March 1, 2023 Playlist

20th Century Underground Rock
100% vintage vinyl special for
WORT-FM's PLEDGE DRIVE!
  
Lou Reed "Transformer" (1972)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Lou Reed "Transformer"  1972 (USA)
The same year David Bowie recorded his breakout album, he and his guitar player Mick Ronson also produced this classic record which resurrected the career of the founder of The Velvet Underground. In fact, it propelled Lou Reed to unimaginable heights: not only was it a "gold record", one of the songs "Walk On The Wild Side" became an unlikely Top 20 hit in America, receiving substantial radio airplay even though it has uncensored super-gay lyrics. The song is about some of the characters from Andy Warhol's "Factory", all of whom were gay and/or trans - as in Transformer, the name of the album! (The photos on the back of the record make this point obvious.) So needless to say this record was a milestone in popuar culture. But it is also musically timeless, and quite unlike any other popular records of it's era (except for Bowie's, but I think that's mostly because Bowie produced this one and used some of the same musicians - the two have very different styles of singing and songwriting). Transformer is much more "cabaret" than the Velvets music (though several of the tunes are recycled VU outtakes), and I think a big part of its popularity is due to Reed's vocal performance on the album. Never a "singer's singer" (to put it mildly), Lou's charm and warmth really shine through in his hipster crooning here (yes, I actually used the words "charm and warmth" to describe the notorious Lou Reed!)
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
The SeedsNow A ManFuture1967USA
Clear LightMr. Blue (Tom Paxton)Clear Light1967USA
The Mothers of InventionHungry Freaks DaddyFreak Out!1966USA
The Velvet UndergroundVenus In FursThe Velvet Underground & Nico1967USA/UK(Wales)
The TroggsFeels Like A WomanB-side 7" single1972UK
The Modern LoversSomeone I Care AboutThe Modern Loversrec. 1972, rel. 1976USA
 
 
Lou ReedWalk On The Wild SideTransformer
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1972USA
Lou ReedAndy's ChestTransformer
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1972USA
Lou Reed
(with David Bowie on backup vocals)		Satellite Of LoveTransformer
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1972USA
David BowieLady StardustThe Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars1972UK
The RunawaysRock And Roll (Lou Reed/Velvet Underground)The Runaways1976USA
Iggy & The StoogesRaw PowerRaw Power1973USA
   
 
Alice CooperHello, Hooray (Rolf Kempf)Billion Dollar Babies1973USA
T. RexRip OffElectric Warrior1971UK
Ian DurySex And Drugs And Rock And Roll7" single1977UK
Richard Hell & The VoidoidsBlank GenerationBlank Generation1977USA
Nina Hagen BandAuf'm Bahnhof Zoo  ("At the Railway Station Zoo")Nina Hagen Band1978Germany
The Walker Brothers (Scott Walker)ShutoutNite Flights1978UK/USA
   
 
Roxy MusicOut Of The Blue (live)Viva!1976UK
TelevisionMarquee Moon (live)The Blow Uprec. 1978, rel. 1982USA
Sex PistolsI Wanna Be MeB-side 7" single1976UK
   
 
The FeeliesWhat She SaidTime For A Witness1991USA
Butthole SurfersDum DumPsychic Powerless...Another Man's Sac1984USA
Sonic YouthThe Good And The BadSonic Youth EP1982USA
Patti SmithWaveWave1979USA
   
 
Lou ReedHeroin (live - Velvet Underground)Rock 'N' Roll Animal1974USA
The DoorsWhen The Music's Over (live)Absolutely Live1970USA
   
 
The Velvet Underground & NicoFemme FataleThe Velvet Underground & Nico1967USA/UK(Wales)
/Germany
The Velvet UndergroundNew AgeLoaded1970USA
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