As a fan, I rate this higher than your average listener probably would. For me it's essential although VU, their other compilation of non-album tracks, is much more so. I can understand why someone might accuse the Velvet's instrumentation of being rudimentary or why they might dislike Lou Reed's occasionally (and gleefully) overextended voice. But the Velvet Underground is loved for being raw, unflinchingly real, positively fearless and sometimes even darkly humorous. Lou Reed wrote about whatever he wanted including the drug life and other subjects that guaranteed alienation from the mainstream of the 60s. Today, the world has finally caught up with them and they've even been inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame.
"We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together" - a perfect opener, this one is very upbeat and straight to the point. Spirited strumming, hand claps and "Na, na, nas" all add to the fun. *****
"I'm Gonna Move Right In" - a laid-back and groovy shuffle, this instrumental track showcases Sterling Morrison's ample improvisational skills. Someone pointed out to my initial surprise that VU were occasionally similar to their perceived musical opposites The Grateful Dead. I dare say it's true, the main justification for that comparison being Mr. Morrison's playing. *****
"Hey Mr. Rain (version 1)" - If New York City art-punks were prone to rain dancing during times of draught, this is what they might play: a strange loping tune with trippy viola from original Velvet John Cale. ***1/2
"Ride Into The Sun" - This track is simplicity itself and exquisitely pretty. Quite different from the song it would later become with vocals by Doug Yule who became Cale's replacement. The version with the Yule vocal appears on the PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE box set and is very good as well. At this stage, "Ride" is an instrumental sounding a bit like a variation of the classic "Sweet Jane" which shares some of the same chords. ****1/2
"Coney Island Steeple Chase" - a decent rocker, but far from their best. I have a strange suspicion that majorly altered states of some kind were involved in this recording due to the general lazy feeling about it. But for all I know "altered states" were an integral part of all their records . . . ***
"Guess I'm Falling In Love" - one of their hardest rockers. Too bad they never laid down the original vocals with this recording, but it's still great. ****1/2
"Hey Mr. Rain (version 2)" - similar to version one but better due to a quicker pace, more insistent vocals, additional guitar flourishes and a more intense stab at viola from Cale. ****
"Ferryboat Bill" - A thumping little keyboard driven oddity that churns along until it's repeatedly interrupted by a couple bars of doo-wop style "do-n-do-dos." As a curiosity I like it, but can't objectively rate it too high. **1/2
"Rock n Roll" - a worthy alternate version from the one that appeared on LOADED featuring a crystalline guitar despite the rather poor recording quality found on this song as well as most others on ANOTHER VIEW -- but the Velvets were avid experimenters and that often extended to the recording process itself. You gotta accept the occasional shortcomings in their quest for sonic genius which they accomplished more often than not. ****1/2
An aside: as an obsessive Velvethead, I like to mull over the "Great Lost Velvet Album" that might have been. The band has a great wealth of non-album tracks to choose from. I think my version of the ultimate "Lost Album" could have/would have been as good as any official album they released! Just for the fun of it, here it is:
Love's Labour's Lost VU
Side 1
We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together
Guess I'm Falling In Love (instrumental version)
I Can't Stand It (PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE remaster)
Lisa Says (PSAS remaster)
Sad Song
Foggy Notion (PSAS remaster)
Ride Into The Sun (PSAS version)
Side 2
One Of These Days (PSAS remaster)
Hey Mr. Rain (version 2)
Walk It, Talk It
She's My Best Friend
Satellite Of Love (PSAS version)
Stephanie Says (PSAS remaster)
Ocean (PSAS version)
I Love You
Even the leftover cuts (from the material I'm considering) would provide a rewarding and fun collection of B-tracks and alternate takes that would tickle any Velvethead pink:
Rock n Roll -> Ride Into The Sun
Side 1
Rock n Roll (ANOTHER VIEW version)
Hey Mr. Rain (version 1 - PSAS remaster)
I'm Gonna Move Right In
Temptation Inside Your Heart (PSAS remaster)
I'm Sticking With You (PSAS remaster)
Side 2
Ocean (VU version)
Oh Gin
Coney Island Steeple Chase
Ferryboat Bill
Andy's Chest (VU version)
Ride Into The Sun (ANOTHER VIEW version)
Essential listening - from a fan's perspective at least
Another View is Good, but Only For Fans!
9 tracks
