John Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh singer, musician, composer, record producer and arranger. He is a founding member of the influential American rock band the Velvet Underground, with whom he recorded two studio albums. In the subsequent four decades, Cale has released varied solo albums, film soundtracks, and collaborations with Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Bob Neuwirth and others.
Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions BELFl. BELWa. DEN NLD USBillboard peak chart positions: Honi Soit: Vintage Violence Released: 25 March 1970 Label: Columbia————— Church of Anthrax (with Terry Riley) Released: April 1971 Label: Columbia————— The Academy in Peril Released: July 1972 Label: Reprise————— Paris 1919 Released: 25 February 1973 Label: Reprise————— Fear Released: 1 October 1974 Label: Island————— Slow Dazzle Released: 25 March 1975 Label: Island————— Helen of Troy Released: November 1975 Label: Island————— Honi Soit Released: 10 March 1981 Label: A&M————154 Music for a New Society Released: September 1982 Label: ZE————— Caribbean Sunset Released: February 1984 Label: ZE ———28— Artificial Intelligence Released: 6 September 1985 Label: Beggars Banquet————— Words for the Dying Released: 19 September 1989 Label: Opal Music/Warner Bros.————— Songs for Drella (with Lou Reed) Released: 23 April 1990 Label: Sire————— Wrong Way Up (with Brian Eno) Released: October 1990 Label: Opal Music/Warner Bros.————— Last Day on Earth (with Bob Neuwirth) Released: May 1994 Label: MCA————— Walking on Locusts Released: 24 September 1996 Label: Hannibal————— HoboSapiens Released: 6 October 2003 Label: EMI——36—— blackAcetate Released: 17 October 2005 Label: EMI87———— Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood Released: 1 October 2012 Label: Double Six 58169——— M:FANSReleased: 22 January 2016 Label: Double Six52185——— Mercy Released: 20 January 2023 Label: Double Six14145——— Poptical Illusion Released: 14 June 2024 Label: Double Six79129——— MiXology (volume 1) Released: 2 May 2025 Label: Double Six————— "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Soundtracks Paris S'Eveille - Suivi D'autres Compositions (Delabel) November 1991 23 Solo Pieces for La naissance de l'amour (Crepuscule) November 1993 Antártida (Crepuscule) 1995 N'oublie pas que tu vas mourir (Crepuscule) 1995 Eat/Kiss: Music for the Films by Andy Warhol (Hannibal) June 1997 Dance Music (Music for "Nico", the ballet choreographed by Ed Wubbe / Scabino Ballet Rotterdam) Warner 1998 Le vent de la nuit (Crepuscule) March 1999 The Unknown (Crepuscule) 1999 Saint-Cyr (O.S.T.) (Virgin France) 2000 Process (Syntax) July 2005
Live Sabotage/Live (IRS) December 1979 John Cale Comes Alive (Ze) September 1984 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (ROIR) 1991 Fragments of a Rainy Season (Hannibal) 25 September 1992 Le Bataclan '72 (with Lou Reed and Nico) 2004 Circus Live (EMI) February 2007 John Cale & Band Live (Rockpalast 1983 & 1984) DVD and vinyl (MIG) 2010
Compilations Guts (Island) February 1977 Paris s'eveille - suivi d'autres compositions (Crepuscule) November 1991 Seducing Down the Door: A Collection 1970–1990 (Rhino) 5 July 1994 The Island Years (Island) 1996 Close Watch: An Introduction to John Cale (Island) 20 April 1999 Conflict & Catalysis (Productions & Arrangements 1966–2006) 2012
EPs Animal Justice (Illegal IL 003, UK) September 1977 5 Tracks (EMI) May 2003 (reached No. 13 Budget Album chart) Extra Playful (Double Six/Domino Records) September 2011 Short soundtrack Somewhere in the City August 1998
