ENCORE OF THE MONTH
December, 2020
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground were an avant-garde band out of New York. The band were too abrasive for the mainstream at the time but they have gone on to become rock and roll royalty with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their first four albums have all been included in the Rolling Stones list of greatest albums of all time. Not a bad achievement for a band that was considered a commercial failure at the time. Their first album 'The Velvet Underground and Nico' has been described as the 'most prophetic rock album ever'.
The first album was truly unique. The most haunting song on the first album is 'All Tomorrow's Parties'.
Let's be brutally honest - the band was a mess and it is not surprising that Nico only appeared on one album. The band was managed by Andy Warhol and were the soundtrack behind Warhol's art collective 'The Factory'. If the truth be told Lou Reed was at war with Warhol and his involvement with the band was terminated after the first album. After Nico and Warhol's departure the band went on to release their sophomore album 'White Light/White Heat'.
'Here she comes now' is another track on the album that has been covered many times.
The Velvet Underground pushed the indie scene in different directions and was the driving force behind the experimental wave of underground and alternative music that was to follow.
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