Are there somehow not enough super deluxe box sets in the pipeline for you? Universal added another to the pile today: a 45th anniversary deluxe edition of The Velvet Underground & Nico.
The iconic, Andy Warhol-produced LP, released to almost no fanfare in 1967 but today recognized as a classic example of art-rock, is no stranger to CD reissues. Two different remasters appeared in stores in 1986 and 1996, and the album (along with various bonus material) appeared in the career-spanning 1995 box set Peel Slowly and See and as part of a 2002 deluxe edition title.
Now, with the album's 45th anniversary fast approaching, an exhaustive six-disc version is planned. The set will include a fine mix of what we've seen on previous deluxe versions as well as entirely unreleased works. Central to collectors is the first official release of the Scepter Studios acetate version of the album. This version of the LP features entirely alternate mixes, and in some case alternate versions, of the album's most popular cuts, including "All Tomorrow's Parties," "Femme Fatale," "Heroin" and "I'm Waiting for the Man." The album's original mono and stereo mixes will be included as well, along with alternate takes, Nico's Chelsea Girl solo album, early rehearsal versions and a live show recorded in Columbus, Ohio.
The box will be available October 30; hit the jump for a full track list.
The Velvet Underground & Nico: 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Verve/UMe, 2012)
Disc 1: Stereo LP (released as Verve V6-5008, 1967) and extras
- Sunday Morning
- I'm Waiting for the Man
- Femme Fatale
- Venus in Furs
- Run Run Run
- All Tomorrow's Parties
- Heroin
- There She Goes Again
- I'll Be Your Mirror
- The Black Angel's Death Song
- European Son
- All Tomorrow's Parties (Alternate Single Voice Version) (from Verve CD 823 290-2, 1986)
- European Son (Alternate)
- Heroin (Alternate)
- All Tomorrow's Parties (Alternate Instrumental Mix)
- I'll Be Your Mirror (Alternate Mix)
Disc 2: Mono LP (released as Verve V-5008, 1967) and single mixes
- Sunday Morning
- I'm Waiting for the Man
- Femme Fatale
- Venus in Furs
- Run Run Run
- All Tomorrow's Parties
- Heroin
- There She Goes Again
- I'll Be Your Mirror
- The Black Angel's Death Song
- European Son
- All Tomorrow's Parties (Single Mix) (Verve VK-10427-A, 1966)
- I'll Be Your Mirror (Single Mix) (Verve VK-10427-B, 1966)
- Sunday Morning (Single Mix) (Verve VK-10466-A, 1966)
- Femme Fatale (Single Mix) (Verve VK-10466-B, 1966)
Disc 3: Chelsea Girl (released as Verve V6-5032, 1967)
- The Fairest of the Seasons
- These Days
- Little Sister
- Winter Song
- It Was a Pleasure Then
- Chelsea Girls
- I'll Keep It with Mine
- Somewhere There's a Feather
- Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
- Eulogy to Lenny Bruce
Disc 4: Scepter Studios acetate and Factory rehearsals
- European Son *
- The Black Angel's Death Song *
- All Tomorrow's Parties *
- I'll Be Your Mirror **
- Heroin *
- Femme Fatale **
- Venus in Furs **
- I'm Waiting for the Man **
- Run Run Run **
- Walk Alone (Factory Rehearsal)
- Cracking Up / Venus in Furs (Factory Rehearsal)
- Miss Joanie Lee (Factory Rehearsal)
- Heroin (Factory Rehearsal)
- There She Goes Again (with Nico) (Factory Rehearsal)
- There She Goes Again (Factory Rehearsal)
* indicates track sourced from original tape. ** indicates track sourced from acetate disc.
Discs 5-6: Live at the Valleydale Ballroom, Columbus, OH - 11/4/1966
- Melody Laughter
- Femme Fatale
- Venus in Furs
- The Black Angel's Death Song
- All Tomorrow's Parties
- I'm Waiting for the Man
- Heroin
- Run Run Run
- The Nothing Song
Magnus Hägermyr says
As an answer to the opening question: well yes! Who'll buy a box like this if not only the very serious Velvet-fans who already got the orginal album and Nicos "Chelsea Girl". Just present the previous unreleased material and spare us the cost and the space (on the CD-shelf).