Your Favorite Song by Lou Reed?

classic. wrote:

Frail Blue Eyes

Time to upgrade those speakers.

Ok I’m back to post in this thread for a fourth time after remembering on my run today how often, when I’m reminding myself to keep the pace easy, I’ll get “Cool It Down” by VU playing in my head (when it’s not “Take It Easy” by The Eagles/Jackson Browne).

Also, I feel someone ought to acknowledge “Run Run Run,” even if it’s not one of the best VU songs.

agip wrote:

I usually chafe at the 'influential' label, but man, Reed invented a whole genre of melancholy rock. So many of these sad-rock indie bands are Reed descendants. Obvi Cowboy JUnkies was the most direct.

As great as Lou’s live version of “Sweet Jane” is, the Junkies’ version is also great. Two very different, but terrific, versions.

agip wrote:

I usually chafe at the 'influential' label, but man, Reed invented a whole genre of melancholy rock.

He did write a song titled "Ennui" didn't he?

With Berlin he overdid the melancholy and took it straight to darkness. Still an excellent album.

Sweet Jane from R&RA for obvious reasons. Really bad that Lou Reed forced Steve Hunter to give up USA rights to the song,. Second favorite is Vicious, recorded the same night as R&RA but released a couple years later on Lou Reed Live. Third favorite is Andy's Chest.

No argument with this, other than it’s “That’s what the Statue of bigotry says”.

1) Rock n Roll; brings back memories of the advent of NYC Progressive FM Radio stations in 1967. Also, around 1960 my brother and I would be able to pickup midwest Black radio stations on cold, clear Sat nites in the winter with our Remco crystal radio kit. Definitely blew our minds.

2) I'm Waiting for the Man; 1968, driving to the Village from NJ and dropping off my junkie friends at Lenox and 116th St. OK, not Lexington and 125 St. but close enough.

3) Sweet Jane; an old friend of mine named, wait for it, Jane. ( although Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone more so)

For the record, I was more a fan of John Cale.

Not my fave VU song but it is a great song;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfzoyDOXfzY

He played to a small crowd of less than 1000 at Princeton University in about 1985, and he only wanted to play new songs from his latest (unmemorable) album. I called out for Sweet Jane between songs midway through the night and he completely lost it, stopping the concert for what seemed like an eternity, and screaming at me in the balcony that he didn't come to play requests for obnoxious rich kids. I felt ashamed, but also felt a bit worried about his state of mind.

So Sweet Jane for me.

The Dirty Duck wrote:

He played to a small crowd of less than 1000 at Princeton University in about 1985, and he only wanted to play new songs from his latest (unmemorable) album. I called out for Sweet Jane between songs midway through the night and he completely lost it, stopping the concert for what seemed like an eternity, and screaming at me in the balcony that he didn't come to play requests for obnoxious rich kids. I felt ashamed, but also felt a bit worried about his state of mind.

So Sweet Jane for me.

Awesome.

The Dirty Duck wrote:

He played to a small crowd of less than 1000 at Princeton University in about 1985, and he only wanted to play new songs from his latest (unmemorable) album. I called out for Sweet Jane between songs midway through the night and he completely lost it, stopping the concert for what seemed like an eternity, and screaming at me in the balcony that he didn't come to play requests for obnoxious rich kids. I felt ashamed, but also felt a bit worried about his state of mind.

So Sweet Jane for me.

Well, let's set that straight once and for all.

Here ya go:

"Waitin' For My Man"

VFL wrote:He's overrated in a lot of ways, in my view, but the best of his songs hold up. He's a lot like Neil Young or Mike Ness, who make the most of a limited amount of talent by possessing great insight into the human condition.

Any mention of Mike Ness in a Lou Reed thread deserves to be quoted and reposted. Two greats. Actually make that three since you also mentioned Neil Young.

Anyway, my favorite Lou Reed song is Who Loves The Sun. Such a fantastic juxtaposition of cheerful and bitter.

Whoever posted Romeo Had Juliette is on to something as well.

Lou Reed was talented...

But, and call me anything you feel you need to..

But the moment I realized he used "colored girls" in a song, I decided he was no good.

Hey Lou Reed! A legend!

A little bit of Sandra in the Sun!!

Did he sing “Mambo #5 ??”

Great song!!

Yeah but no.

That's Lou Bega.

He's not controversial.

White Light White Heat White Trash wrote:

VFL wrote:He's overrated in a lot of ways, in my view, but the best of his songs hold up. He's a lot like Neil Young or Mike Ness, who make the most of a limited amount of talent by possessing great insight into the human condition.

Any mention of Mike Ness in a Lou Reed thread deserves to be quoted and reposted. Two greats. Actually make that three since you also mentioned Neil Young.

Anyway, my favorite Lou Reed song is Who Loves The Sun. Such a fantastic juxtaposition of cheerful and bitter.

Whoever posted Romeo Had Juliette is on to something as well.

I really love Mike Ness (and Neil Young), but sometimes he's hokey, and his lyrics are kind of clumsy, like Lou Reed's. I'd contrast them with a gifted lyricist like Paul Westerberg or maybe Bob Mould.