Peel Slowly and See

by

The Velvet Underground

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The Velvet Underground is probably one of the most written about bands of all-time. Their influence and genius is well-known so I won't bore the reader with tired truisms about the band. Instead, this review will be very meat-and-potatoes, focusing on the content, and pros and cons of this box set.

"Peel Slowly and See" (1995) is a five disc box set and includes all four Lou Reed era albums that were commercially released while the Velvet Underground was an active band; "The Velvet Underground and Nico," (1967) "White Light/White Heat" (1968) "The Velvet Underground" (1969) and "Loaded" (1970). While the first disc is a collection of demos, disc 2-5 each contain a complete album, with a lot of bonus material. The bonus material includes live cuts, demos, and finished studio tracks that were recorded between the third album "The Velvet Underground" and the fourth and final Lou Reed era album "Loaded," (this material can be found on the "lost" Velvet Underground album "VU" (1985) and its follow-up "Another VU" (1986).

If you are a fan of the Velvet Underground "Peel Slowly and See" is highly recommended. While it would be cheaper to just pick up the four studio albums individually, it is better to spend a little more money on this set and get a ton on bonus songs ($60.00 as opposed to $40.00). The demos are great, as you get an inside look at history being created and it's cool to hear songs as works-in-progress. The live songs sound great and should no doubt please fans of the band. The bonus material, selections from "VU" and "Another VU" stand as some of the band's best recordings and are generally just as good as what's on the first four albums.

While the value of the material on this set is indisputable, the way the box-set is compiled is flawed. Except for "Loaded," each disc does not start with the studio album, which is a bit annoying, but not really a big deal as the tracks of the albums are in order and you can just start the CD where the album begins. The biggest flaw, however, is that this set only contains selections from "VU" and "Another VU." It would have been far more desirable if both albums were included in their entity, so the consumer would have the complete works of the Reed-era available in one place.

It also would have been great if the Velvet Underground's fifth, post-Reed-Morrison-Tucker; now out-of-print album "Squeeze" (1973) had been included. While "Squeeze" has a reputation of being utterly awful, it is still part of the band's history and should be available. I have recently acquired a bootleg CD of "Squeeze" and it's nowhere near as bad as people say it is. While it is nowhere near as brilliant as the band's other work, (it's basically a Doug Yule solo album, Deep Purple's Ian Paice plays drums) it's still pretty cool in its own right and should be available for fans to hear.

One criticism of this set that I don't agree with is that it contains a "closet mix" of the band's third self-titled album, which sounds a bit stuffy compared to the original release. This isn't really a problem though, as the non-"closet mix" is still in-print and readily available. Both versions are worth owning.

Despite a few flaws in the way this set in set-up, it's still most definitely worth owning, as it contains all four albums and a vast array of bonus material.

Here is what I recommend you do:

Buy "Peel Slowly and See," along with "VU," "Another VU" and the non-"closet-mix" of "The Velvet Underground" in order to get a complete collection.

No - there's nothing wrong with the Velvet Underground - one of my absolute favorite groups of all time. But this box set is a big disappointment.

First of all - not much live stuff - and what's included is sketchy and poor quality. There's also nothing included from the album, "Live at Max's Kansas City."

Secondly, the album includes the "closet mix" version of the Velvet Underground's self-titled 3rd album - not the commercially released version you are familiar with. Now let me tell you, Lou Reed may be one of the great songwriters of the 20th century, but he's no producer - its no surprise why the third lp was not released as the closet mix - it does NOT do the album justice. So, if you're buying this boxset in part, to get the 3rd album on disc, you will be disappointed.

Thirdly, why all the missing music?!? This box set as a comprehensive, representative collection of the VU's music is an utter failure. Great songs from other Velvet Underground compilations - "VU," "Another View," etc., - are missing. The first cd - an entire disc of demos of all the songs that are on disc two - is overkill. I've got REAL old VU stuff on vinyl - eg. "Ostrich Song," "Cycle Annie," etc., that is not included either - In other words, the music from the VU's early, formative years is not even represented.

If you're trying to replace all your old vinyl and cassettes of the Velvet Underground, with compact disc - as I was - this box set is NOT for you. Do yourself a favor and avoid the frustration by spending about the same amount of money and instead buying the albums "VU and Nico," "White Light/White Heat," "Velvet Underground," and "Loaded," - then get the two later-released compilations, "Another View," and "VU." NOW you've got all the essential music you need. If you're STILL not satsfied, then get the box set.