The Velvet Forum

Hi all

I sometimes listen to the lastfm radio selection for the VU at work, and today I was surprised to hear what seemed to be a version of Heroin that I didn't know. The infuriating part was that I was away from my desk for most of it and only caught the end, and you can't go 'back' on lastfm. but what I heard did sound like a different version and it's also a minute longer than the std VU&N version - am i losing my mind?
The bit is the preview clip isn't very revealing, but the phrasing sounds a bit unfamiliar, and it does say it's 8.15 long - I can confirm this as I listened to the end. The standard 1st version is 7.05 and the Scepter version is 6.16...

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Velvet+Und ... d/_/Heroin - lastfm says this is the version on the 1990 Best of /words + music comp

am i losing my mind?

Simon, it's from 1969 Live, not included on the best of comp.

Timing of Heroin on that Best of Words & Music - 7:09 /
on Live 1969 CD vol. 1 8:14 (must be the one OP refers to)
on Live 1969 vol. 2 CD 9:49 (although 9:42 on vinyl)

Yes, it's the bonus version that was added to the 2xCD edition of 1969, along with I Can't Stand It. I've got a copy but I can't say it sounds as familiar as the one on the original LP.

phew - glad that's sorted out - I only have Live 69 on vinyl.

Lastfm is not v good at identifying different versions of songs.
In my disordered brain I thought it was a studio version.

I'm glad you solved that. As I don't keep track of all the compilations, I was afraid I might have missed an alternate mix/version.

Heroin without Cale's viola isn't really Heroin. The three viola songs on the banana album were rendered moot for live performances when Cale left the band, IMO.

peppergomez wrote:Heroin without Cale's viola isn't really Heroin. The three viola songs on the banana album were rendered moot for live performances when Cale left the band, IMO.

True, although there are of course the versions of Heroin & Venus featuring Cale on organ (and vocals!) from Poor Richard's in June '66, so there was a precedent for viola-less versions of those songs before he left. I agree they don't sound as good as the viola versions though (including the live Valleydale ones), and I don't like the constant tempo of Heroin from Poor Richard's.

Yeah, true, but that was more out of necessity since lou wasn't with them for those gigs.