It's always somewhat cute when somebody enthuses about something as though it's a discovery (hey, did you know Stella McCartney's dad used to be in band?) but then you sound like Barry dealing with requests for Stevie Wonder records.

One reason Bockris' book is insightful about Mr. Reed is that he was a member of Warhol's Factory, and a member of the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. He also wrote a book on the Velvet Underground. These are his two best books, his biography of Keef is just dull.

To get up to speed on Lou, get the DVD Lou Reed: Rock & Roll Heart

It, along with "Take No Prisoners" and much more are in this article from Las Vegas Weekly.

Unca Lou's new collection is Lou Reed - NYC Man: The Collection

Hey, thanks so much. I also really appreciate you not talking down to me for being so late. (Can you blame me? I'm only 18.) Plus, I've worshipped the Beatles since I was 10, which wasn't that long ago, but I'm working on that as well. And honestly, Barry was so right about Stevie Wonder in the 80s and 90s. I'll take "Superstitious" over "I Just Called to Say I Love You" any day. At present moment, I'm working on getting my hands on NYC Man (as I have been for the past few weeks), but the VU box set just put a slight dent in my bank account, so it's going to have to wait. Thanks for the tips!

And can I add for the record that I am a classically trained musician who also, as an aspiring writer at NYU, admires Reed for his both musical and linguistic abilities equally.

My own intro to Lou & the Velvets -- which likewise led to a fullblown if short-lived obsession -- came by way of the late 1970s classic Street Hassle, which I now regard as a true neglected gem. Look into it.

Viv, if you're classically trained, then you shouldn't give John Cale such short shrift in your summary of the VU. It was really the collaboration and confilct between Cale (a classically trained prodigy) and Reed, plus the moderating influence of Mo Tucker and Sterling Morrison which made the Velvet Underground so special. In contrast, Lou Reed's first solo album is not very good.

Check out the Warhol tribute "Songs For Drella" which Cale and Reed created. Plus there is the Velvet Underground reunion concert.

IMO John Cale's solo work is more consistent and more diverse than Lou Reed's solo albums. Plus he produced some of the milestones in rock music including Patti Smith's "Horses" (which if you haven't heard it, stop everything, and go get it NOW!, no, don't read any further, that's an order).

And for the record, my favourite Nico quote is "I vant to be a singer like Bob Dylan".

Well, classically trained for the first three quarters of my life. I mainly played piano (hence the disdain for piano-pop songstresses), but also did violin for a short while. Being a former string player, I would've thought I would be more interested in Cale's avant-garde viola, but unfortunately when it comes to strings, I'm strictly classical. No John Adam for me. If you have any suggestions as to which John Cale solo tracks are worth introducing myself to, I'd love some more input. But like I said, I decided that piano wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so instead of auditioning for a conservatory, I decided to concentrate on writing, which is why at the present moment, I'm more into Lou Reed. Also, I'd like to know what you think about Tucker and Morrison's post-VU projects.

What does anyone see in "European Son" or "Black Angel's Death Song"? I love the Nico album but those songs are completely unlistenable.

Rodney, if you have to ask, you just don't know.

Of course, I own three copies of "Metal Machine Music" (1 vinyl, 1 bootleg CD and it has mastering problems, it skips on track 4, and the official CD reissue).

As for Cale, that's kinda hard to say, because he has so much diverse stuff. Do you want aggro-rock, fusion, delicate string pieces, piano exercises, collaborations with Brian Eno?

There is this compilation The Island Years

But if you're going for the VU thing, there's Songs for Drella

I don't have any of Sterling's solo stuff, but I have a couple of Mo Tucker's albums and they are great in a shambling indie way. Again, the American Masters DVD "Rock and Roll Heart" has a lot of this stuff.

Pixies
Come On Pilgrim

One two three
She's a real left winger 'cause she been down south
And held peasants in her arms
She said "I could tell you a story that could make you cry"
"What about you?"
I said "Me too"
"I could tell you a story that will make you cry"
And she sighed "Aaahh"
I said "I wanna be a singer like Lou Reed"
"I like Lou Reed" she said sticking her tongue in my ear
"Let's go, let's sit, let's talk"
"Politics go so good with beer"
"And while we're at it baby, why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?"
I said "Loosing my penis to a whore with disease"
"Just kidding" I said "Losing my life to a whore with disease"
I said "Please... I'm a humble guy with a healthy desire"
"Don't give me no shit because..."

don't go "discovering" lou reed/vu in context of a pop film like high fuckn fidelity. break up with your main squeeze, get fucked up on a bottle of five dollar vodka, park your car on the edge of a steep hill, put your foot on the clutch, keep the car in gear, keep drinking, and then listen to almost any reed/vu album. or something. just not in an airconditioned condo eating popcorn with your boy/friend getting your dick/tits sucked while you get turned on to reed/vu. no offense, i'm just saying. and oh yeah, casakissmyblancass and reed comparisons, please.

As for Duane's purile observation, I think Jim Carroll said it best when he said:

Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others,
And I salute you brother/ This song is for you my brother

Hey, that cunt's not breathing
I think she's had too much
of something or other, hey, man, you know what I mean?
I don't mean to scare you
but you're the one who came here
and you're the one who's gotta take her when you leave
I'm not being smart
or trying to be cold on my part
and I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve
But you know people get all emotional
and sometimes, man, they just don't act rational you know,
they think they're just on TV

"Black Angel's Death Song" unlistenable? Blasphemy! And why on earth is getting to know the VU in a pop context a horrible thing? Mozart was a lascivious alcoholic, but I don't blast the Jupiter while I'm chugging some cheap sherry.

Don't miss the outtakes albums, VU and Another View. VU might be my favorite Velvets album, though I may be alone in that opinion. It's definitely the most fun to listen to. It might come as something of a revelation to some to learn that Lou Reed used to sing(!) in a band that didn't take itself seriously(!) all the time(!).

I have had this strong bond with Lou Reeds music, my life has changed in so many ways some in good and some for worse. He has been my fav. musican for so long but i would have to say Sterrling would have to be my fav. now. Lou is such a great musican but a hudge asswhole. His music isnt that good anymore but like he said a great artist never stays the same and i admire him for that. I wish there was a cd from Sterrlings group the Bizzaros and if anybody knows where to find please email or email me telling me a fucking retard either way just send some feed back.