The Velvet Forum

there is a new torrent on EZT - http://www.easytree.org/torrents-details.php?id=21259

Lou Reed & Nico - The Bedroom Tape New York

Date is disputed on there. its a rip from the 1991 bootleg CD listed here:

http://members.aol.com/olandem/bootcd.html

"THE BEDROOM TAPE
Exile CD 4003, Germany, 1991

1. All Tomorrow's Parties / 2. One Of These Days / 3. I'll Keep It With Mine / 4. Little Sister / 5. All Tomorrow's Parties / 6. I'll Be Your Mirror / 7. Femme Fatale / 8. I'll Keep It With Mine / 9. Little Queenie / 10. Little Sister / 11. All Tomorrow's Parties / 12. Somebody.

1-12: Lou Reed & Nico, rehearsals, NYC, 1970 (?).

Poor quality."

Now i know on STG last year someone torrented what they called "The Wollensack Tape" - but a HD crash meant I lost this (and a few other VU boots I had downloaded but not yet burned to CDR). Was this the same tape?
ANyone know which version is the better? Or is there a more complete version (I see Ultra Rare Trax 4 is listed as having the same tracks - are they from the 91 boot?)

thanks in advance

Can't comment on which version is best as this is the first time I've heard any of this material. What I do want to say having downloaded and listened to it today is that it's great stuff - and actually much better sound quality than I expected.

Question 1 - someone on the EZT forum claims that Nico once informed them that this set was taped in January 1972, just before the Bataclan show. Does this sound feasible?

Question 2 - the recording sounds like it's running slightly slow. Can anyone confirm this? I've got the software required to do accurate speed correction, I just don't have the ear for it

I would think it's Bataclan also.

yeah - i reckon it is 72. Listening to Nico talk seems so very sad.....

its a good listen, thats for sure.

"Ahm going to seeng a sawng..... IF I KAHHHHHHHHHHN."

If she felt as depressed as her voice is, I'd feel very bad for her.

I don't think she sounds in particularly bad shape. It's an informal bedroom jam, after all, so I don't think there's anything too strange about the false starts, fluffed lyrics etc. Frankly, no matter what she's singing, it will always be a source of wonder to me that that amazing gothic ice-maiden tone was just there if she opened her mouth - she really didn't need to try at all!

It's also interesting to hear Lou play acoustic on his own - when you're used to hearing him either playing straight choppy chords or discordant noise-drenched solos, it's easy to forget what a skilled, versatile player he actually is. With that and the obvious chemistry between him and Nico ("You're so funneeee..."), it's a shame that they didn't collaborate more often during her lifetime.

Glad to see so many agree with my long-held belief that this tape is more likely to be another Bataclan rehearsal tape from '72 and not 1970. The date's at least July 1971 because Lou at various points asks for 'Richard' & 'Lisa' and - if I'm right these guys - are the Robinsons who Lou didn't meet until then (according to Bockris). So, why would Lou & Nico jam together with these 'caretakers of Lou' nearby if there's no other record of gig with Lou & Nico? And the answer is.....there is none, its Bataclan '72.

Also, I used to swear that at one point towards the end of the tape I could hear John's dulcet tones speak in the background. Mind you I'm not so sure now.