Lou Reed: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015

Official Site: http://www.loureed.com/inmemoriam/

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/lou-reed/bio/

After the Velvet Underground disbanded, Lou Reed went on a solo career that lasted decades. His albums Transformer, Berlin, and New York are all classics.

Walk on the Wild Side (1972): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KaWSOlASWc

Satellite of Love (1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2EgYq_NCY

Vicious (1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIdc0NGumVc

Sally Can't Dance (1974): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHz5E7bCWY

Street Hassle (1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2532gJcCsA

No Money Down (1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiyX70ZqsVQ

Dirty Blvd (1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z3TPwOT31g

Sword of Damocles (1992): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWm_RzQuWhk

Perfect Day (1997): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEC4TZsy-Y

Tranquilize w/The Killers (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVNGY1pInfI

The View w/Metallica (2011):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJlU_9Vyvqs

The Velvet Underground: Sweet Jane (1970)

"Sweet Jane" has Velvet Underground versions with minor differences. The first came in 1970 and one with a bridge, which covered the original lyrics originally scrapped in 1969. The song is considered one of the all-time great works in rock history. The Cowboy Junkies recorded the most famous cover while Lou Reed joined Metallica to perform the song at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary show.


Velvet Underground:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkumhBVPGdg




Cowboy Junkies:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4XVJj4jER4




Lou Reed w/Metallica:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JucJAuDKqKw

The Velvet Underground: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1996

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-velvet-underground/bio/

Lou Reed played in a few garage bands. He met John Cale and they eventually formed the group. The band’s subject material covered drugs, transsexuals, and other taboo topics.

1965: Andy Warhol became their manager

Sunday Morning (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cWzxJvgWc8

1967: The Velvet Undergound & Nico is released

Heroin (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJNMnBhf-Ds

I’m Waiting for the Man (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOmZimH00oo

1968: White Light/White Heat

Here She Comes Now (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZY24VUpsG0

White Light/White Heat (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ckXALWn1M

1969: John Cale is "eased" out of the band.

Sweet Jane (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiBvnbntiW8

1970: Reed quit. The band continued for awhile, but was never the same.

The band has reunited several times through the years.

The Cult: Edie (Ciao Baby) (1989)

Edie is Edie Sedgwick of Andy Warhol fame. She starred in a number of Warhol shorts and became an "It girl." She became addicted to drugs and alcohol and OD'd in 1971. The Cult's Ian Astbury visited New York in the 80s and became interested in Warhol and his gang.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpkVt9XTdtg

Weezer: Undone-The Sweater Song (1994)

Rivers Cuomo admits "Undone" is supposed to be a sad song, but everyone thinks it's funny. Originally, he wanted to write a song that sounds like the Velvet Underground, but instead inadvertently lifted from Metallica's "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHQqqM5sr7g

910. I'm Waiting for the Man by the Velvet Underground (1967)

"I'm waiting for my man, $26 in my hand." During an age of peace, love, and politics, the Velvet Underground went in a different direction. Many of their songs involved the dirty side of drug use. In this piece, the main character is going downtown to score some heroin. There is even a minor confrontation with a black character denoting the schism between suburban whites and urban blacks. There is nothing glamorous or exciting about the drug culture here. Instead, this is an honest look at a junkie coming to get his fix for the day.


Lou Reed and John Cale live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rhiqI6PlTo

Studio version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hugY9CwhfzE

Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 Songs #151-175

151. Eight Miles High: The Byrds- Can birds go eight miles high? Actually, this is a drug song

152. Earth Angel: The Penguins- Actually recorded in a garage; For me, defines the 50s.

153. Foxey Lady: The Jimi Hendrix Experience- I think of Wayne’s World whenever I hear this

154. A Hard Day’s Night: The Beatles- The title came from a Ringoism. A Ringoism is a malapropism.

155. Rave On: Buddy Holly- Under 2 minutes long, later covered by Mellencamp

156. Proud Mary: CCR- Rollin! Rollin! Rollin down the river…

157. The Sound of Silence: Simon and Garfunkel- Getting harder to rank some of these…

158. I Only Have Eyes for You: The Flamingos- Another defining song from the 50s.

159. Rock Around the Clock: Bill Haley and the Comets- Probably should be higher. First Rock song people rioted to.

160. Moment of Surrender: U2- Some of Bono’s greatest vocals

161. I’m Waiting for the Man: The Velvet Underground- Waiting for the drug dealer. Quite edgy even today.

162. Bring the Noise: Public Enemy- This is better with Anthrax

163. Folsom Prison Blues: Johnny Cash- Greatest line ever: I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

164. I Can’t Stop Loving You: Ray Charles- Completely forgot about this song.

165. Nothing Compares 2 U: Sinead O’Connor- When she pitched this to record execs, they cried. She thought she was doomed, but they loved the song.

166. Bohemian Rhapsody: Queen- Oh mama mia let me go! Another one that reminds me of Wayne's World.

167. Fast Car: Tracy Chapman- Old school folk song hits it big in 1988.

168. Let’s Get it On: Marvin Gaye- I detect a theme with some of Gaye’s stuff…

169. Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone: The Temptations- The Temps go to funky town.

170. Losing My Religion: R.E.M.- A mandolin as a lead instrument? When folk goes pop. Right song at the right time.

171. Both Sides Now: Joni Mitchell- I have absolutely no feelings toward this song…that probably says all there is to say.

172. 99 Problems: Jay Z- Is anyone more overrated than this guy?

173. Dream On: Aerosmith- ESPN did a video showing clips of the 20th century to this song. It brought several grown men to tears.

174. Dancing Queen: Abba- Knew this would be here somewhere.

175. God Save the Queen: The Sex Pistols- Nihilism at its best. Banned in Britain for “bad taste.”

RS Mag's Top 500 Songs #341-350

341. Spirit in the Sky: Norman Greenbaum- One of the most bizarre songs ever…

342. Sweet Jane: The Velvet Underground- A rock gospel song is back to back with the Velvet Underground? Now that is funny.

343. Wild Horses: The Rolling Stones- I saw Bob Saget make fun of this song once. He is not funny.

344. Beat It: Michael Jackson- Eddie Van Halen on guitar. The one great thing about eighties music is its ability to crossover. Nowadays, it’s extremely compartmentalized and segregated.

345. Beautiful Day: U2- The world is falling apart, but it’s a beautiful day. Dark lyrics about someone whose life is falling apart. Despite this, they are happy.

346. Walk This Way: Aerosmith- Great riff, great lyrics, great song.

347. Maybe I’m Amazed: Paul McCartney- Recorded as the Beatles broke up, Paul was holding back.

348. You Keep Me Hangin’ On: The Supremes- Morse Code in a song?

349. Baba O’Riley: The Who- This is about 300 spots too low.

350. The Harder They Come: Jimmy Cliff- In between puffs of ganja, reggae artists sang happy songs of oppression and revolution.