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 ... Read review
Vicious Andy's Chest Perfect Day Hangin' 'Round Walk on the Wild Side Make Up ... more
Satellite of Love Wagon Wheel New York Telephone Conversation I'm So Free Goodnight Ladies Hangin' 'Round (Previously Unreleased Acoustic Demo) (Bonus T...
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Transformer, Lou Reed's second post- Velvet Underground album, was produced by David Bowie ... more
and Mick Ronson (Bowie's guitarist) in 1972. It features such classics as "Vicious" and "Walk On The Wild Side", as well as a bopping, subdued version of "Andy's...
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Advantages: Some Essential Reed Songs Disadvantages: A lot of filler
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.
Product Information for "Transformer [Remastered] - Lou Reed" »
Product details
Title
Transformer [Remastered]
Performer
Lou Reed
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Singer/Songwriter
Release Date
11/11/2002
Recomended Retail Price
10.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1972
Label / Distributor
RCA / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Producer
David Bowie; Mick Ronson
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
78636513225
Catalogue Number
07863651322
SPAR code
AAD
Additional notes
Album Notes
Personnel: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar); Mick Ronson (guitar, recorder, piano, background vocals); Ronnie Ross (baritone saxophone); Herbie Flowers (tuba, acoustic & electric basses); Klaus Voorman (bass); John Halzey, Barry Desouza, Ritchie Dharma (drums); David Bowie, The Thunder Thighs (background vocals). Originally released on RCA (4807). Includes liner notes by MIchael Hill. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Having quit the Velvet Underground, a disillusioned Lou Reed came to Britain to rethink his musical career. A low-key solo debut was followed by this highly successful release, which combined the artist's narrative compositions with the lure of contemporaneous fashions, glam-rock and androgyny. Long-time fan David Bowie co-produced the set, which emphasized the commercial nature of Reed's work without sacrificing his individuality or authenticity. Members of Andy Warhol's entourage were described graphically in "Walk On The Wild Side" which broke taboos on lyrical content when issued as a single. Its Top 10 place ensured Reed's long-awaited commercial appreciation.
Album Reviews
NME (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #55 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.' Q (1/03, p.56) - Included in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums Ever" Rolling Stone (1/4/73, pg.61) - "..Lou Reed is probably a genius..Real good stuff..."Walk On The Wild Side" is another winner.." Rolling Stone (3/28/02, p.72) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "...One of the all-time great fake Bowie albums....A glam manifesto as outrageous as Lou Reed himself..."
Q (5/92, p.103) - 3 Stars - Good - "..bright and sassy.." Mojo (1/03, p.106) - "...TRANSFORMER boasts four stone classics..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Vicious
2.
Andy's Chest
3.
Perfect Day
4.
Hangin' Around
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 (bonus track)
13.
Perfect Day (bonus track)
14.
Transformer Radio Spot (bonus track)
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
17/03/2001
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