To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the release of Velvet Underground and Nico, Universal Music and Polydor are set to release a 6 CD box set collection. As well as the original album in stereo and mono, the 6 CD set will include Nico’s Chelsea Girl and previously unreleased Factory rehearsals and two CDs covering their 1966 Valleydale Ballroom concert.
Velvet Underground and Nico was the band’s debut album, released in March 1967 on Verve Records. While it wasn’t a huge hit at the time it has gone on to be recognised as one of the most influential albums ever. With banana cover artwork from Andy Warhol and the addition of Nico’s unique vocals it’s an album that instantly inspired a generation and continues to inspire musicians and music fans today.
Set for a release on the 29th October 2012, the Velvet Underground and Nico 6 CD box set is probably one of the last to contain previously unreleased VU material.
Recorded on acetate (mixed on :)), the April 1966 Scepter Studios recordings feature alternate versions of the now famous songs that went on to form Velvet Underground and Nico. The CD also includes recordings from Factory rehearsals, including Cracking Up / Venus in Furs, Heroin and There She Goes Again with Nico, charting the early beginnings of the band.
The 6 CD box set goes on to document Velvet Underground’s development with the addition of both the mono and stereo versions of their debut album. The stereo version also contains alternate versions of All Tomorrow’s Parties, European Son, Heroin and I’ll Be Your Mirror.
It’s backed up with the addition of Nico’s Chelsea Girls, released in October 1967, just seven months after Velvet Underground and Nico.
Finally, there’s a chance to hear the full ’66 recording of VU’s Valleydale Ballroom gig in Columbus, Ohio, featuring the full original band line-up of Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Moe Tucker and Nico. It includes a 28 minute outing of Melody of Laughter and 27 minutes worth of The Nothing Song.
Here’s the full 45th anniversary Velvet Underground and Nico 6 CD box set listing:
DISC ONE.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO V6-5008 (stereo version)
Originally issued as Verve V6-5008, March 1967.
1. SUNDAY MORNING 2.54
2. I’M WAITING FOR THE MAN 4.37
3. FEMME FATALE 2.37
4. VENUS IN FURS 5.10
5. RUN RUN RUN 4.20
6. ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES 5.58
7. HEROIN 7.10
8. THERE SHE GOES AGAIN 2.38
9. I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR 2.12
10. THE BLACK ANGEL’S DEATH SONG 3.12
11. EUROPEAN SON 7.46
ALTERNATE VERSIONS:
12 . ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES (alternate single voice version) 5.58
13. EUROPEAN SON (alternate version) 9.06
14. HEROIN (alternate version) 6.15
15. ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES (alternate instrumental mix) 5.58
16. I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR (alternate mix) 2.16
DISC TWO.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO V-5008 (mono version)
Originally issued as Verve V-5008, March 1967.
1. SUNDAY MORNING 2.55
2. I’M WAITING FOR THE MAN 4.46
3. FEMME FATALE 2.38
4. VENUS IN FURS 5.13
5. RUN RUN RUN 4.24
6. ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES 5.59
7. HEROIN 7.14
8. THERE SHE GOES AGAIN 2.41
9. I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR 2.14
10. THE BLACK ANGEL’S DEATH SONG 3.12
11. EUROPEAN SON 7.57
THE SINGLES:
12. ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES 2.49
13. I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR (alternate ending) 2.17
Mono single, issued as Verve VK-10427, July 1966.
14. SUNDAY MORNING (alternate mix) 2.56
15. FEMME FATALE 2.37
Mono single, Verve VK-10466, released December 1966.
DISC THREE.
NICO: CHELSEA GIRL
Originally issued as Verve V6-5032, October 1967.
1. THE FAIREST OF THE SEASONS 4.10
2. THESE DAYS 3.34
3. LITTLE SISTER 4.27
4. WINTER SONG 3.20
5. IT WAS A PLEASURE THEN 8.06
6. CHELSEA GIRLS 7.27
7. I’LL KEEP IT WITH MINE 3.21
8. SOMEWHERE THERE’S A FEATHER 2.20
9. WRAP YOUR TROUBLES IN DREAMS 5.10
10. EULOGY TO LENNY BRUCE 3.46
DISC FOUR / DISC TWO DELUXE EDITION.
SCEPTER STUDIOS SESSIONS:
Acetate cut on April 25, 1966
1. EUROPEAN SON (alternate version) 9.03 *
2. THE BLACK ANGEL’S DEATH SONG (alternate mix) 3.18 *
3. ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES (alternate version) 5.57 *
4. I’LL BE YOUR MIRROR (alternate version) 2.11 **
5. HEROIN (alternate version) 6.17 *
6. FEMME FATALE 2.36 (alternate mix) **
7. VENUS IN FURS (alternate version) 4.39 **
8. WAITING FOR THE MAN (alternate version) 4.15 **
9. RUN RUN RUN 4.23 (alternate mix) **
* from tape / ** from acetate
THE FACTORY REHEARSALS:
January 1966 rehearsal, previously unreleased.
10. WALK ALONE 3.28
11. CRACKING UP / VENUS IN FURS 3.52
12. MISS JOANIE LEE 11.49
13. HEROIN 6.17
14. THERE SHE GOES AGAIN (with NICO) 2.09
15. THERE SHE GOES AGAIN 2.56
DISC FIVE.
LIVE AT VALLEYDALE BALLROOM, COLUMBUS, OHIO:
1. MELODY LAUGHTER 28.26
2. FEMME FATALE 2.37
3. VENUS IN FURS 4.45
4. THE BLACK ANGEL’S DEATH SONG 4.49
5. ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES 5.03
(Lou Reed)
DISC SIX.
LIVE AT VALLEYDALE BALLROOM, COLUMBUS, OHIO:
1. WAITING FOR THE MAN 4.50
2. HEROIN 6.42
3. RUN RUN RUN 8.43
4. THE NOTHING SONG 27.56
