A Different Side of The Velvet Underground

Not to be confused with “The Velvet Underground ft. Nico”, “The Velvet Underground”, was the band’s third studio album and the first post John Cale. Released by MGM Records in 1969, the album ignited a switch in the band, with Lou Reed taking on more of a producer role as he was heavily involved in the mixing process. After Reed “thought it would be a terrible mistake” to "make another ‘White Light/White Heat’” type album, “The Velvet Underground” was born.

A significant departure from the abrasive nature of their previous work, “The Velvet Underground” showed a new restraint and subtlety from the band. The album opens with ‘Candy Says', about transgender actress Candy Darling, a member of Andy Warhol's Factory. The actress reappears in Reed’s 1972 hit ‘Walk On the Wild Side’. The lyrics of 'Candy Says' explore gender dysphoria although Lou Reed said the song was also "about something more profound and universal, a universal feeling I think all of us have at some point. We look in the mirror and we don't like what we see...I don't know a person alive who doesn't feel that way." He also insisted Doug Yule, John Cale’s replacement, take on lead vocals. Yule’s quiet and pure vocals mixed with the minimal instrumentation is a perfect example of the band toning it down. Biographer Richie Unterberger commented "[h]aving made perhaps the loudest album of all time, it's almost as if they've now decided to make the world's quietest LP." And when I showed 'Candy Says' to my own father he exclaimed “I didn’t know the Velvet Underground could be that soft”. In an interview with rock journalist Lester Bangs Reed claimed 'Candy Says', to be "probably the best song I've written". I concur. It’s one of my personal favorites.

Another favorite of mine is 'Pale Blues Eyes'. The first time I heard this song was from a cover by actress and singer Liz Gillies. She executes the minimalistic nature of the original but still makes it her own. It's quite interesting to me to listen to the differences between her softer vocals versus Reed’s traditional rougher and unrefined sound. Link to the Gillies version: https://soundcloud.com/user-8821444/pale-blue-eyes

“The Velvet Underground” failed to chart, suffering from a lack of promotion by the band's record label. However, contemporary reviews have praised the album. Along with the group's first three albums, “The Velvet Underground” received a reissue in 1985. These reissues were unexpectedly successful and led to further re-releases. The album did not make the Billboard 200 until the reissue in 1985. After that, “The Velvet Underground” went on to make the “Best Album” lists of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and many more publications.

Favorite song on the album: A tie between Pale Blue Eyes and Candy Says