was pretty touching when Richman talked about seeing Lou in the 90s -- when Lou said he was proud of him, Jonathan cried! A perfect anecdote.
i do think Richman should write a memoir of some kind, though that might be the last thing he'd ever want to do. i don't know, he's an interesting guy!

I would buy that instantly.

me too. even if it was comprised primarily of lists of his favorite organic grocery stores and long ruminations on slack key tunings

i'd be ok with that. he's just interesting because he really doesn't fit into any narrative that I can think of (even tho he's tangentially related to a lot of different things).

At this point if the "real" Jonathan stepped out from behind the persona, it could potentially be hugely disappointing if not horrifying. We've had a long time to get used to the Jim/Iggy split. Cf "Wakefield" if not Flitcraft.

The journey kicks off with the band (most likely just Cale, Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison; drummer Maureen Tucker isn’t audible here) chugging steadily, slowly over a spare, spidery riff.

Now unless my ears deceive me, when Cale starts up on organ, you have Lou + Sterling on guitars and there is definitely a bass guitar there too (not bass pedals, as far as I can tell, and I'm not sure Cale played those anyway) so I can only assume Mo was playing bass!

i thought it was pretty touching when Richman talked about seeing Lou in the 90s -- when Lou said he was proud of him, Jonathan cried!

Hey, he's an emotional guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7mHg0H6sy8

Wonder if Donald Fagen was around to witness that.

Put Jerry on your shoulder.

And
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slaAGS7f0LU

hey it's the hideout!!