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The Velvet Underground [Original recording reissued] [Original recording remastered]

~ Velvet Underground
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
Price: £6.08 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Audio CD (20 May 1996)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
  • Label: Polydor Group
  • ASIN: B000002G7G
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 3,562 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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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

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Released in 1969 to an almost total lack of critical acclaim or consumer interest, the Velvet Underground's third album may well be the finest record of the band's career. Without the sonic terrorism of The Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat or the ill-conceived commercial concessions that marred Loaded, the album's songs are free to stand on their own merit. And stand they do: "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light" may be the finest flat-out rockers in the band's catalogue, while "Pale Blue Eyes", "Jesus", and "Candy Says" are some of the most delicately gorgeous songs Lou Reed has ever penned. There's no evidence here of any of the psychedelic effects and hippie sloganeering that marked most late-1960s rock releases, which is probably why the record still holds up today. --Dan Epstein


CD Description

Velvet Underground's self-titled third album seemed like the debut of a new band. John Cale had left (replaced by Doug Yule) and the group became, for all intents and purposes, Lou Reed's back-up band. The songs actually sounded like rock music and John Cale's screeching musicality was reworked into songs that featured Sterling Morrison's most eloquent guitar accompaniment.
Reed's songwriting moved beyond the armed-to-disarm approach of the previous two albums towards a spiritual level of empathy with the human race--a change thatwouldn't go unnoticed. The man who once begged someone to "nullify [his] life" ("Heroin") was now asking "Jesus" to "help me find my proper place", and whooping his way through the equally inspiring "Beginning To See The Light". To this day, every song on VELVET UNDERGROUND sounds like a breakthrough.
In short, VELVET UNDERGROUND showcased the human sideof Lou Reed's songwriting. Unobstructed by walls of sonic noise, Reed's insight and genius was finally allowed to shinethrough.

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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Those pale blue eyes ..., 19 Oct 2003
By Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)   
After the fierce White Light/White Heat, this third album saw the Velvet Underground in a calmer, more contemplative mood and exploring their softer side which first surfaced on songs like Sunday Morning and I’ll Be Your Mirror on the first album.

The exceptions are What Goes On with its shimmering guitars and Beginning To See The Light with its urgent rock riff and almost Stones-like flavour. Some Kinda Love is softer although there is still that unique driving sense of nervouness in the rhythm.

The gem of the album is Pale Blue Eyes, where Reed surpasses himself as a poet in the intimate, evocative images. This song also has one of the Velvets’ most gripping melodies and the delivery is perfect. A gentle ballad with a wistful feel, Pale Blue Eyes must be one of the most beautiful songs of all time.

There are plenty of beautiful ballads like Jesus, I’m Set Free and That’s The Story Of My Life. The Murder Mystery consists of spoken and sung parts over a brooding backing that becomes dissonant toward the end. This classic album concludes with the playful acoustic number Afterhours.

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars blissful, simple, very strange, 3 Jan 2003
I wondered about this record for a very long time. After hearing their remarkable debut and the abrasive, trashy White Light/ White Heat album I was ready for another epic. This record centres more on the acoustic musings of Reed, and creates an almost subliminal atmosphere of Coltranesque smokiness.
The Velvet Underground have a very complete catalogue. It is not difficult to sense just why they are so 'influential'. This is a seminal record.
Beginning with the wonderful 'Candy Says', I found myself trying to remember a more unusual opener. The chord changes on this record are perfection.
The real treat, of course, is the 'Murder Mystery'. There is no other track comparable in the rock canon. Clearly, Reed was in another place when recording this 'third' album. Mixing organ and fluid guitar, a collage of unfathomable lyrics and wonderful drumming; this truly creates the intended atmosphere.
Another seminal track is 'Pale Blue Eyes'. Slow and gorgeous, Reed muses over love. This is their masterpiece, more complete than the debut. Whisper it quietly.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best, 23 Jan 2004
the velvet underground are generally appreciated as one of the most influencial bands around, however it is perhaps their third album that desrves the most plaudits of all.
it contains some of reeds best compositions and arguably there is not 1 bad track on it. the tour de force of "murder mysteries" is a delight as are the more delicate songs like "candy says" and "pale blue eyes".
there is barely any evidence of the agressive and messy noise of white light/white heat, which although is a great album, is not the velvet underground at their best.
this however is. the songs maybe not be complicated and may lack the rock n roll edge of past albums but nevertheless it ranks up their as one of the best of all time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Alternative take?
Of course this is a classic, but has anyone else noticed that the version of Some Kinda Love on this reissue is a completely different take to the LP version? Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. M. W. ARCHER

5.0 out of 5 stars Sincere and Beautiful
The Velvet Underground's self titled third album marked a directional change for the band who had already demonstrated a knack for producing raw and avant-garde material of an... Read more
Published 5 months ago by The Mancunian Candidate

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the all-time great albums
I keep on coming back to some of the tracks on this album, and yes, I did buy it on shiny black vinyl when it came out in the late sixties. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. K. Hubbard

5.0 out of 5 stars Here are some of Lou Reed's finest songs.
This was the Velvet Undergrounds third album and the first without John Cale. After the distortion laced, White Light White Heat, this album showcases solid song writing glued... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2006 by Hog of Steel

4.0 out of 5 stars The Velvets' Best?
I'll stick my neck out here- the Velvets, for all their reputation as terrifying, noisy avant-garde terrorists, are actually at their best when gentle, warm and melodic (eg Sunday... Read more
Published on 20 April 2006 by Steve

5.0 out of 5 stars Velvety
After the unfortunate departure of John Cale, the Velvet Underground had a musical revamp -- their third album, "The Velvet Underground" is smoother and less gritty. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2006 by E. A Solinas

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow.
This the second Velvet's album that I own having decided that i didn't like White Light/White Heat all that much. The other album I own is the Velvet Underground & Nico. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2005 by nickwishkah

5.0 out of 5 stars Grrrrrrrrrrreat
This was the first VU album that I heard and now wish that I had heard theothers first. There is no denying that the first two albums are class butthis one is something else. Read more
Published on 25 April 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Less is definetely more
So, what does a bloke like Lou Reed do at the end of 1968, when his band have just recorded one of the most influential, radical and above all LOUD albums of all time? Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Velvet Underground
This album is perfect. Every song is unforgettable. Pale Blue Eyes and Candy Says are two of the most beautiful songs ever written by Lou Reed, After Hours is Mo Tucker's finest... Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2004 by Ted Maul

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