The Velvet Forum

Im new to the Velvets (only heard a few songs and browsed through the first album wich my friend has) and im thinking of buying the peel slowly and see box set. All i wana know is if the supposed third album closet mix is actually good, or should i also buy the third album seperatly? Or do you just think its better to buy the albums individually instead of the box? Any help would be greatly apreaciated.

Personally I prefer the closet mix - the Valentin version is technically better in places, but the closet version seems to do more justice to the emotional nature of the songs. Having said that, this could just be familiarity - I've been listening to the closet mix seven years and heard the other version for the first time a month ago!

Locke325 wrote:Should i also buy the third album seperatly? Or do you just think its better to buy the albums individually instead of the box?

Trust me, once you're hooked you'll want to buy everything.
Personally I think the Valentin mix is better, because it's more balanced and I like the Valentin take of Some Kinda Love better. Then again, I like the 'closet' mix of I'm Set Free better.
The 'closet' mix was done by Lou Reed himself and even if it's technically not much cop (uneven mix with way too high vocals and all instruments at the same murky level), it has the pro of being the (one of the) artists' intention.

I'd say, for a 'novice', buy the Valentin mix and blag the Reed mix off a friend or the local library.

Locke325 wrote:Iif the supposed third album closet mix is actually good

Of course it's good but I too prefer the Val Valentin mix. In short, the difference is the Valentin mix has louder guitars and instruments and slightly more distortion while the Lou Reed "closet mix" (anyone else getting sick of that term yet?) mix has the instruments turned down and vocals way up in the mix. Also one song, "Some Kinda Love" is a different take altogether (and in my opinion the version on the Val Valentin mix is way better).

Of course, I do realise that these kinds of opinions are mainly (at least in my case) down to which version you heard first and got used to and fell in love with first. We're only human...

Locke325 wrote:or should i also buy the third album seperatly?

From what I understand the "closet mix" is all that is available on CD at the moment so if you buy it separately that's what you'll still get. Try and track down the first German CD of the album or better yet a vinyl version with the Valentin mix. You might wanna refer to Olivier's site for details on which is which and what's what.

Locke325 wrote:Or do you just think its better to buy the albums individually instead of the box?

The box set is a good starting point but there's more stuff out there that you'll need, like the VU, Another View, Live 1969 and Live At Max's Kansas City albums for starters.

And welcome to the board, by the way! 8)

Well to be honest, I too prefer the Closet mix. Again this may be down to familiarity, my old vinyl copy is this version. One consideration is that there are different takes of Some Kinda Love on each version. In the UK the Val Valentine mix is the one on general release and can easily be found for £5. So I'd buy both. If you decide to buy seperately it's worth bearing in mind the Deluxe edition of the banana album for the mono mix (tho folks lucky enough to possess the vinyl are a bit down on it). There is also two versions of Loaded available a 1 x CD with the "butchered" Sweet Jane (again easy to get for £5) and others plus a 2 x CD Fully Loaded with outakes/demos and "restored" Sweet Jane and others.

Just to be clear "£5" should be taken to mean 5 pounds sterling in the above

Well after all if heard im guessing ill just leave it to my opinion, but it seems eitherway ill like it so ill buy the box set tomorrow. Should jot it down in the calender now- April 17 is my official VU day.

HOMME FATALE WROTE:
Try and track down the first German CD of the album or better yet a vinyl version with the Valentin mix. You might wanna refer to Olivier's site for details on which is which and what's what.

JUST TO POINT OUT THAT THE FIRST GERMAN ISSUE OF THE ALBUM CARRIES LOU "CLOSET MIX" FOR A-SIDE SONGS AND "VALENTINE MIX" FOR B-SIDE SONGS. IT IS A TOUGHT TO FIND CD (CHECK THE CENTER HOLE MATRIX NUMBERS. THE ONE ENDING #01 ARE THE FIRST ISSUE)
IF YOU ARE LUCKY AND FIND ONE OF THOSE YOU CAN GET CONFUSSED.
HAPPY HUNTING!

ok forget what i said about buying it tomorrow, just bought it today and heard the Velvets first two albums, and all i can say is....wow. I was gonna start listening the third Velvets album but then i got this major headache from listening to Sister Ray (probably cause i put it at high volume and dint pause or anything) and im thinking of leaving the third for tomorrow. After listening to them my lineup of favorite artist changed
Before: After
1.Joy Division 1.Velvet Underground
2.My Bloody Valentine 2.Joy Division
3.Beach Boys 3.My Bloody valentine
4. Brian Eno 4. Beach Boys
5. Frank Zappa 5. Brian Eno
*The Velvets were around
15-18 before i got the box set

As you can see, a box of music can change a persons total opinion on a band.

i see we have a new blood