The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground & Nico LP vinyl

There is no cooler, more iconic 1960s album than the Velvet Underground's self-titled release. When the Velvets recorded this debut, they were best known as the protégées of Andy Warhol (who designed the sleeve), and as a grating, combustive live band.

Fuelled by drummer Moe Tucker's no-nonsense wham and John Cale's howling viola, some of the straight-up rock and roll and arty noise extravaganzas here bear that out. But before Lou Reed was singing about sadomasochism and drug deals and writing lyrics inspired by his favourite poets, he was a pop songwriter, and this album has some of his prettiest tunes, mostly sung by Nico, the German dark angel who left the band after this album.

Even the sordid rockers are underscored by graceful pop tricks, like the two-chord flutter at the center of the classic 'Heroin'. Truly essential listening.LP - Back in stock with a cover featuring Andy Warhol's original peeling banana, gatefold sleeve and 180 Gram heavyweight vinyl with additional track 'Chelsea Girls'.

NEW / Released in 1967 / Reissue 2012

Tracklist:

A1 Sunday Morning

A2 I'm Waiting For The Man

A3 Femme Fatale

A4 Venus In Furs

A5 Run, Run, Run

A6 All Tomorrow's Parties

B1 Heroin

B2 There She Goes Again

B3 I'll Be Your Mirror

B4 Black Angel's Death Song

B5 European Son