The Velvet Forum

I'm sure this has been covered many times before but I just can't get over how godawful these mixes are. With the exception of a handful of tracks I just can't listen to them. I can't believe that after 20 years these crappy mixes are still the only ones available. The horrible mid 80's digital reverb makes the baby Jesus cry. I can't wait until the original 1969 mixes are officially released. Having said all that the mixes of the post WL/WH tracks with Cale (Guess I'm Falling in Love, Stephanie Says, etc) aren't that bad but the 'lost' 4th MGM LP stuff must be done over. I was really surprised they put these mixes on Peel Slowly and See...

Chris

Very true - in particular I Can't Stand It and Lisa Says, which is highly frustrating seeing as they're the only ones that aren't bootlegged in their unmixed form. One of these days I'm going to try and compile a 'definitive' version of the lost album rough mixes from the various available sources, but they'll probably release them officially before I get round to it!

Mark wrote:Very true - in particular I Can't Stand It and Lisa Says, which is highly frustrating seeing as they're the only ones that aren't bootlegged in their unmixed form. One of these days I'm going to try and compile a 'definitive' version of the lost album rough mixes from the various available sources, but they'll probably release them officially before I get round to it!

I agree there is no way that what Mo's drums sounded like. IIRC She's My Best Friend isn't available in rough mix form. While the rough mixes are much better they are obviously from nth gen cassettes or worn out acetates. I want the real deal!!

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't mind the 80's mixes. Lisa Says is one of my favorite Velvets tunes, and I think it's gorgeous. The really crisp, heavily edited sound quality is really different from most of the VU catalogue, but it works, it gives the song that little bit of edge (IMO.) But I heard a rumor that the drums on VU and Another View were 80's overdubs. Is that true? 'Cause if it is, that sucks, because I'm the biggest whore for Mo, like, ever, and that makes me frown. Free Maureen!

sars wrote:Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't mind the 80's mixes. Lisa Says is one of my favorite Velvets tunes, and I think it's gorgeous. The really crisp, heavily edited sound quality is really different from most of the VU catalogue, but it works, it gives the song that little bit of edge (IMO.) But I heard a rumor that the drums on VU and Another View were 80's overdubs. Is that true? 'Cause if it is, that sucks, because I'm the biggest whore for Mo, like, ever, and that makes me frown. Free Maureen!

Oh I love the song. Lisa Says is a classic in any form no doubt but the production is just way to slick IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if the Lisa Says drums were overdubed in the 80's. In any event I've never heard a 60's record with a drum sound like that..

Nah, I think it's definitely Mo playing - they must've just reverbed it to death when mixing it for release on VU. Lou was involved in that release, and while he's taken a rather liberal attitude to his back catalogue at times in the past, I can't imagine anything as sacreligious as overdubbing ersatz drum parts on priceless archive stuff like this.

But still. Michael Barbiero, J.C. Convertino - no no no! Gary Kellgren, Val Valentin - yes yes yes!

I always thought one of the standout things about VU was the different style of mixing. Not that it's better mixed than their other albums, but I think the variety is a good thing. It's like Bossanova compared to Doolittle. Bossanova wasn't mixed worse, it was just mixed in a way that added more artistic distinction between albums.

RE: She's My Best Friend rough mix - this does exist and, as you'd expect, sounds much better than the 80s mix, rhythm gtr is much louder, screams at the end are longer, and for some reason on the 80s version there's an edit in the vocal track on the line 'turn around I'm by the window where the light is' - there's a pause added between 'window' and 'where' which is irritating and pointless. The VU mix is ok, but: why?

Sounds like someone involved was a visionary.

I'll say it every time - the "lost album" needs to come out like it was supposed to be.