The Velvet Underground Debuts
March 12, 1967 – The Velvet Underground release their debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. Rising out of the Andy Warhol’s Factory art scene and including the infamous “peeling banana” cover designed by manager and mentor Warhol, the music inside is what has made this album an inspiration for countless bands of the past 40 years. Nearly the flip-side to the peace-and-love vibes of the California hippie bands, The Velvet Underground and Nico instead painted a darker New York-focused reality, including songs about sadomasochism and scoring drugs, along with tunes of haunted beauty like “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” The sonics on the record centered around Lou Reed’s Dylan-esque deadpan vocals, adding the droning viola of John Cale, Sterling Morrison’s propulsive guitar, Moe Tucker’s simple steady beat, and Nico’s European accented vocals. Not many bought the Velvets’ albums, but nearly everyone that did went out and formed a band. And it all started with The Velvet Underground and Nico.
nice. I actually saw The Velvet Underground at the Second Fret on Sansom Street, circa 1967-68? I think. It was cold and around Christmastime. Hard to totally remember, but I do remember them and the psychedlia which was their performance and lights.
I was one lucky girl to have been brought there. I had no idea who I was going to see and boy, was I happy that I went.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:46 pm