Best song Lou Reed ever wrote?

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over to you

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

include why if you want so this doesnt get all listy

― mitch, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't really say what his best song is, but "Wild Child" has always been a favourite of mine. There are some great observational details in the lyrics. Reed creates vivid portraits of people in this song. He captures the nature of his characters' everyday lives. The song has a catchy chorus too. It's a pity the performance of the backing band is a bit lifeless.

― Mark Dixon, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"Walk on the Wild Side" OF COURSE, for obvious reasons.

― Daver, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Solo: Street Hassle or the Bells VU: I'll Be Your Mirror

― Manny Parsons, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

heroin or sweet jane.

― Yip!, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"She's My Best Friend," both VU and solo - Coney Island Baby version preferred

― John Darnielle, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"New Age" with alternate lyrics on VU live 1969. "Waiting for the phone to ring..."

― Mary, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Metal Machine Music 3

― Queen G of the 7 drops of oceanic semen, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

'Do the Ostrich.' By The Primitives. Yeah yeah I'm just trying to be cool. But it's the song I wish I was listening to right now! I like the early Beatles too. And the introduction to an unreleased bootleg of a tape Rody Erikson never recorded.

― maryann, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Any of those numbers on the Kiss concept album (Music From) The Elder. Just for the sheer what-the-fuck factor.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"Foggy Notion"...you just can't play rhythm guitar like that without just putting your head down and watching your hands flail. The song is concentrated genius, mmm mm mmm.

― Matt Riedl (veal), Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll put in a word for THERE SHE GOES AGAIN / so simple, so FXtive, and it even has a cack-handed solo. And that invented tradition of intros (x (Stones??)--> Velvets --> Marr).

― the pinefox, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

Kudos to Matt who mentioned Foggy Notion. All those jangly songs are the best rocknroll has produced. I would include What Goes On, especially the live version.

― what goes on, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Reed wrote "Femme Fatale", didn't he? If so, I'd have to say "Femme Fatale", because it reminds me of back when I was in college, and my band covered it, only we did it faster, and added a Noise Gismo (weird toy from the 70s, I think) solo.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"Perfect Day" because I'm a big softy.

― dan (dan), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll second Street Hassle because it is a perfect song.

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

"After Hours" or "Sunday Morning"

― Joe (Joe), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Good call for "Sweet Jane". When the ragged middle 8 comes in - "Anyone who had a heart / shouldn't turn around and break it . . ." absolute genius!

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with Yip on the Sweet Jane and Herion thing - they both very pretty songs.

― toraneko (toraneko), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

With VU: Pale Blue Eyes
Solo: Satellite Of Love or I Love You, Suzanne

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

with VU it's a struggle between What Goes On, Pale Blue Eyes and All Tomorrow's Parties...

solo, hmmm, I would like to pick one of my favorite Reed album, Berlin, but those songs are great in the context of the whole album, picking one single song out of it would deminish it's impact. Therefor: Street Hassle.

― willem (willem), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Metal Machine Music, side 2.

Just kidding.

I like "Waiting for the Man" and "What Goes On" and uh shit I forget the name of the song on the third VU album that talks about "put jelly on your shoulder" fuck it 'cause I like that one a lot too and of course "Sweet Sister Ray" but I'm not so big on his solo stuff aside from Transformer and on that I'd probably rate "Vicious" or "Andy's Chest."

Time for more coffee.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"I forget the name of the song on the third VU album that talks about 'put jelly on your shoulder'"

Some Kinda Love

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeahthanksthatsongruleshaveaniceday.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 18 December 2002 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

VU - "What Goes On"
Lou - Coney Island Baby or Street Hassle

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

'Heroin' is a great song. Direct. Covers the subject very well. Ebbs and flows beautifully. "I guess ... that I just don't know."

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll double John Darnielle's vote for She's My Best Friend with a solid tip to Coney Island Baby. As for VU, i'l have to name a couple; Temptation Inside Your Heart and Ride into the Sun.

