Lou Reed is the debut solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in May 1972 by RCA Records, two years after he left the Velvet Underground. It was produced by Richard Robinson and Reed and features London session musicians as Reed's backing band, two of whom, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe, were from the British progressive rock band Yes. Wakeman recalled that during the recording sessions, "the lights had to be out so nobody could see." The album was recorded at Morgan Studios in London, between December 1971 and January 1972.
With increasing interest in the Velvet Underground, Reed's debut album was highly anticipated, but was a commercial and critical disappointment, reaching only No. 189 on the Billboard 200. It comprises eight new recordings of then-unreleased Velvet Underground songs, and two new songs, "Going Down" and "Berlin" (the latter was re-recorded by Reed as the title track for his 1973 album Berlin).
In 1976, when asked what he thought of the album in retrospect, Reed stated, "It's got some of the best songs I ever wrote, but the production sucks."
Contents
Critical reception
The Commercial Appeal wrote that the album "contains some of the frenzy for which his former band was noted, but most of the music is toned down into a more standard rock mold." The Buffalo News determined that Reed's "blunt, almost over-simplified lyrics and the pre-Clapton guitar sound melt into a peculiarly satisfying experience."
The Rolling Stone Album Guide noted the "genteel art-rock treatment" of the songs written during Reed's Velvet Underground years.
Cross-reference
Eight tracks from Lou Reed were, at one point, originally performed by the Velvet Underground. These recordings have been released on various compilations and live albums, which have been catalogued below.
Tour
On the album's tour, which lasted two legs between June 9 and November 2, 1972, Reed was backed by the Tots. The Tots featured no shared personnel with the album and consisted of Vinny Laporta and Eddie Reynolds on guitar, Bobby Resigno on bass guitar, and Scottie Clark on drums. This backing group would also play on the Transformer tour and perform on the live album American Poet (2001).
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the Lou Reed liner notes.
Musicians
Lou Reed – vocals, guitar
Caleb Quaye – electric and acoustic guitars, piano
Steve Howe – electric guitar
Paul Keogh – electric and acoustic guitars
Rick Wakeman – piano
Les Hurdle – bass guitar
Brian Odgers – bass guitar
Clem Cattini – percussion
Kay Garner – harmony vocals
Helene Francois – harmony vocals
Production and artwork
Richard Robinson – producer
Lou Reed – producer
Mike Bobak – engineer
Tom Adams – cover art
Ronn Campisi – back liner photograph