1967 Gymnasium tapes

[p q leer]

I'd go along with the above.I got my (black) vinyl copy of Gymnasium this morning, can't say the pressing quality is the best I've ever seen and mine is scratched like someone tried to pick a mark off with thier fingernail, but no matter it's an object of great joy to behold and a fine example of the bootlegger's art. I'm looking out for the triple cd version mentioned elsewhere and bugger the expense. .

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[Doctor Bob]

I'm looking out for the triple cd version mentioned elsewhere and bugger the expense. .

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There's a 3 CD version???

I must have missed that post...

[iggy]

I'm looking out for the triple cd version mentioned elsewhere and bugger the expense. .

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There's a 3 CD version???

I must have missed that post...

See the thread called "Velvet's Genuine Bootleg Series" from about a month ago.

[Doctor Bob]

See the thread called "Velvet's Genuine Bootleg Series" from about a month ago.

Thanks.

[p q leer]

Just noticed Sterling's werewolf forearm on the cover photo. Must have been a bad moon rising. . . . }<{("<~

[schnittstelle]

Although I ordered one almost as soon as they appeared on ebay, it never turned up at all. Correspondence from the seller was minimal to say the least and they insist that it was sent.

I gave up in the end and got a copy from Sister Ray Records on black vinyl. I'm sure there are others in the same position. It seems buying stuff from this guy is a lottery.

Exact the same thing happened to me. Once I got a reply saying to wait for some more days and my next messages weren't answered at all. Good that some of you had better luck and liberated the vynil rip.

[cc]

I agree that the cutting bluesy lines are probably Sterling and the noisy freak-outs are Lou. I hear Sterling playing the dominant single-note repeating figure and Lou playing the rumbling, underlying, driving rhythm.
I think in general on the live stuff that Lou plays pretty muddy, bassy, rhythm guitar, and Sterling plays the cleaner riffs, or lead lines or fancy flourishes, or whatever you call them. Remember, Lou has to handle the vocals, and singing and playing at the same time is difficult, so it would make sense for him to play more background, less distinct, fuzzy, bassy rhythm most of the time and only switch the pick-ups to a more trebly, louder tone for the instrumental sections or the occasional solo. I suspect (with no real evidence to back this up) that Lou came up with the basic rhythm and that Sterling worked out the single note leads and distinctive little riffs that stand out more in the mix. I think the freak-out stuff is almost always Mr. Reed, and that he is the one who leads the band through those trademark tempo changes, like Heroin, Oh Sweet Nuthin', etc. I've seen him lead the band through "shifting gears" runs like those in concert several times, so I think he's the instigator in the Velvets shifting gears also. That muddy-yet-distinct, rich, bassy tone Lou got with the Velvets is pretty tricky to try and duplicate, as is the feedback and distorted tones he gets for his leads, solos and flourishes. But that is true of many great distinctive guitarists. They know how to get a certain "sound" even with different guitars. Jerry Garcia generally had a distinctive sound; John Lennon frequently went for a biting, choppy, trebly, almost distorted rhythm guitar, and Lou went for his own style in the same way. But I do think his sound and style with the Velvets stems from needing to play and sing at the same time, and he uses that tone to facilitate that. A little distortion and fuzziness covers up a multitude of sins if your technique or precision is shaky. Guys who can really sing well, and play complex precise parts really well at the same time, LIVE, are a rare commodity.
So if its fuzzy, it's Lou; if its clean and some sort of single note riff, its Sterling is my opinion.

just wanted to bump this discussion--anyone have further theories? bedaz & I agree on the division of guitar sounds, but is our theory too simple? I wonder, because I'm surprised by how amped up Sterling is, even for his "normal" sound, in the live setting, so it's no longer a sure thing for me that he wouldn't do a fuzz-noise freak-out as well.

how about for example on the studio cut of "I Can't Stand It"? The main guitar has the muddy, bassy sound bedaz mentions as Lou Reed's rhythm set-up. So then who rips off that solo? It could be Lou after stepping on a pedal, but could he ever play that precisely... but isn't that part in the textbook Lou Reed style?

relatedly, did the VU ever do overdubs of anything besides vocals?

maybe this all belongs on a separate thread...

[bobbldr]

did the VU ever do overdubs of anything besides vocals?

maybe this all belongs on a separate thread...

This probably does belong in a separate thread. As for the solo on I Can't Stand It, that is absolutely Sterling. It was overdubbed as you can hear both he and Lou (left channel) playing rhythm throughout. Lou's guitar is always very easy for me to hear, he still plays in the same basic style and his solos are just not quite "right" which is why I love his playing. Sterling has a much more refined style but could rip out some pretty freaked out solos himself. Listen to the Hilltop show.

[PQ Leer]

Just had a thought ; my copy of Gym tapes cost . . . . .$26. . . well the equivalent in sterling, tho' I paid by credit card so technically I didn't actually have it in my hand. . . .I never said it was an interesting thought. . .


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[bobbldr]

Just had a thought ; my copy of Gym tapes cost . . . . .$26. . . well the equivalent in sterling, tho' I paid by credit card so technically I didn't actually have it in my hand. . . .I never said it was an interesting thought. . .

HUH?!?