The Velvet Underground & Nico
Jim and Greg explore the background and influence of the Velvet Underground’s debut with a classic album dissection.
The Velvet Underground and Nico
One of our all-time favorite classic-album dissections, The Velvet Underground and Nico, a record that we think sounds as fresh, unique, and inspirational today as it did when it was released in March, 1967. Or, as Jim's rock-crit hero Lester Bangs put it: "Modern music begins with the Velvets, and the implications and influence of what they did seem to go on forever." We talk about the album and The Velvet Underground's many sonic innovations, and chart some of those influences, and as always, we look forward to having you along for the ride.
Featured Songs
- The Velvet Underground, "I'm Waiting for the Man," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, "Finger Poppin Time," Finger Poppin Time (single), King, 1960
- John Cale , "Cold Starry Nights," John Cale - New York in the 1960s, Table of the Elements, 1964
- The Velvet Underground, "I'm Waiting for the Man (Demo)," Peel Slowly and See: 1965-1969, Polydor, 1965
- Babatunde Olatunji , "Shango," Drums of Passion, Columbia, 1960
- Bo Diddley, "Gun Slinger," Gun Slinger (single), Checker, 1960
- The Velvet Underground, "The Black Angel's Death Song (Live)," Bootleg Series Volume 1: The Quine Tapes, Polydor, 1969
- Jefferson Airplane, "White Rabbit," Surrealistic Pillow, RCA, 1967
- Nico, "I'm Not Sayin'," I'm Not Sayin' (single), Immediate, 1965
- The Velvet Underground, "Sunday Morning," The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition), Polydor, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "There She Goes Again (The Factory Rehearsal w/Nico)," The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition), Polydor, 1966
- The Velvet Underground, "Sunday Morning," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "I'm Waiting for the Man," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "Femme Fatale," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "Venus In Furs," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "Run Run Run," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Primitives, "The Ostrich," The Ostrich (single), Pickwick City, 1964
- The Velvet Underground, "All Tomorrow's Parties," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- Marvin Gaye, "Hitch Hike," That Stubborn Kinda Fellow, Tamla, 1962
- The Velvet Underground, "There She Goes Again," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "I'll Be Your Mirror," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "Heroin," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "The Black Angel's Death Song," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- The Velvet Underground, "European Son," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
- Radiohead, "No Surprises," OK Computer, Parlophone, 1997
- Siouxsie and the Banshees, "Premature Burial," Join Hands, Polydor, 1979
- Ramones, "53rd & 3rd," Ramones, Sire, 1976
- Spiritualized, "Run," Lazer Guided Melodies, Dedicated, 1992
- Sonic Youth, "Mote," Goo, DGC, 1990
- Galaxie 500, "Decomposing Trees," On Fire, Rough Trade, 1989
- Falling In Reverse, "Pick Up The Phone," The Drug In Me Is You, Epitaph, 2011
- Lou Reed, "White Light/White Heat," Rock N' Roll Animal, RCA, 1974
- Blind Melon, "Letters From A Porcupine," Nico, Capitol, 1996
- Sonic Youth, "My Friend Goo," Goo, DGC, 1990
- Sault, "Why Why Why Why Why," Untitled (Black Is), Forever Living Originals, 2020
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