The Velvet Forum

I know that Cale left before the recording of the third lp but were any of the songs (in particular, Pale Blue Eyes) written when he was still in the band? Does he appear on any of the third album's recordings? I was told that he's on Stephanie Says, which made me wonder if any of the third album's songs came about before his departure.
Anyway, cheers.

No, he doesn't appear on any tracks on the third album - he left the band in September '68 and recording didn't start till November/December I think.

I think a few of those songs were written and played before he left though - there's some (apocrythal?) tale about him really hating Pale Blue Eyes, and trying to make as much noise as possible onstage when it was played.

Mark wrote: I think a few of those songs were written and played before he left though - there's some (apocrythal?) tale about him really hating Pale Blue Eyes, and trying to make as much noise as possible onstage when it was played.

Yes I remember that story if its the same one, I think it was an occasion when he supposedly (?accidentally?) stepped on Sterling's distortion pedal just as he started playing the solo, and needless to say Lou wasn't best pleased...

Lou said John's performance on What Goes On was really wild, but I don't know of any recordings.

Mark wrote:I think a few of those songs were written and played before he left though

Yes, as you and Cameo said, PBE and WGO were played with John, as we can probably see from Olivier's gig lists (haven't checked yet). Then there is the strange issue of That's The Story Of My Life, which bore a Reed-Cale-Morrison-Tucker writing credit on 70s reissues of the LP, so presumably that was written with Cale there as well?

THAT´SONE OF MY FAVOURITES QUESTIONS EVER!

FOLLOWING SONGS WERE ALL PERFORMED OCT4TH AT LA CAVE DURING FISRT YULE APPEARANCE WITH THE BAND AND AFTER ONE WEEK FROM JOHN "DEPARTURE"
What Goes On , Pale Blue Eyes , Foggy Notion, Jesus , Beginning To See The Light, Move Right In, I Can't Stand It, That's The Story Of My Life.

DOES SOMEONE STILL MEAN THAT THE BAND (OR LOU) COMPOSED ALL THESE SONGS IN A WEEK WHILE YULE LEARNED ALL OF THEM (THE OLD & THE NEW STUFF) FOR THE FIRST SHOWS??
FROM TOP OF MY HEAD: COUNTESS FROM HONK KONG IS ALSO CREDITED TO LOU/JOHN, AND "OCEAN" "WALK & TALK IT" WERE PERFORMED AS WELL WITH CALE.

STERL ALWAYS MISSED THOSE LIVE PERFORMANCES DURING THE SUMMER OF THE 68, REMEMBERING HOW GOOD WERE JOHN PLAYING ORGAN IN "WHAT GOES ON". WHO KNOWS IF ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE SOME OF THOSE AVAILABLE...

I remember reading long ago that it was rumored that a studio version of What's Goes On was recorded during the same sessions that yielded Hey Mr. Rain, Guess I'm Falling In Love, etc.

Chris M wrote:I remember reading long ago that it was rumored that a studio version of What's Goes On was recorded during the same sessions that yielded Hey Mr. Rain, Guess I'm Falling In Love, etc.

I never heard of this! A rumour or fantasy? Studio (or even live version) of Cale playing WGO would count as the ultimate holy grail VU recording in my books. ( i think Sal Mercuri asked that holy grail question somewhere - now I can answer it)

In dreams begin...

I need In Dreams Begin Responsibility so much.

iaredatsun wrote:

Chris M wrote:I remember reading long ago that it was rumored that a studio version of What's Goes On was recorded during the same sessions that yielded Hey Mr. Rain, Guess I'm Falling In Love, etc.

I never heard of this! A rumour or fantasy? Studio (or even live version) of Cale playing WGO would count as the ultimate holy grail VU recording in my books. ( i think Sal Mercuri asked that holy grail question somewhere - now I can answer it)

In dreams begin...

Just a rumour, it may be totally fabricated but I remember someone posting on the old yellow board about it a few years back. Reissue producer Bill Levenson did say that he found some interesting outtake material for the proposed Deluxe Edition of the 3rd LP...