The Velvet Forum

As a follow-up to the "vu bass" thread, I've decided to start "who plays what" threads with my informed guesses on who plays what on The Velvet Underground albums. "Informed" as in "I've read somewhere/I can deduct/I think I recognise...". Everyone's welcome and expressly invited to exchange views and opinions, and the end goal is to put together a web page with the consensus on who plays what, as suggested by Kill Mick.

So, here we go with The Velvet Underground and Nico:

SUNDAY MORNING
Reed - lead vocals, guitar(, piano?)
Cale - celesta, viola(, piano?)
Morrison - bass guitar
Tucker - percussion
Nico - backing vocals


I'M WAITING FOR THE MAN
Reed - vocal, rhythm guitar
Morrison - lead guitar
Cale - piano, bass guitar
Tucker - percussion


FEMME FATALE
Nico - lead vocal
Reed - lead guitar, backing vocal
Morrison - rhythm guitar, backing vocal
Cale - bass(, backing vocal?)
Tucker - percussion


VENUS IN FURS
Reed - vocal, guitar
Cale - viola
Morrison - bass guitar
Tucker - percussion


RUN RUN RUN
Reed - vocal, lead guitar
Morrison - rhythm guitar, backing vocal
Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
Tucker - percussion


ALL TOMORROW'S PARTIES
Nico - vocals
Reed - guitar
Cale - piano
Morrison - bass guitar
Tucker - percussion


HEROIN
Reed - vocal, guitar
Morrison - guitar
Cale - viola
Tucker - percussion


THERE SHE GOES AGAIN
Reed - vocal, guitar
Morrison - (lead?) guitar, backing vocal
Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
Tucker - percussion


I'LL BE YOUR MIRROR
Nico - vocal
Reed - foreground guitar(, backing vocal?)
Morrison - background guitar, backing vocal
Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
Tucker - tambourine


THE BLACK ANGEL'S DEATH SONG
Reed - vocal, guitar
Cale - viola, hisses
Morrison - (high register) bass guitar


EUROPEAN SON
Reed - vocal, lead guitar
Morrison - rhythm guitar
Cale - bass guitar, chair, metal plates
Tucker - percussion

Arjan, you're my new hero!

arjan wrote: THE BLACK ANGEL'S DEATH SONG

Morrison - (high register) bass guitar

Is this definitely bass? On the 1993 tour Reed and Morrison are both playing guitar and there is no bass. But I'm uncertain whether the soloing on the VU&N version is bass or guitar...

Aren't there more instruments on "Venus In Furs" ?

mr. star minuta wrote:Aren't there more instruments on "Venus In Furs" ?

I don't think so...

Like what?

Doctor Bob wrote:Is this definitely bass? On the 1993 tour Reed and Morrison are both playing guitar and there is no bass. But I'm uncertain whether the soloing on the VU&N version is bass or guitar...

Well, that's how it sounded to me. And my personal opinions/findings are by no means definitive! But it could of course be up the neck on the bass strings of a regular guitar too.

mr. star minuta wrote:Aren't there more instruments on "Venus In Furs" ?

Doesn't sound like it. But I'd be interested if you can come up with another one, and I'll have a listen.

arjan wrote:Sister, I'm a poet

Ah...a Morrissey sig line. You sir, are a class act!

And I agree with you regarding VIF. Doesn't sound like anything else is there, but I'd be happy to be proven incorrect!

mg196 wrote:Ah...a Morrissey sig line. You sir, are a class act!

Well, that's because I am

Nevermind, I was wrong .. just asking .. maybe is the viola sustaining notes for a large period of time .... I think that is what made me confuse

Can anybody make a list here with the complete recordings where Nico sings with The Velvets ? .. I mean all the songs, albums and live recordings...

check out this link, you may find it interesting:

http://www.onlinerock.com/fans/olandem/ ... ndbox.html