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

i shouldn't get started on this, mayhaps, for every fkn time somebody asks for smth positive to be said 'bout ol' Lou, the very first thing to escape my mouth is invariably voluminous praise of John Cale, followed by - "compared to Cale, Lou is one deluded,conceited, miserable mofukka"

A*RIGHT! not that i 'avent any good thoughts on Lou, mind:

"Pale Blue Eyes" is just one of the many great songs of the Velvety period,
and quite a few on "Drella" more than just hold up,
and yes, the Berlin alb as a whole is very good.

but i've never given a tiniest toss 'bout the friggin' "Walk on the Wild Side"

― t\'\'t (t''t), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

what 'bout the sax solo and backin' vocals?

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll second after hours. I love the "Caroline/candy/were there more? says" songs too.

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 18 December 2002 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesus and I'm Set Free

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 19 December 2002 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Aside from Caroline and Candy, there was also Lisa.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 19 December 2002 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I didn't know Lou Reed wrote "For All Tomorrow's Parties" - that a good one too but I think Heroin is the best.

― toraneko (toraneko), Thursday, 19 December 2002 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'm Waiting For The Man" for Velvets, I like the economy of the wording. Conversely I pick "Wild Child" for solo Reed, cause of the great lyrical details.

― Poppy (poppy), Thursday, 19 December 2002 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

I think New York is full of magnificent songs that stands up as a whole.
Almost as awesome as Berlin.

― Chris K, Friday, 19 November 2004 03:27 (twenty years ago)

There is also a song called "Stephanie Says", I think, maybe from VU days - nice version.

"I wanna play footbal for the coach" on Coney Island Baby is pretty good too.

Don't wast your money on The Raven or Machine Music - unless your a hard core collector.

― Chris K, Friday, 19 November 2004 03:35 (twenty years ago)

Ride Into The Sun

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 19 November 2004 03:40 (twenty years ago)

Coney Island Baby fourthed. So dreamy, poetic, truthful. It inspired me to play a hundred songs in this fashion.

― jim wentworth (wench), Friday, 19 November 2004 04:47 (twenty years ago)

I really love "Beginning to See the Light" and "SOme Kinda Love"

― chris herrington (chris herrington), Friday, 19 November 2004 05:02 (twenty years ago)

At the moment - Run,run,run

― Seuss, Friday, 19 November 2004 08:22 (twenty years ago)

I'm gonna wave a little flag for "Candy Says".

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:35 (twenty years ago)

Damn this is tuff. Until I have more time to think about it I'm going to go with the live version of Waiting For My Man off Take No Prisoners, even though I realize there's a lot more comedy and weirdness than song-ness per se.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:46 (twenty years ago)

I agree, God, this is such a tough call.

So many of the great VU songs have a group writing credit that I don't know if they really count; my copies of "Loaded" and "VU" don't say who specifically wrote "Temptation Inside Your Heart" or "Cool It Down" or "Hey Mr. Rain". So I dunno if they go to Lou or not. But they are fabulous songs, and don't get their due I think because the chestnuts are "Sunday Morning" and "Femme Fatale".

"Street Hassle" to thread, for sure.

If we're picking "Metal Machine Music", (and we should), then it's all about side four: the locked groove, people!

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:48 (twenty years ago)

; my copies of "Loaded" and "VU" don't say who specifically wrote "Temptation Inside Your Heart" or "Cool It Down" or "Hey Mr. Rain".

I think they're all Lou.

― My Son Calls Another Man Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 19 November 2004 09:54 (twenty years ago)

VU: What Goes On
solo: How Do You Think It Feels

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Friday, 19 November 2004 10:13 (twenty years ago)

I Love You, Suzanne.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 19 November 2004 10:21 (twenty years ago)

Lou is easily my favourite songwriter so I couldn't pick one..... but "Lisa Says" is one deserving of praise but often overlooked... ditto "I Love You"... "All Through the Night"... there's far too many to mention!

― My Son Calls Another Man Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 19 November 2004 10:23 (twenty years ago)

I Love YOU, Suzanne.
I mean that,

― LSTD (answer) (sexyDancer), Friday, 19 November 2004 10:36 (twenty years ago)

No, I love YOU, Suzanne.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 19 November 2004 10:39 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 13 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Lately I blast "I Love You, Suzanne."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 16 September 2006 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

Ignoring Sweet Jane for the moment..."Merry Go Round"?

