Join us to go back to 1967 for a deep dive into the debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico with author Richie Unterberger - his book about the band is out now in the UK & in the US.
It starts when Andy Warhol attends a Velvet Underground gig at Cafe Bizarre in Greenwich Village - Andy was looking for a group to sponsor or form an association with as a way to fund his move into film making.
Nico joins as a vocalist not long after, despite Lou Reed’s reluctance. Despite some memorable contributions she is never fully accepted by the rest of the band.
Andy Warhol’s involvement begins to get the bands shows & great exposure & shortly after they begin to record what would becomes their debut album at Scepter Records on West 54th Street in New York. 6 tracks are completed there before the rest is finished in Los Angeles.
A acetate of the finished album is received very poorly at the bands label, MGM Records & that reception is echoed by the general public upon release as the album famously does not achieve initial commercial success.
However it did prove hugely influential by those who heard it including many figures from the punk world such as Patti Smith as well as a young David Bowie who receives that may have been the first copy to reach the UK.
The albums ongoing influence is significant & it continues to be discovered to this day.
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