Singles "Cleo" / "Fairweather Friend" (1970) "Big White Cloud" / "Gideon's Bible" (1970) "Days of Steam" / "Legs Larry at the Television Centre" (1972) "The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy" / "Sylvia Said" (1974) "Mercenaries" / "Rosegarden Funeral of Sores" (1980) "Dead or Alive" / "Honi Soit" (1981) "Close Watch" / "Close Watch" (1983) "Close Watch" / "Changes Made" (1983) "Hungry for Love" / "Caribbean Sunset" (1984) "Ooh La La" / "Magazines" (1984) "Villa Albani" remixes / "Hungry for Love" (1984) "Dying on the Vine" / "Everytime the Dogs Bark" (1985) "Satellite Walk" / "Crash Course in Harmonics" (1985) "Nobody But You" – US Alt No. 13 / "Style It Takes" / "A Dream" (1990) – with Lou Reed "One Word" / "Grandfather's House"* / "Palanquin" (1990) − with Brian Eno "Spinning Away (Edit)" / Grandfather's House" / "Palaquin" (1990) − with Brian Eno "Hallelujah" (1991) "Paris S'eveille" (1991) "The Long Voyage" (1995) – with Suzanne Vega "Cale vs the Bees vs Doctor Rockit" (2003) "Things" (2003) – UK No. 144 "Turn the Lights On" (2005) "Outta the Bag" (2006) "Jumbo in tha Modernworld"* (2007) "Big White Cloud" (2007) "All My Friends" (2007) "Whaddya Mean by That" (2011) "I Wanna Talk 2 U" (2012) "Face to the Sky" b/w "Living With You" (Organic Mix) (2012) "All Summer Long" / "Sandman (Flying Dutchman)" (2013) "Lazy Day" (2020) – non-album song "Night Crawling" (2022) "House" (2025) − with Charli XCX
Other appearances Studio Year Title Release Notes 1991 "Hallelujah" I'm Your Fan Leonard Cohen cover "The Queen and Me" "More Fans" 1993 "Helmut Newton Told Me"/"Wish You Were Here"/"Oh! To Be Invited to the Venice Biennale" Caged/Uncaged: A Rock/Experimental Homage to John Cage soundtrack to an exhibition, with Ann Magnuson 2004 "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Por VidaAlejandro Escovedo cover 2022 "Mr. Sparrow" For the Birds: The Birdson Project, Vol. IIIoriginal
Live YearTitleNotes1974June 1, 1974with Kevin Ayers, Brian Eno, Nico
Productions and contributions YearArtistRelease informationCale's contribution 1967 Nico Chelsea Girl Released: October 1967 Label: Verve Records viola, organ, guitar: various 1968 Morning Glory Two Suns Worth Released: May 1968 Label: Fontana Records sound engineer: album 1969 Nico The Marble Index Released: May 1969 Label: Elektra Records viola, piano, bass guitar, guitar, bells, arrangements: album 1969 The Stooges The Stooges Released: August 1969 Label: Elektra Records production, viola: album 1969 Earth Opera The Great American Eagle Tragedy Released: 1969 Label: Elektra Records guitar, vocals: various 1970 Glass Harp Glass Harp Released: 1970 Label: Decca Records viola: various 1970 Chelsea Chelsea Released: 1970 Label: Decca Records viola: various 1970 Nick Drake Bryter Layter Released: November 1970 Label: Island Records viola, piano, cembalo, celeste, organ: various 1970 Nico Desertshore Released: December 1970 Label: Reprise Records vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, production: album 1971 Mike Heron Smiling Men with Bad Reputations Released: 1971 Label: Elektra Records guitar, bass guitar, vocals: various 1971 Tax Free Tax Free Released: 1971 Label: Polydor Records viola: album 1972 Jennifer Warnes Jennifer Released: 1972 Label: Reprise Records production: album 1973 Chunky, Novi and Ernie Chunky, Novi and Ernie Released: 1973 Label: Warner Bros. Records production: album 1974 Nico The End... Released: 1974 Label: Island Records bass guitar, xylophone, guitar, synthesizer, piano, organ, marimba, triangle, glockenspiel, percussion, production: album 1975 Geoff Muldaur Is Having a Wonderful Time Released: 1975 Label: Reprise Records viola: "Wondering Why" 1975 Brian Eno Another Green World Released: September 1975 Label: Island Records viola: various 1975 Patti Smith Horses Released: December 1975 Label: Arista Records production: album 1976 The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers Released: August 1976 Label: Beserkley Records production: primary sessions 1977 Kate & Anna McGarrigle Dancer with Bruised Knees Released: 1977 Label: Warner Bros. Records organ, marimba: various 1977 Squeeze Packet of Three Released: July 1977 Label: Deptford Fun City Records production: EP 1977 Sham 69 Sham 69 Released: 1977 Label: Step Forward Records production: EP 1978 Squeeze