Audio CD review:
The Velvet Underground - Live at Max's Kansas City

The Velvet Underground - Live at Max's Kansas City

Band: The Velvet Underground Title: Live at Max's Kansas City Rating: Release Date: 2008-01-13 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: I'm Waiting For The Man 2: Sweet Jane 3: Lonesome Cowboy Bill 4: Beginning To See The Light 5: I'll Be Your Mirror 6: Pale Blue Eyes 7: Sunday Morning 8: New Age 9: Femme Fatale 10: After Hours

Suffers from the absence of Moe Tucker, but contains the greatest version of 'New Age' ever. God, listen to those introductory chords. . the almost hymn-like chant of "It's the beginning of a new age". . . the solo. The majesty of The Velvet Underground's music is evident even on an audience recording like this. (Yes, the quality of the recording is relatively poor when everything else you listen to is digital and razor-sharp, but I've heard worse. Much worse, actually. ) Both versions of 'Sweet Jane' retain the beautiful introduction found on the studio recording, which is another plus. 'Who Loves the Sun' is unfortunately incomplete. You should know by now whether or not you're going to like this album. It's not a suitable introduction if you're new to the Velvets, but it's great if you've heard the studio albums a million times and are curious about what the band sounded like during its summer 1970 residence at Max's. . "We Don't Do Heroin" A classmate (who I was in a garage band with) had it and we damn near wore out the grooves. This was one of the first VU albums I heard as a kid. It inspired us to get a different bass player and do most of the songs on that record. It sounded great until my buddy's mom said we couldn't play with him 'cause she didn't like his look. I just recently got this record on CD and had forgotten how great it is. Yeah, the sound quality blows. But, keep in mind, it IS the Velevet Underground. Playing's great. Energy's fantastic. Lou's singing is top notch. And best of all, a fan yells out a request for "Heroin". Lou flatly responds, "We don't do Heroin". You can't write that kinda stuff. Inferior To Live 1969 Vols. 1 & 2 - But Still Good The 1969 sets were professionally recorded and also feature drummer Mo Tucker, who was not on stage for the Max's KC gig. Those new to the Velvet Underground or looking for good live material should first purchase both volumes of the "Live 1969" collection. After digesting Live '69, this disc is worth exploring for a couple of reasons. First, this concert, recorded on a hand-held cassette recorder on 8-23-70, would prove to be Lou Reed's last appearance with the VU until the 1990's. (The band performed additional concerts at Max's KC without Reed and over the next couple years was "led" by Doug Yule. This version of the band, which also included Tucker, released a 1973 import-only album "Squeeze" before disbanding. ) So despite the fact that the sound quality is not of the highest fidelity and the foundation of the band is missing, its still a good addition the the VU discography. The setting is intimate and Reed seems relaxed performing before a hometown audience. The set also features songs from the 1970 "Loaded" album which was recorded in the spring and early summer. In summary the relaxed playfulness of "Live At Max's KC" provides an interesting contrast to the focused intensity of the "Live 1969" discs. That's Jim Carroll you hear asking for Pernod between songs It is he, doing his best Andy Warhol immitation, you hear asking for Pernod between songs. I just wanted to add this little factoid: poet/musician Jim Carroll, best known for *The Basketball Diaries* and his song "People Who Died," held the microphone for this recording. Quick note to reviewer "Askutnik" in Monroe, NY He was asked, "Where is Doug Yule these days", and Lou replies, "dead, I hope". I know of the recording you talk about where Lou was performing for a small crowd in NY. That recording is available on CD and is titled "Lou Reed, American Poet (Live)". It was recorded at an FM radio station in NY in 1972 and is available through Amazon for under $15. 00. To other readers, we highly recommend picking up a copy of this CD. Very Velvetish with a great set of popular songs. You can see a complete list of all The Velvet Underground discography, or go back to the The Velvet Underground tabs