White Light/White Heat
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| White Light/White Heat | |||||
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| Studio album by The Velvet Underground | |||||
| Released | January 30, 1968 | ||||
| Recorded | Scepter Studios, New York September 1967 | ||||
| Genre | Protopunk, experimental rock, noise rock, avant-garde | ||||
| Length | 40:13 | ||||
| Label | Verve (V/V6-5046) | ||||
| Producer | Tom Wilson | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| The Velvet Underground chronology | |||||
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White Light/White Heat is the second album by The Velvet Underground. It was their last with original member John Cale.
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[edit] Album
After the disappointing sales of The Velvet Underground's first album, The Velvet Underground and Nico, the band's relationship with Andy Warhol weakened. The Velvets toured most of late 1967. Many of their live performances featured noisy improvisations that would become key elements in White Light/White Heat.[1] The band eventually fired Andy Warhol and Nico,[2] and went on to record their second album with a new producer. The album was recorded in just two days, and with a noticeably different style than The Velvet Underground and Nico. It briefly appeared on the Billboard Top 200, only managing to reach the 199th position.[3] Despite its poor sales, the distorted, feedback-driven, and roughly recorded sound on White Light/White Heat has since become a large influence on punk and experimental rock.[4] It ranks at #159 at Rate Your Music's Top Albums of All Time.[5] In 2003, the album was ranked number 292 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It has also gained a cult following among many fans of the album.
[edit] Songs
Nearly every song on the album contains some sort of experimental or avant-garde quality. "The Gift", for example, contains a recital of a short story and a loud instrumental rock song playing simultaneously in two separate stereo channels. "I Heard Her Call My Name" is notable for its distorted guitar solos and prominent use of feedback.
The album is also memorable for Lou Reed's lyrics, which often focus on themes of drug use and sexual absurdity, including the song "Lady Godiva's Operation", about a drag queen's botched lobotomy, and the title track "White Light/White Heat", which glorifies the use of amphetamine.
The albums' last track is "Sister Ray" on which Reed tells a tale of absolute debauchery, while the band plays an improvised 17 minute jam around 3 chords verging between glam/punk and pure minimalist drone rock.
[edit] Album cover
The album cover to White Light/White Heat is a faint image of a tattoo of a skull. The subtle picture of the tattooed arm was photographed, enlarged and distorted by Billy Name, one of Andy Warhol's "Factory" members. It is difficult to distinguish the tattoo, as the image is black, printed on a slightly lighter black background.
There also exists a unique MGM UK cover made from the late 70's to the early 80's featuring a white background and abstract toy soldiers.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Side one
- "White Light/White Heat" (Reed) – 2:47
- "The Gift" (Reed, Morrison, Cale, Tucker) – 8:18
- "Lady Godiva's Operation" (Reed) – 4:56
- "Here She Comes Now" (Reed, Morrison, Cale) – 2:04
[edit] Side two
- "I Heard Her Call My Name" (Reed) – 4:38
- "Sister Ray" (Reed, Morrison, Cale, Tucker) – 17:27
[edit] Personnel
[edit] The Velvet Underground
- Lou Reed - vocals, guitar, piano
- John Cale - vocals, electric viola, organ, bass guitar
- Sterling Morrison - vocals, guitar, bass guitar
- Maureen Tucker - percussion
[edit] Technical staff
- Tom Wilson - produced
- Gary Kellgren - recording engineer
- Val Valentin - director of engineering
- Bob Ludwig - mastering
[edit] References
- ^ Velvet Underground History and Facts at Music Babylon
- ^ Andy Warhol 1967 at Warholstars
- ^ 292) White Light/White Heat, The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time at Rolling Stone
- ^ White Light/White Heat at PopMatters
- ^ White Light/White Heat at Rate Your Music
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