Squeeze Released: March 1978 Label: A&M Records production: album 1978 Cristina "Disco Clone" Released: 1978 Label: ZE Records production 1978 Marie et les Garçons "Attitudes"/"Re-Bop" Released: 1978 Label: Spy Records production, marimba: both sides 1978 Brian Eno Music for Films Released: October 1978 Label: E.G. Records viola: "Patrolling Wire Borders" 1978 Julie Covington Julie Covington Released: 1978 Label: Virgin Records piano, clavinet: various 1978 David Kubinec Some Things Never Change Released: 1978 Label: A&M Records keyboards, production: album 1978 Harry Toledo & The Rockets Busted Chevrolet Released: 1978 Label: Spy Records production: EP 1978 Menace "I Need Nothing"/"Electrocutioner" Released: 1978 Label: Illegal Records production: both sides 1979 Ian Hunter You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic Released: March 1979 Label: Chrysalis Records piano, keyboards, harp: "Bastard" 1979 Model Citizens Model Citizens Released: 1979 Label: Spy Records production: EP 1979 The Necessaries "You Can Borrow My Car"/"Runaway Child" Released: 1979 Label: Spy Records production: both sides 1980 Snatch Shopping for Clothes Released: April 1980 Label: Fetish production: EP 1980 Modern Guy Une nouvelle vie Released: 1980 Label: Dorian production, cembalo, organ, percussion: album 1983 Made for TV "So Afraid of the Russians"/"Unknown Soldier" Released: 1983 Label: Conflict Records production, baritone guitar, synthesizer: both sides 1985 Nico Camera Obscura Released: 1985 Label: Beggars Banquet Records production, vocals: album 1986 Lio Pop Model Released: 1986 Label: Polydor Records production: various 1987 Element of Crime Try to Be Mensch Released: March 1987 Label: Polydor Records production, keyboards: album 1987 Happy Mondays Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile Released: April 1987 Label: Factory Records production: album 1988 Art Bergmann Crawl with Me Released: 1988 Label: Duke Street Records production: album 1989 Big Vern Lullabies for Lager Louts Released: December 1989 Label: Duke Street Records production, keyboards: album 1990 Los Ronaldos Sabor Salado Released: June 1990 Label: EMI Records production: album 1990 The Replacements All Shook Down Released: September 1990 Label: Sire Records viola: "Sadly Beautiful" 1991 Maureen Tucker I Spent a Week There the Other Night Released: 1991 Label: New Rose Records viola, synthesizer: various 1991 Sister Double Happiness Heart and Mind Released: 1991 Label: radar blips: unknown 1991 Louise Féron Louise Féron Released: 1991 Label: Virgin Records production, piano: album 1991 Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses Released: 1991 Label: Phonogram piano: "Nana" 1992 Hector Zazou Sahara Blue Released: 1992 Label: Made to Measure vocals: "Hunger" 1994 Vince Bell Phoenix Released: July 1994 Label: Sire Records piano: unknown 1994 Yohji Yamamoto Your Pain Shall Be a Music Released: 1994 Label: vocals: "John Cale" 1994 Hector Zazou Chansons des mers froides Released: 1994 Label: Columbia Records vocals: "The Long Voyage" 1995 Siouxsie and the Banshees The Rapture Released: January 1995 Label: Polydor Records production: album 1995 Ivan Kral Nostalgia Released: 1995 Label: BMG Ariola piano: "Perfect Moon" 1996 Marc Almond Fantastic Star Released: February 1996 Label: Mercury Records, Some Bizzare Records piano: "Love to Die For" 1996 Goya Dress Rooms Released: April 1996 Label: Nude Records production, piano, mixing: album 1996 Patti Smith Gone Again Released: June 1996 Label: Arista Records organ: "Beneath the Southern Cross" 1996 Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses In Paradisu Released: 1996 Label: Mercury Records production and arrangements: various 1996 Maids of Gravity The First Second Released: September 1996 Label: Vernon Yard Recordings production: album 1997 Garageland "Feel Alright" Released: July 1997 Label: Flying Nun Records piano 1998 The Jesus Lizard The Jesus Lizard