The Velvet Underground – Peel Slowly And See (@320)

 

The Velvet Underground – Peel Slowly And See

Peel Slowly and See Review by Richie Unterberger.

Does this five-CD box set feature an abundance of essential material? Certainly. It has all four of the studio albums released by the Lou Reed-led lineup, and a wealth of previously unreleased goodies. Is it an essential purchase? That depends on your level of fanaticism. Most serious Velvet fans have all four of the core studio albums already (although the third, self-titled LP is presented in its muffled, so-called "closet" mix), and will be most interested in the previously unavailable recordings, which do hold considerable fascination. The entire first disc is devoted to a drummer-less 1965 rehearsal tape in John Cale's loft, with radically different, almost folky run-throughs of most of the important songs from their classic debut, as well as a song that only made it onto Nico's first LP ("Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"), and one which makes its first appearance anywhere (the Dylanesque "Prominent Men"). Other big bonuses include no less than seven outtakes from Loaded and other songs re-done by Reed on his early solo albums. And there are sundry other unreleased live and studio items, highlighted by a scorching live 1967 "Guess I'm Falling in Love" and the 1969 demo "Countess From Hong Kong." There are also highlights from VU and Another View, longer versions of Loaded's "Sweet Jane" and "New Age," and an 80-page booklet. The thing is, though, that virtually everyone who's interested in this material has already bought the four studio albums, sometimes several times over. A separate release of the two discs or so of truly new material would have been welcomed by the many fans who aren't interested in paying for a five-CD box of stuff when they already have well over half of it.

Tracklist:

Disc 1:

1. Venus In Furs

2. Prominent Men

3. Heroin

4. I'm Waiting For The Man

5. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

6. All Tomorrow’s Parties

 

Disc 2:

 

1. All Tomorrow's Parties (Mono Single Version)

2. Sunday Morning (Album Version)

3. I'm Waiting For The Man (Album Version)

4. Femme Fatale (Album Version)

5. Venus In Furs (Album Version)

6. Run Run Run (Album Version)

7. All Tomorrow's Parties (Album Version)

8. Heroin (Album Version)

9. There She Goes Again (Album Version)

10. I'll Be Your Mirror (Album Version)

11. Black Angel's Death Song (Album Version)

12. European Son (Album Version)

13. Melody Laughter (Live (1966/Valleydale Ballroom))

14. It Was A Pleasure Then (Album Version)

15. Chelsea Girls (Album Version)

 

Disc 3:

 

1. There Is No Reason

2. Sheltered Life

3. It's All Right (The Way That You Live)

4. I'm Not Too Sorry (Now That You're Gone)

5. Here She Comes Now

6. Guess I'm Falling In Love

7. Booker T.

8. White Light/White Heat (Album Version)

9. The Gift (Album Version)

10. Lady Godiva's Operation (Album Version)

11. Here She Comes Now (Album Version)

12. I Heard Her Call My Name (Album Version)

13. Sister Ray (Album Version)

14. Stephanie Says (Album Version)

15. Temptation Inside Your Heart (Album Version)

16. Hey Mr. Rain (Edit)

 

Disc 4:

 

1. What Goes On (Live (1968/Cleveland))

2. Candy Says (Closet Mix)

3. What Goes On (Closet Mix)

4. Some Kinda Love (Closet Mix)

5. Pale Blue Eyes (Closet Mix)

6. Jesus (Closet Mix)

7. Beginning To See The Light (Closet Mix)

8. I'm Set Free (Closet Mix)

9. That's The Story Of My Life (Closet Mix)

10. The Murder Mystery (Closet Mix)

11. After Hours (DO NOT USE)

12. Foggy Notion (Album Version)

13. I Can't Stand It (Album Version)

14. I'm Sticking With You (Album Version)

15. One Of These Days (Album Version)

16. Lisa Says (Album Version)

17. It's Just Too Much (Live In Dallas/1969)

18. Countess From Hong Kong (Demo)

 

Disc 5:

 

1. Who Loves The Sun (Album Version)

2. Sweet Jane (LP Version)

3. Rock And Roll (Album Version)

4. Cool It Down (Album Version)

5. New Age (LP Version)

6. Head Held High (Album Version)

7. Lonesome Cowboy Bill (Album Version)

8. I Found A Reason (Album Version)

9. Train Round The Bend (Album Version)

10. Oh! Sweet Nuthin' (Album Version)

11. Satellite Of Love (Out-Take Version)

12. Walk And Talk (Out-Take Version)

13. Oh Gin (Out-Take Version)

14. Sad Song (Out-Take Version)

15. Ocean (Out-Take Version)

16. Ride Into The Sun (Out-Take Version)

17. Some Kinda Love (Live (1970/Max's Kansas City))

18. I'll Be Your Mirror (Live (1970/Max's Kansas City))

19. I Love You (Out-Take Version)

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