The self-titled third album by seminal rock group The Velvet Underground will soon be given a massive, six-disc reissue in honor of the 45th anniversary of its release. The deluxe edition of The Velvet Underground will be released on November 24th.
The band’s first album without co-founder John Cale, The Velvet Underground saw the band move away from the dissonant noise that characterized their earlier work in favor of a more melodic, song-based approach. With Doug Yule filling in for the departed Cale and Lou Reed taking a more central role as the band’s main creative force, The Velvet Underground contains songs that would go on to become staples for the band and for Reed’s solo career later on, including “What Goes On” and “Pale Blue Eyes.” The reissue contains three different mixes of the album: a brand-new stereo version of the album’s original mix, the mono mix that was previously only available on promotional copies of the album, and Lou Reed’s “Closet Mix” of the album (named as such because VU guitarist said that it sounded like the album was recorded in a closet.)
The reissue also contains a treat for VU completists: the unreleased fourth Velvet Underground album. Based around recordings done at New York’s Record Plant in 1969, the band eventually scrapped this version of the album in favor of their actual fourth release, Loaded. Still, many of the songs here were re-recorded by Reed for his solo career. A 2-disc live recording from The Matrix in November 1969 rounds out the collection.
Check out the full tracklist for the deluxe edition of The Velvet Underground below:
Disc One: The Velvet Underground (“The Val Valentin Mix”)
1. “Candy Says”
2. “What Goes On”
3. “Some Kinda Love”
4. “Pale Blue Eyes”
5. “Jesus”
6. “Beginning to See the Light”
7. “I’m Set Free”
8. “That’s the Story of My Life”
9. “The Murder Mystery”
10. “After Hours”
Disc Two: The Velvet Underground (“The Closet Mix”)
1. “Candy Says”
2. “What Goes On”
3. “Some Kinda Love”
4. “Pale Blue Eyes”
5. “Jesus”
6. “Beginning to See the Light”
7. “I’m Set Free”
8. “That’s the Story of My Life”
9. “The Murder Mystery”
10. “After Hours”
11. “Beginning to See the Light” (alternate “Closet Mix”)
Disc Three: The Velvet Underground (“Promotional Mono Mix”)
1. “Candy Says”
2. “What Goes On”
3. “Some Kinda Love”
4. “Pale Blue Eyes”
5. “Jesus”
6. “Beginning to See the Light”
7. “I’m Set Free”
8. “That’s the Story of My Life”
9. “The Murder Mystery”
10. “After Hours”
11. “What Goes On” (mono single verson)
12. “Jesus” (mono single version)
Disc Four: The 1969 Sessions
1. “Foggy Notion” (original 1969 mix)
2. “One of These Days” (new 2014 mix)
3. “Lisa Says” (new 2014 mix)
4. “I’m Sticking With You” (original 1969 mix)
5. “Andy’s Chest” (original 1969 mix)
6. “Coney Island Steeplechase” (new 2014 mix)
7. “Ocean” (original 1969 mix)
8. “I Can’t Stand It” (new 2014 mix)
9. “She’s My Best Friend” (original 1969 mix)
10. “We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together” (new 2014 mix)
11. “I’m Gonna Move Right In” (original 1969 mix)
12. “Ferryboat Bill” (original 1969 mix)
13. “Rock & Roll” (original 1969 mix)
14. “Ride Into the Sun” (new 2014 mix)
Disc Five: Live at the Matrix, November 26 & 27, 1969 (Part 1)
1. “I’m Waiting for the Man”
2. “What Goes On”
3. “Some Kinda Love”
4. “Over You”
5. “We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together”
6. “Beginning to See the Light”
7. “Lisa Says”
8. “Rock & Roll”
9. “Pale Blue Eyes”
10. “I Can’t Stand It Anymore”
11. “Venus in Furs”
12. “There She Goes Again”
Disc Six: Live at the Matrix, November 26 & 27, 1969 (Part 2)
1. “Sister Ray”
2. “Heroin”
3. “White Light/White Heat”
4. “I’m Set Free”
5. “After Hours”
6. “Sweet Jane”
[…] Called Quest, the Beatnuts, Madlib…all that stuff brought me to jazz. Also, I just got the new deluxe version of The Velvet Underground, which I really […]
[…] for a solid collection of passionately strummed college rock, a sound that recalls both R.E.M. and Velvet Underground by turns and to varying degrees. The rollicking “Mary Jane” sets the tone, and on equally […]