Lou Reed was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 2, 1942. In the 1950's he played in various garage bands, and started at a very early age to write both poems and songs.
In the early 1960's he studied literature at Syracuse University. When he returned to New York he was hired as songwriter for Pickwick Records. When he met Welsh musician John Cale in 1965, they together formed the legendary band Velvet Underground. During 1967-70 the band released 4 albums, but in 1970 Reed left the band and went underground himself. He worked with his father's accounting firm on Long Island.
A year later, in 1971, RCA signed him to a solo contract and sent him to London to record Lou Reed, which was released in 1972. While in England, Reed met David Bowie, a self-proclaimed Reed fan; Bowie produced Reed's next album, Transformer (1972), which included Reed's most popular song ever, "Walk on the Wild Side." For the rest of the decade, Reed consistently put out inconsistent work. A certain core audience connected with Reed's visions of beauty in ugliness (Berlin, 1973) or noise in music (Metal Machine Music, 1975), but the public at large was left more turned off than on. In 1978, Reed released The Bells, which critics compared to such classics as Van Morrison's Astral Weeks and the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street.
By the mid '80s, Reed had laid down the Velvet's mantle and was writing brighter, more up-tempo songs (on 1984's New Sensations and 1986's Mistrial). Even while writing about death and other somber topics, on 1992's Magic and Loss, he avoided complete and abject depression. In 1993, Reed joined the other members of the Velvet Underground in a final, reunion tour of Europe. (Sterling Morrison died in 1995.)
Maybe Reed is a romantic at heart; after all, he once got married on Valentine's Day, and he speaks glowingly of his current love, Laurie Anderson. A new album, with the hopeful title, Set the Twilight Reeling, seems to be the work of a man who has finally made his peace with life.
source: “Sing365.com”
1. Lou Reed - RCA 1972
Tracks:
1. I Can't Stand It / 2. Going Down / 3. Walk And Talk It / 4. Lisa Says / 5. Berlin / 6. I Love You / 7. Wild Child / 8. Love Makes You Feel / 9. Ride Into The Sun / 10. Ocean
Rating : 6
2. Transformer - RCA 1972
Tracks:
1. Vicious / 2. Andy's Chest / 3. Perfect Day / 4. Hangin' 'Round / 5. Walk On The Wild Side / 6. Make Up / 7. Satellite Of Love / 8. Wagon Wheel / 9. New York Telephone Conversation / 10. I'm So Free / 11. Goodnight Ladies / 12. Hangin' 'Round (Demo) / 13. Perfect Day (Demo)
Rating : 9
3. Berlin - RCA 1973
Tracks:
1. Berlin / 2. Lady Day / 3. Men Of Good Fortune / 4. Caroline Says I / 5. How Do You Think It Feels / 6. Oh, Jim / 7. Caroline Says II / 8. The Kids / 9. The Bed / 10. Sad Song
Rating : 6
4. Rock and Roll Animal - live - RCA 1974
Tracks:
1. Intro/Sweet Jane / 2. Heroin / 3. How Do You Think It Feels (*) / 4. Caroline Says I (*) / 5. White Light/White Heat / 6. Lady Day / 7. Rock 'N' Roll
Rating : 7
5. Sally Can't Dance - RCA 1974
Tracks:
1. Ride Sally Ride / 2. Animal Language / 3. Baby Face / 4. N.Y. Stars / 5. Kill Your Sons / 6. Ennui / 7. Sally Can't Dance / 8. Billy / 9. Good Taste (*) / 10. Sally Can't Dance (Single*)
Rating : 7
6. Lou Reed Live - RCA 1975
Tracks:
1. Vicious / 2. Satellite Of Love / 3. Walk On The Wild Side / 4. I'm Waiting For The Man / 5. Oh, Jim / 6. Sad Song
Rating : 4
7. Metal Machine Music - RCA 1975
Tracks:
