Gold (Velvet Underground album)
Encyclopedia
Gold is a two-CD compilation album
by The Velvet Underground
. It was released for the North America
n market on June 14, 2005, by Polydor, the record label
that oversees the band's Universal Music Group
back catalogue.
The album is a greatest-hits compilation, drawing from the band's first three albums, two outtake compilation and live album
on Polydor Records
and several co-owned labels (Verve
, MGM
and Mercury
).
Gold also includes two Nico solo tracks, co-written and played by The Velvet Underground members Lou Reed
, John Cale
and Sterling Morrison
, taken from her 1967 debut album for Polydor, Chelsea Girl
. Two songs from the VU
outtake compilation—"Temptation Inside Your Heart" and "Stephanie Says"—are included in their previously unavailable original 1968 mixes. (The latter even includes some different instrumental and vocal parts.)
On May 29, 2006, the album was re-issued in Europe as The Velvet Underground Story with different artwork but featuring the same track listing.
Disc one
(1–9) taken from The Velvet Underground & Nico; (10–11) taken from Chelsea Girl
; (12–14) taken from White Light/White Heat
.
Disc two
(1–2) first appearance, regular mixes available on VU
; (3) taken from Another View
; (4–8) taken from The Velvet Underground
; (9–12) taken from VU
; (13–16) taken from 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
.
Additional musicians
Technical staff
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
. It was released for the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n market on June 14, 2005, by Polydor, the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that oversees the band's Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
back catalogue.
The album is a greatest-hits compilation, drawing from the band's first three albums, two outtake compilation and live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
on Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
and several co-owned labels (Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, MGM
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
and Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
).
Gold also includes two Nico solo tracks, co-written and played by The Velvet Underground members Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
and Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison
Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
, taken from her 1967 debut album for Polydor, Chelsea Girl
Chelsea Girl (album)
Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album by Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records, also home to The Velvet Underground. The name of the album is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, which Nico starred in...
. Two songs from the VU
VU (album)
VU is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in February 1985 by Verve Records.-Composition and collection:...
outtake compilation—"Temptation Inside Your Heart" and "Stephanie Says"—are included in their previously unavailable original 1968 mixes. (The latter even includes some different instrumental and vocal parts.)
On May 29, 2006, the album was re-issued in Europe as The Velvet Underground Story with different artwork but featuring the same track listing.
Track listing
All tracks performed by The Velvet Underground except † performed by The Velvet Underground & Nico and ‡ performed by Nico. All titles written by Lou Reed except as noted.Disc one
- "I'm Waiting for the Man"
- "Femme Fatale"†
- "Venus in Furs"
- "Run Run Run"
- "All Tomorrow's PartiesAll Tomorrow's Parties"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by The Velvet UndergroundAll Tomorrow's Parties may also refer to:* All Tomorrow's Parties , an annual festival in England...
"† - "Heroin"
- "There She Goes AgainThere She Goes Again"There She Goes Again" is a song by The Velvet Underground. It first appeared on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. The syncopated guitar riff is taken from the 1962 Marvin Gaye song, "Hitch Hike", but is most likely influenced by The Rolling Stones' cover version, from their...
" - "I'll Be Your Mirror"†
- "Sunday Morning" (Reed, Cale)†
- "Chelsea Girls" (Reed, Morrison)‡
- "It Was a Pleasure Then" (Reed, Cale, PäffgenNicoNico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
)‡ - "White Light/White HeatWhite Light/White Heat (song)"White Light/White Heat" is a song by American avant-garde rock band The Velvet Underground, the title track on their second album, released in 1968. It is a fast, relatively aggressive start to the album, similar to the punk rock genre it would ultimately influence.The song's vocals are performed...
" - "I Heard Her Call My Name"
- "Sister Ray" (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker)
(1–9) taken from The Velvet Underground & Nico; (10–11) taken from Chelsea Girl
Chelsea Girl (album)
Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album by Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records, also home to The Velvet Underground. The name of the album is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, which Nico starred in...
; (12–14) taken from White Light/White Heat
White Light/White Heat
The album briefly appeared on the Billboard 200, although only peaking at number 199. Despite its poor sales, the distorted, feedback-driven, and roughly recorded sound on White Light/White Heat became a notable influence on punk and experimental rock...
.
Disc two
- "Temptation Inside Your Heart" (alternate, original mix)
- "Stephanie Says" (alternate, original mix)
- "Hey Mr. Rain" (version one) (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker)
- "Candy Says"
- "What Goes On"
- "Some Kinda Love"
- "Pale Blue EyesPale Blue Eyes"Pale Blue Eyes" is a song written by Lou Reed and performed by The Velvet Underground. It was included on the band's eponymous 1969 album The Velvet Underground....
" - "Beginning to See the Light"
- "Foggy Notion" (Reed, Morrison, Yule, Tucker, WeissHy Weiss-Biography:Born Hyman Y. Weiss in Romania, he was an immigrant to the United States when young and was brought up in the Bronx, New York. He started in the music industry in 1949, setting up Parody Records with his brother Sam....
) - "I Can't Stand It"
- "One of These Days"
- "Lisa Says"
- "New Age" (live)
- "Rock and Roll" (live)
- "Ocean" (live)
- "Sweet JaneSweet Jane"Sweet Jane" is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by band's leader Lou Reed, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances years later as a solo artist....
" (live)
(1–2) first appearance, regular mixes available on VU
VU (album)
VU is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in February 1985 by Verve Records.-Composition and collection:...
; (3) taken from Another View
Another View
Another View is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in 1986 by Verve Records and is comprised of material recorded between 1967 and 1969.-Composition and collection:...
; (4–8) taken from The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground (album)
The Velvet Underground is the third album by American rock group The Velvet Underground. It was their first record to feature Doug Yule, John Cale's replacement. It was recorded in 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California. This album's softer sound marks a radical shift in approach in style...
; (9–12) taken from VU
VU (album)
VU is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in February 1985 by Verve Records.-Composition and collection:...
; (13–16) taken from 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released as a double album in September 1974 by Mercury Records. The September 1988 CD re-release was issued as two separate single CD volumes, with one extra track per disc...
.
Personnel
The Velvet Underground- Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
– vocals except as noted, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
; pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on "Sunday Morning" and "White Light/White Heat" - Sterling MorrisonSterling MorrisonHolmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
– guitar, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Maureen TuckerMaureen TuckerMaureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
– violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, celestaCelestaThe celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
(disc 1; disc 2: 1–3) - Doug YuleDoug YuleDouglas Alan Yule is an American musician and singer, most notable for being a member of The Velvet Underground from 1968 to 1973.- Early career :Yule began playing with various bands in Boston in the 1960s...
– bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals; lead vocal on "Candy says"; lead guitar on "One of These Days" (disc 2: 4–16)
Additional musicians
- NicoNicoNico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
– lead vocals on "Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "I'll Be Your Mirror", "Chelsea Girls" and "It Was a Pleasure Then", backing vocals on "Sunday Morning"
Technical staff
- Andy WarholAndy WarholAndrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
(disc 1: 1–8) - Tom Wilson – producer (disc 1: 9–14)
- The Velvet Underground – producers (disc 2)
- Gary KellgrenGary KellgrenGary Kellgren was an American audio engineer and co-founder of The Record Plant recording studios, along with businessman Chris Stone.-Engineering:...
- engineer