156 - The Velvet Underground

OK, 2026, back on the 1001 Albums for the New Year. I started this project over 10 years ago, and I’m only on 156! The HiFi bit has overtaken this original project.  I return, happily, with The Velvet Underground, note the THE!

The Velvet Underground is the Band’s 3rd album, their first after firing John Cale, recruiting a new bass player, Doug Yule, and having all their amplifiers stolen at JFK before going to the studio!  These factors offered a more chilled approach and focused on Lou Reed’s lyrical journey in an album. Lou Reed wrote all the tracks; however, Reed was keen for others in the band to sing vocals, as drummer Maureen ‘Moe’ Tucker does in the closing track After Hours.

For me, the album is dominated by Pale Blue Eyes, an absolutely spellbinding track, famously written about Reed’s first love, Shelley Albin, who actually had hazel coloured eyes and was married! Reed sings;

It was good what we did yesterday, And I’d do it once again, The fact that you are married, Only proves you’re my best friend…..
….Linger on your pale blue eyes, Linger on your pale blue eyes

Overall, though, this is an album I knew of but have rarely listened to, and I’ll come back to this on those melancholy road trips home.  I certainly prefer this album to White Light/White Heat, which, for me, was a real let-down.

Track Listing

Album Details