1. Metal Machine Music, Part 1 / 2. Metal Machine Music, Part 2 / 3. Metal Machine Music, Part 3 / 4. Metal Machine Music, Part 4
Rating : 1
8. Coney Island Baby - RCA 1975
Tracks:
1. Crazy Feeling / 2. Charleys Girl / 3. Shes My Best Friend / 4. Kicks / 5. A Gift / 6. Ooohhh Baby / 7. Nobodys Business / 8. Coney Island Baby
Rating : 6
9. Rock and Roll Heart - Arista 1976
Tracks:
1. I Believe In Love / 2. Banging On My Drum / 3. Follow The Leader / 4. You Wear It So Well / 5. Ladies Pay / 6. Rock And Roll Heart / 7. Chooser And The Chosen One / 8. Senselessly Cruel / 9. Claim To Fame / 10. Vicious Circle / 11. A Sheltered Life / 12. Temporary Thing
Rating :
10. Street Hassle - Arista 1978
Tracks:
1. Gimmie Some Good Times / 2. Dirt / 3. Street Hassle a) Waltzing Matilda b) Street Hass.. / 4. I Wanna Be Black / 5. Real Good Time Together / 6. Shooting Star / 7. Leave Me Alone / 8. Wait
Rating :
11. Take No Prisoners - live - Arista 1978 ( 64-66 )
Tracks:
1. Sweet Jane / 2. I Wanna Be Black / 3. Satellite Of Love / 4. Pale Blue Eyes / 5. Berlin / 6. I'm Waiting For My Man // 1. Coney Island Baby / 2. Street Hassle / 3. Walk On The Wild Side / 4. Leave Me Alone
Rating :
12. The Bells - Arista 1979
Tracks:
1. Stupid Man / 2. Disco Mystic / 3. I Want To Boogie With You / 4. With You / 5. Looking For Love / 6. City Lights / 7. All Through The Night / 8. Families / 9. The Bells
Rating :
13. Growing Up In Public - Arista 1980
Tracks:
1. How Do You Speak To An Angel / 2. My Old Man / 3. Keep Away / 4. Growing Up In Public / 5. Standing On Ceremony / 6. So Alone / 7. Love Is Here To Stay / 8. The Power Of Positive Drinking / 9. Smiles / 10. Think It Over / 11. Teach The Gifted Children
Rating :
14. The Blue Mask - RCA 1982
Tracks:
1. My House / 2. Women / 3. Underneath The Bottle / 4. The Gun / 5. The Blue Mask / 6. Average Guy / 7. The Heroine / 8. Waves Of Fear / 9. The Day John Kennedy Died / 10. Heavenly Arms
Rating : 5
15. Legendary Hearts - RCA 1983
Tracks:
1. Legendary Hearts / 2. Dont Talk To Me About Work / 3. Make Up My Mind / 4. Martial Law / 5. The Last Shot / 6. Turn Out The Light / 7. Pow Wow / 8. Betrayed / 9. Bottoming Out / 10. Home Of The Brave / 11. Rooftop Garden
Rating :
16. New Sensations - RCA 1984
Tracks:
1. I Love You, Suzanne / 2. Endlessly Jealous / 3. My Red Joystick / 4. Turn To Me / 5. New Sensations / 6. Doin' The Things That We Want To / 7. What Becomes A Legend Most / 8. Fly Into The Sun / 9. My Friend George / 10. High In The City / 11. Down At The Arcade
Rating :
17. Mistrial - RCA 1986
Tracks:
1. Mistrial / 2. No Money Down / 3. Outside / 4. Don't Hurt A Woman / 5. Video Violence / 6. Spit It Out / 7. The Original Wrapper / 8. Mama's Got A Lover / 9. I Remember You / 10. Tell It To Your Heart
Rating :
18. New York - Sire 1989
Tracks:
1. Romeo Had Juliette / 2. Halloween Parade / 3. Dirty Blvd. / 4. Endless Cycle / 5. There Is No Time / 6. Last Great American Whale / 7. Beginning Of A Great Adventure / 8. Busload Of Faith / 9. Sick Of You / 10. Hold On / 11. Good Evening Mr Waldheim / 12. Xmas In February / 13. Strawman / 14. Dime Store Mystery
Rating : 7
19. Songs for Drella - Sire 1990
Tracks:
1. Smalltown / 2. Open House / 3. Style It Takes / 4. Work / 5. Trouble With Classicists / 6. Starlight / 7. Faces & Names / 8. Images / 9. Slip Away / 10. It Wasn't Me / 11. I Believe / 12. Nobody But You / 13. A Dream / 14. Forever Changed / 15. Hello It's Me
Rating :
20. Magic and Loss - Sire 1992
Tracks:
