Lou Reed is the debut solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in May 1972 by RCA Records, two years after he left the Velvet Underground. It was produced by Richard Robinson and Reed and features London session musicians as Reed's backing band, two of whom, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe, were from the British progressive rock band Yes. Wakeman recalled that during the recording sessions, "the lights had to be out so nobody could see." The album was recorded at Morgan Studios in London, between December 1971 and January 1972.

With increasing interest in the Velvet Underground, Reed's debut album was highly anticipated, but was a commercial and critical disappointment, reaching only No. 189 on the Billboard 200. It comprises eight new recordings of then-unreleased Velvet Underground songs, and two new songs, "Going Down" and "Berlin" (the latter was re-recorded by Reed as the title track for his 1973 album Berlin).

In 1976, when asked what he thought of the album in retrospect, Reed stated, "It's got some of the best songs I ever wrote, but the production sucks."

Critical reception

The Commercial Appeal wrote that the album "contains some of the frenzy for which his former band was noted, but most of the music is toned down into a more standard rock mold." The Buffalo News determined that Reed's "blunt, almost over-simplified lyrics and the pre-Clapton guitar sound melt into a peculiarly satisfying experience."

The Rolling Stone Album Guide noted the "genteel art-rock treatment" of the songs written during Reed's Velvet Underground years.

Track listing

Cross-reference Eight tracks from Lou Reed were, at one point, originally performed by the Velvet Underground. These recordings have been released on various compilations and live albums, which have been catalogued below. Title Original Velvet Underground release Notes "I Can't Stand It" 1969: The Velvet Underground Live, VU Additional verse on Lou Reed version. "Walk and Talk It" Peel Slowly and See, Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition) Different lyrics and added musical sections on Lou Reed version. The Velvet Underground version is titled "Walk and Talk". "Lisa Says" 1969, VU Extended version with different lyrics on Lou Reed version. "I Love You" Peel Slowly and See, Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition) --- "Wild Child" --- No Velvet Underground recording has surfaced yet, but the song is known to have been played live in 1970.Olivier Landemaine. "Live performances and rehearsals: 1970" at The Velvet Underground Web Page: Electricity Comes from Other PlaNETs website link However, the song was performed by Lou Reed and John Cale at the Bataclan 1972 concert in Paris with Nico, and can be heard on the Velvet Underground bootleg Ultra Rare Tracks Vol. 2, which features Lou Reed playing the song with an acoustic guitar into a tape recorder. "Love Makes You Feel" Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition) The Velvet Underground version is titled "Love Makes You Feel Ten Foot Tall". "Ride into the Sun" Another View, What Goes On, Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition), Bootleg Series Volume 1: The Quine Tapes Lou Reed version is similar to the versions found on Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition) and The Quine Tapes. Earlier versions of the song can be found on Another View and What Goes On. "Ocean" 1969, VU, Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition) The version on Lou Reed is closest to the version found on Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition).

Tour On the album's tour, which lasted two legs between June 9 and November 2, 1972, Reed was backed by the Tots. The Tots featured no shared personnel with the album and consisted of Vinny Laporta and Eddie Reynolds on guitar, Bobby Resigno on bass guitar, and Scottie Clark on drums. This backing group would also play on the Transformer tour and perform on the live album American Poet (2001). +DateVenueNotesFirst LegJune 9, 1972Millard Fillmore Room, University of Buffalo, NYJune 10, 1972July 8, 1972Festival Hall, London, EnglandGuest spot with David BowieJuly 14, 1972Scala Cinema, King's Cross, London, EnglandJuly 22, 1972Wimbledon Town Hall, EnglandJuly 27, 1972Polytechnic, Manchester, EnglandJuly 28, 1972Scala Cinema, King's Cross, London, EnglandJuly 29, 1972Friar's Club, Aylesbury, EnglandJuly 30, 1972The Greyhound, Croydon, EnglandSecond LegSeptember 27, 1972Manchester Polytechnic Union, Manchester, EnglandSeptember 29, 1972Edmonton Sundown, London, EnglandSeptember 30, 1972Amsterdam, the NetherlandsOctober 6, 1972St. Andrew's University, ScotlandOctober 7, 1972Glasgow University, Glasgow, ScotlandOctober 13, 1972Cambridge University, Cambridge, EnglandOctober 14, 1972Leicester University, Leicester, EnglandOctober 19, 1972University Stadium, Liverpool, EnglandOctober 20, 1972Essex University, Essex, EnglandOctober 21, 1972Imperial College, London, EnglandOctober 22, 1972HardRock Concert Theatre, Manchester, EnglandOctober 25, 1972Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford, EnglandOctober 26, 1972Alhambra Rock Theatre, Birmingham, EnglandOctober 27, 1972Leeds Polytechnic, Leeds, EnglandOctober 28, 1972Kingston Polytechnic, Kingston, EnglandOctober 29, 1972Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, EnglandOctober 30, 1972Friar's Club, Civic Hall, Dunstable, EnglandNovember 1, 1972Mile End Sundown, London, EnglandNovember 2, 1972Pheasantry Club, London, England

Personnel Credits are adapted from the Lou Reed liner notes.

Musicians Lou Reed – vocals, guitar Caleb Quaye – electric and acoustic guitars, piano Steve Howe – electric guitar Paul Keogh – electric and acoustic guitars Rick Wakeman – piano Les Hurdle – bass guitar Brian Odgers – bass guitar Clem Cattini – percussion Kay Garner – harmony vocals Helene Francois – harmony vocals

Production and artwork Richard Robinson – producer Lou Reed – producer Mike Bobak – engineer Tom Adams – cover art Ronn Campisi – back liner photograph

Charts

Chart (1972) Peakposition US Billboard Top LPs189 References

External links