The Velvet Forum

So If we establish that Here She Comes Now and There She Goes Again are both Sterling leads then (pretty sure about both of these) and WFTM is Sterl on lead (depending on your definition of lead but in my book definitely); then it emerges that lead/rhythm duties were pretty equal even in Cale era.

'If we establish' , 'then it emerges', 'definitely'. Sorry - and with no disrespect to anyone in this thread, but I think the emphasis here should be on 'if' as this is all pretty much conjecture at least because as at times (as you say) it seems hard to work out what exactly is lead at times.

Hey Mr Rain, Guess I'm Fallin in Love (gymnasium) and Booker T which all had Sterl on lead right?

I, for one, am not sure.


Other considerations here:

Doesn't the first album credit quite clearly Reed - 'lead guitar', Morrison rhythm?

Also, in the 70's everyone (at least in the UK press) thought Morrison always played lead (on I Heard Her Call My Name, for example) and were kind of surprised to learn that Read played it. I seem to remember a sudden new found, if begrudging, respect for Reed at that time.

And there is clear evidence (in the form of quotes - dont ask me where) that Reed decided to relinquish lead guitar duties to Morrison around when the 3rd album was made. This, I think is assumed. was so he could concentrate on his singer-songwrite role and kind of shame I think.

Then I would still consider Sterl to be the main lead guitarist, although its just a ridiculous label in some ways when you think of how well Lou and Sterl's guitar playing complimented each other.

Yes, its a label and if Morrison had only played rhythm in the early days that doesn't demean his skill and due respect as a highly talented musician.

I do agree that when the two played off against each other that meshed dual guitar dialogue was fantastic and that is also at times hard to work out what is lead and what is rhythm. Foggy Notion, for example.

I think the difference in listening is between one of tightness, subtlety and precision (Morrison) and one of experimentation and inspired wildness (Reed). Morrison's playing is, simply, more respectable and 'musicianly' and the perfect counterpart to Reed's.

(As an aside, I remember reading Yule saying that Reed lacked technique as a guitarist - a comment that seemed to smell of a certain creative jealousy.)

Mr. Datsun[/quote]

iaredatsun wrote:no disrespect to anyone in this thread, but I think the emphasis here should be on 'if' as this is all pretty much conjecture

Thanks Mr Datsun

That's why I used the word 'if'!