Lou Reed

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Light in the Attic (Oxblood/Gold Vinyl)

Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-1965 serves as the first official anthology (blessed by both Reed's estate and his widow, musician Laurie Anderson) covering Reed's first gig in the music business: as a songwriter and sometime musician for the budget-minded Pickwick label collective. Despite the obscurity of the material - and the iconoclast's own assessment of his time as "a poor man's Carole King" - Reed's affinity for pop and soul melodies was evident on these songs. Listeners will hear originals meant to emulate the American pop/rock landscape of the time, soundalike covers of The Beach Boys, and original compositions from the future two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, including the cult dance tune "The Ostrich." The set will include unseen photos and new liner notes by author Richie Unterberger and rocker, Patti Smith Group co-founder and historian Lenny Kaye. All audio has been remastered by John Baldwin and pressed on vinyl at German plant Optimal, with a package designed for vinyl by Masaki Koike at Phys Design and for CD by Darryl Norsen.​