Transformer [Remastered] - Lou Reed

This was Lou Reed's second solo album, post Velvet Underground, produced under the aegis of his mentor and RCA label mate of the time David Bowie. The album is heavily influenced by "Ziggy" era Bowie, which ironic considering that Bowie was heavily influenced by the work of Reed with the Velvet Underground. Reed influencing Bowie influencing Reed. The album is none the worse for Ziggy's influence.

The cover is interesting ...
...Reed on the front and models representing Reed's male / female personae on the back.

There are some fine songs here, opening with the excellent "Vicious" which could have graced a VU album, this is floowed by "Andy's Chest" about Mr Warhol. Next up we have "Perfect Day" which was also the "B" side of the stand out song here "Walk On The Wildside" with that loping distictive Herbie Flowers ... more

This was Lou Reed's second solo album, post Velvet Underground, produced under the aegis of his mentor and RCA label mate of the time David Bowie. The album is heavily influenced by "Ziggy" era Bowie, which ironic considering that Bowie was heavily influenced by the work of Reed with the Velvet Underground. Reed influencing Bowie influencing Reed. The album is none the worse for Ziggy's influence.

The cover is interesting featuring a scary stark pure black and white photograph of Reed on the front and models representing Reed's male / female personae on the back.

There are some fine songs here, opening with the excellent "Vicious" which could have graced a VU album, this is floowed by "Andy's Chest" about Mr Warhol. Next up we have "Perfect Day" which was also the "B" side of the stand out song here "Walk On The Wildside" with that loping distictive Herbie Flowers bass riff (for which he was reputedly paid a tenner session players fee). The song's subject matter is amazing , and the huge surprise is that the BBC censors allowed to be played, but I suppose drugs, transvestism and oral sex were commonpalce at the BBC at the the time.

The other stand out track on the album is "Satellite of Love" , also a single and covered by Reed and U2 on the "Peace Together " Northern Ireland Peace Campaign charity album.

Most of the rest of the album is fairly disposable, but includes the short jokey "New York Telephone Conversation".

This is not in the same league as the first Velvet Underground album, but is worth purchasing for the songs mentioned above, and it's available at mid price.

 

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