― Ficky Stingers (Bimble...), Sunday, 17 September 2006 08:05 (eighteen years ago)

Mistrial's "The Original (w)rapper", cuz he was.

― Brian Turner (btwfmu), Sunday, 17 September 2006 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

"The New Age"

― Erroneous Botch (joseph cotten), Monday, 18 September 2006 02:00 (eighteen years ago)

I only like 10% of the Tori Amos that I've heard, but her cover of "New Age" was just scorching.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Monday, 18 September 2006 02:30 (eighteen years ago)

"New Age" as a White Album era Lennon rocker.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Monday, 18 September 2006 02:31 (eighteen years ago)

"What Goes On" and "Strawman" (for the guitar solo)

― Grey, Ian (IanBrooklyn), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:41 (eighteen years ago)

who loves the sun and Wild child

― emekars (emekars), Monday, 18 September 2006 07:29 (eighteen years ago)

corretion: make it - Oh! sweet nothin' and Wild Child

― emekars (emekars), Monday, 18 September 2006 08:21 (eighteen years ago)

venus in furs, candy says. tie

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Monday, 18 September 2006 12:56 (eighteen years ago)

I can't stop blasting Waves of Fear.

Show you where my state of mind is.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 18 September 2006 13:52 (eighteen years ago)

Should be a POV, at least... torn between "Venus In Furs" and "Pale Blue Eyes".

"Thought of you as my mountaintop / Thought of you as my peak / Thought of you as everything / I had but couldn't keep" is a hall of fame lyric.

― Edward III (edward iii), Monday, 18 September 2006 14:24 (eighteen years ago)

Definitely "Rock and Roll," with "Perfect Day" not far behind.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 18 September 2006 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

'perfect day' is my favourite lou reed solo track.

there are about 5 velvet tracks that jump in ahead of it however

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 11:46 (eighteen years ago)

"Charley's Girl" is another one of my favourites!

― Oh No It's Dadaismus! (Dada), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 11:48 (eighteen years ago)

Oh! Sweet Nuthin'

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 12:35 (eighteen years ago)

eleven years pass...

I can think of many best songs.

― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 3 March 2018 02:40 (seven years ago)

good list, you not a fan of Drella?

― piscesx, Saturday, 3 March 2018 12:46 (seven years ago)

I am but I prefer Cale's tunes.

― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 3 March 2018 12:57 (seven years ago)

live in italy version of "betrayed" has always been one of my fave moments of RQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plh-3ej1t0M

― freedom is not having to measure life with a ruler (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 3 March 2018 15:05 (seven years ago)

didn't mean to embed, sry

― freedom is not having to measure life with a ruler (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 3 March 2018 15:06 (seven years ago)

I really think 'Legendary Hearts' is one of Lou's most beautiful songs.
A bit of a 'Everybody Hurts' sentiment going on, but then, I love grand sweeping gestures.

― campreverb, Saturday, 3 March 2018 18:24 (seven years ago)

One of my favorites is "Busload of Faith". I always really dug how the New York album, as it's real stripped down and live sounding.

― earlnash, Saturday, 3 March 2018 18:39 (seven years ago)

can think of many best songs.

― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, March 2, 2018 6:40 PM

Taste is taste; but the positioning of “Coney Island Baby” on that list almost leads me to conclude you are trolling

― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 3 March 2018 19:45 (seven years ago)

Perfect Day and Stephanie Says.

― treeship 2, Saturday, 3 March 2018 19:56 (seven years ago)

Not very exciting answers but you know. I find halloween day parade really affecting too.

― treeship 2, Saturday, 3 March 2018 19:56 (seven years ago)

aste is taste; but the positioning of “Coney Island Baby” on that list almost leads me to conclude you are trolling

― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp)

Don't take lists too seriously. The song made it, you're good.

― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 3 March 2018 19:59 (seven years ago)

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx-mH9ZjnuM

― kolakube (Ross), Saturday, 3 March 2018 21:59 (seven years ago)

pale blue eyes

― flappy bird, Saturday, 3 March 2018 22:40 (seven years ago)

Alfred, Our House is called My House.

And this should be on your list:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gveePL9Ft2Y

― Heavy Messages (jed_), Saturday, 3 March 2018 22:53 (seven years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l4FI88FkQU

― Heavy Messages (jed_), Saturday, 3 March 2018 22:54 (seven years ago)

There's a white prism with phony jism

― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 3 March 2018 22:55 (seven years ago)

Man, what an impossible question. But at least sentimentally I guess I always come back to "I Love You" (where I think he might be being sincerely loving) and "Perfect Day" (where I'm pretty sure he's being deeply biting). . . "The Bed" really cripples me, and "Street Hassle" always wows me, too.

― Soundslike, Saturday, 3 March 2018 23:24 (seven years ago)

Oh, flappy, yeah, "Pale Blue Eyes" is waay up there, too

― Soundslike, Saturday, 3 March 2018 23:24 (seven years ago)

I love that line in “My House” —

I really got a lucky life
My writhing, my motorcycle and my wife

— and particularly how the “life/wife” rhyme echoes the long-ago rhyme in “Heroin” (in a very different context).

― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 3 March 2018 23:54 (seven years ago)

* that’s ”writing,” not “writhing” (wtf)

― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 3 March 2018 23:55 (seven years ago)

It would have been 'writhing' if he'd written it a ten years earlier or later.

― Buff Jeckley (Tom D.), Sunday, 4 March 2018 00:32 (seven years ago)

lol

― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 4 March 2018 00:36 (seven years ago)

VU era: some kinda love
solo: coney island baby

― i remember the corned beef of my childhood (Karl Malone), Sunday, 4 March 2018 00:47 (seven years ago)

I love that line in “My House” —

I really got a lucky life
My writhing, my motorcycle and my wife

— and particularly how the “life/wife” rhyme echoes the long-ago rhyme in “Heroin” (in a very different context).

― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 3 March 2018 23:54 (five days ago) Permalink

Also a testament to Lou I had to really stop and think "wait is it writhing?" for second there

Anyway the correct answer is Rock Minuet

― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 8 March 2018 20:23 (seven years ago)

that is a very dark song

I'd choose something lighter, he was a humanist at heart right?

― niels, Saturday, 10 March 2018 19:40 (seven years ago)

What Goes On, Rock and Roll, I'm Waiting for the Man

Waves of Fear, Coney Island Baby, Mad

― kornrulez6969, Saturday, 10 March 2018 19:52 (seven years ago)

And special love to The Last Shot for the most insane Lou lyric ever (and that's saying quite a bit)

I shot a vein in my neck and coughed up a quaalude

― kornrulez6969, Saturday, 10 March 2018 19:54 (seven years ago)

VU: Sweet Jane
70s: Coney Island Baby
80s: Waves of Fear
90s: Hello It's Me
00s: Modern Dance
10s: Junior Dad

― niels, Saturday, 10 March 2018 20:02 (seven years ago)

I couldn’t even pick a “best song” from "The Blue Mask" alone. That album is extraordinary...

― absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 10 March 2018 21:05 (seven years ago)

three years pass...

Covers comp coming: https://acerecords.co.uk/what-goes-on-the-songs-of-lou-reed

― beer drops on my keytar (morrisp), Friday, 26 March 2021 19:46 (four years ago)

'walk like an egyptian'

― John Cooper of Christian rock band Skillet (map), Friday, 26 March 2021 19:52 (four years ago)

oh wait, that's the bagnles

― John Cooper of Christian rock band Skillet (map), Friday, 26 March 2021 19:52 (four years ago)

one month passes...

Sorry, it was Prince

― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Sunday, 2 May 2021 19:54 (four years ago)

Oh he wrote more profound tunes, but when I just put the question to myself the first tune I heard was "She's My Best Friend". It is one of those songs that sounds like the whole song is a chorus.

― earlnash, Sunday, 2 May 2021 22:19 (four years ago)

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