Velvet Underground – Loaded – 1970

[Roland Bru]

This album is the least famous album by a seminal rock group. Other (studio) albums are: Velvet Underground and Nico, White light / White Heat and Velvet Underground, plus Live in Max’s Kansas City and two compilations from studio leftovers released during the 1980’s). This band generated the cliché: few people bought their records but all of them started bands of their own.

Lou Reed is a lousy singer, good lyricist and OK rhythm guitar player. He can also be rather cynical, misogynist (or misanthropic generally, no need to be modest here). Finally, he’s somewhat of a bully, as John Cale, his principal partner in early V.U., and a lot more interesting from a musical standpoint, can testify. But he redeems himself by being a good songwriter, and this album is actually his best album from a songwriting perspective. Possibly less spectacular, less groundbreaking than earlier efforts, but really good songs: Sweet Jane and Rock ‘n’ roll were later transformed into something rather different in his solo career, but already sound very good here. Lonesome Cowboy Jim is country & western with a twist, Who loves the sun is a lovely ballad, Head held high is a solid (if unpretentious) rocker and New age is a beautiful, very impressive song. I own a 2 cd version, very appropriately called Loaded, fully loaded edition, and it is well worth your money: alternate versions, studio leftovers (including songs later recycled for his solo career) and great liner notes. Buy it!