1. Dorita / 2. What's Good / 3. Power and Glory / 4. Magician / 5. Sword Of Damocles / 6. Goodby Mass / 7. Cremation / 8. Dreamin' / 9. No Chance / 10. Warrior King / 11. Harry's Circumcision - Reverie Gone Astray / 12. Gassed and Stoked / 13. Power and Glory Pt. II / 14. Magic and Loss
Rating :
21. Set the Twilight Reeling - Reprise 1996
Tracks:
1. Egg Cream / 2. NYC Man / 3. Finish Line / 4. Trade In / 5. Hang On To Your Emotions / 6. Sex With Your Parents / 7. Hooky Wooky / 8. The Proposition / 9. Adventurer / 10. Riptide / 11. Set The Twilight Reeling
Rating :
22. Ecstasy - Reprise 2000
Tracks:
1. Paranoia Key Of E / 2. Mystic Child / 3. Mad / 4. Ecstasy / 5. Modern Dance / 6. Tatters / 7. Future Farmers Of America / 8. Turning Time Around / 9. White Prism / 10. Rock Minuet / 11. Baton Rouge / 12. Like A Possum / 13. Rouge / 14. Big Sky
Rating :
23. The Raven - Sire 2003
Tracks:
1. Overture / 2. Edgar Allan Poe / 3. Call On Me / 4. The Valley of Unrest / 5. A Thousand Departed Friends / 6. Change / 7. The Bed / 8. Perfect Day / 9. The Raven / 10. Balloon / 11. Broadway Song / 12. Blind Rage / 13. Burning Embers / 14. Vanishing Act / 15. Guilty / 16. I Wanna Know / 17. Science of the Mind / 18. Hop Frog / 19. Tripitena's Speech / 20. Who Am I? / 21. Guardian Angel
Rating :
24. Hudson River Wind Meditations - Sounds True 2008
Tracks:
1. Move Your Heart / 2. Find Your Note / 3. Hudson River Wind (Blend the Ambiance) / 4. Wind Coda
Rating :
25. Lulu - Warner 2011
Tracks:
1. Brandenburg Gate / 2. The View / 3. Pumping Blood / 4. Mistress Dread / 5. Iced Honey / 6. Cheat on Me / 7. Frustration / 8. Little Dog / 9. Dragon / 10. Junior Dad
Rating :
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - December 25 - 2005
19 Berlin - 1973
21 Transformer - 1972
24 New York - 1989
51 Blue Mask - 1982
52 Songs for Drella - 1990
61 Rock´n Roll Animal - 1974
94 Street Hassle - 1978
98 Legendary Hearts - 1983
146 New Sensations - 1984
158 Magic and Loss - 1992
168 Metal Machine Music - 1975
183 Take No Prisoners - 1978
188 Sally Can´t Dance - 1975
195 Lou Reed - 1972
225 The Bells - 1979
268 Rock´n Roll - 1976
280 Ecstasy - 2000
324 Growing up in Public - 1980
409 Twilight - 1996
520 Mistrial - 1986
721 The Raven - 2003
Check and Rate Here!
December 25 - "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 80 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation:
1. Satellite of Love ( Reed ) Transformer
2. Lisa Says ( Reed ) Lou Reed
3. Vicious ( Reed ) Transformer
4. I Love You ( Reed ) Lou Reed
5. Perfect Day ( Reed ) Transformer
6. Caroline Says II ( Reed ) Berlin
7. Walk on the Wild Side ( Reed ) Transformer
8. Kill Your Sons ( Reed ) Sally Can´t Dance
9. New York Telephone Conversation ( Reed ) Transformer
10. Caroline Says I ( Reed ) Berlin
11. Sally Can´t Dance ( Reed ) Sally Can´t Dance
12. Charley´s Girl ( Reed ) Coney Island Baby
13. Romeo and Juliette ( Reed ) New York
14. Crazy Feeling ( Reed ) Coney Island Baby
15. Halloween Parade ( Reed ) New York
17. What´s Good ( Reed ) Magic and Loss
18. She´s My Best Friend ( Reed ) Coney Island Baby
19. Dirty Boulevard ( Reed ) New York
20. Endless Cycle ( Reed ) New York
21. Last Great American Whale ( Reed ) New York
22. Ocean ( Reed ) Lou Reed
23. Love Makes You Feel ( Reed ) Lou Reed
24. Andy´s Chest ( Reed ) Transformer
25. Make Up ( Reed ) Transformer
26. Going Down ( Reed ) Lou Reed
27. I´m So Free ( Reed ) Transformer
28. Ride Sally Ride ( Reed ) Sally Can´t Dance
29. Ennui ( Reed ) Sally Can´t Dance
30. Women ( Reed ) The Blue Mask
LINKS:
Rock and Roll Animal Site
The Official Lou Reed