Earlier than co-founding the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed was a workers songwriter for different artists at Pickwick Data. Now, his mid-Nineteen Sixties songs, carried out by assorted artists on the label (with occasional Reed contributions), have been compiled on an album. Out September 27, Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Data 1964-65 is the product of a partnership between Gentle within the Attic, Laurie Anderson, and the Lou Reed Archive, following their reissues of the late solo album Hudson River Wind Meditations and the Velvets demos set Phrases & Music, Could 1965. The opening observe, the Primitives’ “The Ostrich,” options Reed on vocals—hearken to it beneath.
The Primitives music, co-written by Reed and carried out with Pickwick honcho Terry Phillips, sowed the seeds for the Velvet Underground when John Cale joined the outfit on an early tour. One other music on the file, the All Night time Staff’ “Why Don’t You Smile,” was Cale’s first credit score as a business songwriter; quickly after its launch, he and Reed broke off from Pickwick to kind the Velvet Underground.
John Baldwin restored and remastered the brand new file, which comes with liner notes by Richie Unterberger, an essay by Lenny Kaye, and extra. Masaki Koike designed the double-LP package deal; try the duvet and tracklist beneath.
Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Data 1964-65:
