The Velvet Forum

From Rolling Stone:

Reed and John Cale, the Velvet's former bassist/organist/violist, helped curate the White Light/White Heat 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition. Remastered versions of the original record in both mono and stereo will appear on the set, as well as a slew of bonus material, including alternate versions of tracks like "Hey Mr. Rain," new mixes of "Beginning to See the Light" and "Guess I'm Falling in Love," and previously unreleased vocal and instrumental versions of "The Gift." Tracks cut during Cale's last studio session with the Velvet Underground will also appear.

In addition, fans will be treated to a never-before-heard live set recorded at the Gymnasium in New York on April 30th, 1967; the setlist from that show includes favorites like "I'm Waiting for the Man," "Sister Ray" and "Run Run Run." Rolling Stone's own David Fricke contributed new liner notes to the White Light/White Heat reissue.

alfredovu wrote:Jimjim

News that only Side 1 of the album was a true mono mix and Side 2 is not is new for me. Can you pls elaborate for me?

I expect the Singles to be same as the Vinly re-issues by Sundazed (the single mix for "I Heard Her call My Name" is different than in the mono/stereo albums)

We all know that there should be a different "Gymnasium tape" than the one circulating. Cale used it when braodcasting "Guess" for the fisrt time in the 70´s... that´s all I know. It sounds more like a hand mike recording not a soundboard, so probbaly this is the reason this was not used. I doubt this tape is with Universal, but this is juts my opnion.

Thanks. Got to be honest, I can't recall where I heard that only Side 1 was 'true' mono...perhaps here? Anyone recall the original conversation that let to this conclusion? It was defintely someone with some insider knowledge or audio techiness as I thought that it was always a folddown..

Bugger, I've been put on the spot by an uber-VUhead!!! Aaaaarrrgggh

EDIT: Ah-ha. Found it....

http://akson.sgh.waw.pl/~kg23187%20/php ... ?f=1&t=403

arzep wrote:Nice responses. Yeah I have done wav analysis, between mono and stereo. I am not entirely sure what your question is. . .The mono version of WL/WH is a WAY different mix, when compared to the stereo. Of course, it takes a careful ear to hear any difference in any mix of anygiven song, but these are pretty obvious. Side-A the title track for instiance the backing vocals are way louder the piano and cymbals are buried, and guitar and bass more prominant. Here She comes Now is more rythmic, and Lady Godiva is more balanced, well the vocal levels of Lou & John are. The Gift sounds more echoey, but I like th insrt better than the vocal version anyways. I could go on and on with details. Side-B: I have done wav analysis and it appears to just be folded stereo. This is what I thought because there aren't any real audible differences anyway.
Peace,
AR

Phew...wasn't going mad....

(BTW, the search function here sucks....it's amazing that I had to go via Google to find this quote!! )

Oh by the way Alfredovu....any chance that some (or all!) of Music Factory interview could be used in the set? Or at the very least a promo item for it?

(Have I regained my hardcoreness back with that? )

Which mono mix is being used? I've got UK and US versions, apparently.

mboy007 wrote:Which mono mix is being used? I've got UK and US versions, apparently.

I have them, too (vinyl rips). I think that's just UK and US pressings of the mono. They were unlikely to make a different mix just for the UK.

lurid wrote:didn't someone suggest a while back that maybe that "original" version of Guess (as broadcast by Cale in June 79) was actually a hand mic recording of the VU appearance on "Upbeat"?

Tony Conrad has said that he (audio) taped that TV appearance and it would make sense that he then gave a copy to Cale, who maybe then misdated it etc etc

That was me. Pure speculation on circumstantial evidence. Looking forward to this set either way.

Great news. Damn shame however that there isn't another Gymanisum show included other than that of the bootleg we've already got. And around the time the Quine Bootleg Series was released I remember reading that there existed more live recordings of Cale-era VU shows slated for release if Volume One sold well (guess it didnt)...though maybe it was the Gymanisum '67 show being referred to. (I find it impossible to believe however that VU played live consistnetly for almost a year and a half along the east, west, and mid coast only to have that Jaime fellow in Cleveland be the only person who recorded them play...surely some of the club owners where they played would have been running tapes of the shows, as we have numerous instances of that less than a year later. Like the Boston Tea Party for example, where VU played almost every month starting in '68). I want to see some of those start to popping up and getting official release. Though the deluxe WL/WH does sound great.

jimjim wrote:Oh by the way Alfredovu....any chance that some (or all!) of Music Factory interview could be used in the set? Or at the very least a promo item for it?

(Have I regained my hardcoreness back with that? )

Hi Jim

Neever meant to put you on the spot my friend, I was just curious! Technical explanation given is far away from my knowledge. I have never been really into that questions out from different versions, and very obvious mix alterations! i am getting old and too many loud music does not contribute to keep era in a good shape. Anyway ... mono mix of Wl/Wh was never a big different to my ears to the Stereo and IMO the Stereo MFSL is the best one availbale so far. Hope the new 45th Anniv will be even better for our pure enjoy of the best rockandroll album ever!

Music Factory, no it is not. But you can find a good rendition in the Bonus CD in my Inevitable Catalogue

By the way. I am not an "uber-VUhead" whatever the hell means that thing!

nick257 wrote: including alternate versions of tracks like "Hey Mr. Rain," new mixes of "Beginning to See the Light" and "Guess I'm Falling in Love," and previously unreleased vocal and instrumental versions of "The Gift." Tracks cut during Cale's last studio session with the Velvet Underground will also appear.

I don't know where the story originated (maybe Rolling Stone itself) but these stories that are appearing on the web sound a little confused or sloppy. New mixes of "Beginning to See the Light" and "Guess I'm Falling in Love". We know that "Beginning to See the Light" is not a new mix but a different recording. New mix of "Guess I'm Falling in Love"? Do they mean that? I've also see references to alternative versions or new mixes of "Mr. Rain". Then they all refer to tracks cut during Cale's last studio session, implying more than one track. Sounds likes the piece is not based on any official press release but something less formal like a conversion.

They also talk about Reed and Cale curating the boxset. Sigh.

Guess I´m falling In Love, the two Mr. Rains and Beginning have been newly remixed this summer. Interesting to note that Guess recording date is Sept 5th and not Dec 5th as informed before, so actually an outtake of the Wl/Wh recording sessions.