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Despite a few flaws, an essential purchaseThe 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 …
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.
Written by Daniel Maltzman
Don't Buy This Box SetNo - 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 …
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.
Written by an unknown author
Track listing Edit
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CD 1 : Peel Back Slowly & See
format: number: title: number name artist hh:mm:ss 1Venus in Furs [#][Demo Version]?:??2Prominent Men [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??3Heroin [#][Demo Version]?:??4I'm Waiting for the Man [#][Demo Version]?:??5Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Barris, Harry?:??6All Tomorrow's Parties [#][Demo Version]?:?? -
unknown format 2 : Peel Back Slowly & See
format: number: title: number name artist hh:mm:ss 1All Tomorrow's Parties [Single Version]?:??2Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??3I'm Waiting for the Man?:??4Femme Fatale?:??5Venus in Furs?:??6Run Run Run?:??7All Tomorrow's Parties?:??8Heroin?:??9There She Goes Again?:??10I'll Be Your Mirror?:??11The Black Angel's Death Song - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??12European Son - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??13Melody Laughter [Live][#] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??14It Was a Pleasure Then - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??15Chelsea Girls - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:?? -
unknown format 3 : Peel Back Slowly & See
format: number: title: number name artist hh:mm:ss 1There Is No Reason [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??2Sheltered Life [#][Demo Version]?:??3It's All Right (The Way That You Live) [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??4I'm Not Too Sorry (Now That You're Gone) [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??5Here She Comes Now [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??6Guess I'm Falling in Love [Live][#] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??7Booker T. [Live][#] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??8White Light/White Heat?:??9The Gift - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??10Lady Godiva's Operation?:??11Here She Comes Now - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??12I Heard Her Call My Name?:??13Sister Ray - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??14Stephanie Says?:??15Temptation Inside Your Heart?:??16Hey Mr. Rain [Version 1] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:?? -
unknown format 4 : Peel Back Slowly & See
format: number: title: number name artist hh:mm:ss 1What Goes On [Live][#] - The Velvet Underground, Lennon, John?:??2Candy Says [Alternate Closet Mix]?:??3What Goes On [Alternate Closet Mix] - The Velvet Underground, Lennon, John?:??4Some Kinda Love [Alternate Closet Mix]?:??5Pale Blue Eyes [Alternate Closet Mix]?:??6Jesus [Alternate Closet Mix] - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??7Beginning to See the Light [Alternate Closet Mix]?:??8I'm Set Free [Alternate Closet Mix] - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??9That's the Story of My Life [Alternate Closet Mix] - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??10The Murder Mystery [Alternate Closet Mix]?:??11After Hours [Alternate Closet Mix]?:??12Foggy Notion - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??13I Can't Stand It?:??14I'm Sticking With You?:??15One of These Days?:??16Lisa Says?:??17It's Just Too Much [Live][#]?:??18Countess from Hong Kong [#][Demo Version] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:?? -
unknown format 5 : Peel Back Slowly & See
format: number: title: number name artist hh:mm:ss 1Who Loves the Sun - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??2Sweet Jane [Full Length Version][#]?:??3Rock & Roll?:??4Cool It Down - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??5New Age [Full Length Version][#]?:??6Head Held High - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??7Lonesome Cowboy Bill - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??8I Found a Reason - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??9Train Round the Bend - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??10Oh! Sweet Nuthin' - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling?:??11Satellite of Love [#]?:??12Walk and Talk It [#]?:??13Oh Gin [#]?:??14Sad Song [#]?:??15Ocean [#]?:??16Ride into the Sun [#] - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John?:??17Some Kinda Love [Live][#]?:??18I'll Be Your Mirror [Live]?:??19I Love You [#]?:??
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