VU&N Boxset reviews

[Chris M]

OK I didn't notice they discover only 1 multitrack reel. For Chelsea Girl, everyone interested has it, no bonus track, considering the price (more than 11 ? for each CD with inferior packaging), I'm a -very- little unsatisfied. Also no DVD, and uncomplete Warhol Museum CD. It could've been better, with some Chelsea Girl outtakes, something UNHEARD.

Others may know for sure but I was under the impression the Chelsea Girl session tapes/outtakes do not exist. I don't think anything exists beyond the LP proper. Not sure though...

[Simon Love]

Today in Sister Ray I found VU&N with Chelsea Girl (the song) as a bonus after European Son with a peelable banana cover.

Is this to do with the official re-re-release? Or is it an enterprising bootlegger making mischief?

[iaredatsun]

Today in Sister Ray I found VU&N with Chelsea Girl (the song) as a bonus after European Son with a peelable banana cover.

Is this to do with the official re-re-release? Or is it an enterprising bootlegger making mischief?

Simon, I think that version (I too saw it in SR) has been around for a year or two. I can remember there was also a copy of WLWH with an extra track. I can't imagine how they squeezed more on to already long LPs without considerable sound loss. Looking on discogs just now tells me they were by Vinyl Lovers.

http://www.discogs.com/Velvet-Undergrou ... se/1839185

I have not heard the new 2012 UMG repress, but it looks very good. A thick piece of 180gm vinyl and a good repro of the original pressing with peelable banana, Emerson on back and a new catalogue number. In terms of stereo represses, I doubt anyone could do better, if the mastering is as good as used in the boxset. Seems likely and worth checking.

[alfredovu]

This ad from El Pais Madrid Newspaper Nov 8, 2012 ... glad to see Universal doing such kind of promotion!

[Kill Mick]

My only slight surprise/disappointment with the box se is that it didn't include "I'll Keep It With Mine" live from the Cinematheque in Feb 66 - if it's supposed to include all things VU & Nico I think that's the only other track (of listenable sound quality) that could have been added.

I also think it's a slight shame the "I'm scared to play it back" line has been cut from the end of the Valleydale gig - just coz it's such a great line!

[dial4]

Yes it's a shame the Warhol museum CD is presented here incomplete as I think they had access to the master tape, not the poor mp3 with 2" blank between each track. Don't know if a little research has been made to discover something NEW but again nothing unheard for the collector is a major disappointment.

[gazatthebop]

I have not heard the new 2012 UMG repress, but it looks very good. A thick piece of 180gm vinyl and a good repro of the original pressing with peelable banana, Emerson on back and a new catalogue number. In terms of stereo represses, I doubt anyone could do better, if the mastering is as good as used in the boxset. Seems likely and worth checking.

i bought the 45th vinyl but have left it sealed so far. It's not virgin vinyl or they would have said so on the stickered sleeve. Can't believe they stuck a bar code on the rear when that could have been on the sticker, the cover card could be thicker too and what's the point of including an mp3 download when it could have been 24/96 wav format. Has anyone got a pic of the record label?

[leamanc]

Pitchfork has now reviewed the box set: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/171 ... ound-nico/ The Velvet Underground & Nico (the album proper) snags a perfect 10 rating, while the box as a whole gets a 9.0 and the "Best New Reissue" tag.

They seem to agree with me (and others in this thread) that the remastering is superb and can make you feel like you are hearing the album for the first time. And they also concur that the mono disc is amazing:

The stereo mix breathes in a way that the album never has before. As incredible as it sounds, though, the mono version on the second disc provides the set's first moment of serious revelation: It doesn't breathe at all. In fact, with every throbbing bassline and squalling viola set dead center, the mix is suffocating. The transformative effect it has on the songs is unreal. Lou-fronted rockers like "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "Run, Run, Run" leap out from the speakers with an aggression that other versions lack.

And I've got to wholeheartedly agree with this assessment of the Factory material:

Parts of it are more interesting than listenable, like the band dicking around while Lou Reed patiently attempts to explain the lyrics to "Venus in Furs" to Nico. Other parts are jaw-dropping, like a version of "Run, Run, Run" that quickly turns itself inside out and transforms into a frenetic, semi-improvised Bo Diddley impression that's denser and heavier than almost anything else in the Velvets' catalog and can demand repeat plays back to back.

[brianj]

So I wasted a good part of a day and probably $20 in gas trying to buy this retail, no luck. I live and work in the middle of nowhere, I'm rarely home, travel for work a lot, and it's just not that simple to just order it.

The first two stores didn't even have any Velvet Underground music at all. One was a bookstore, the other was Best Buy. Best Buy did have a $140 super duper deluxe reissue of Aqualung though. I know that whole chain is currently starting to fail, but I thought they would at least stock the brand new Christmas presents.

Third up was a hip record store with tons of used & new vinyl & CDs and lots of collectibles. They had never heard of this new issue of the album, though I did manage to acquire a new sealed copy of the 1986 VU collection to replace a lost one.

Fourth was the dismal chain-store FYE, I thought for sure they would stock new things. Nope.


I don't even want the darn discs, I'm tired of dragging a CD collection around. I would just download the whole thing and pay the record company for it ... IF they would sell me a lossless download. But there is no market demand for that kind of thing, so it's not offered.

[peppergomez]

Why not just order it online?