Lou Reed's early Pickwick tunes resurface on Why Don't You Smile Now comp

Light In The Attic has collected the songs from Lou Reed's time at Pickwick Records for a new double-LP out October 4th!

Here's the scoop from Light In The Attic...

We are beyond thrilled to reveal our third release in the Lou Reed Archive Series, Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65.

Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson & the Lou Reed Archive, this one has been decades in the making! Before Lou Reed fronted The Velvet Underground, he cut his teeth at a 9-to-5 as a songwriter for Long Island City label Pickwick Records. Reed would churn out pop hits du jour, most of which were intended for other singers, but a handful of these sessions would feature a singer with a particularly unmistakable, soon-to-be iconic voice. 

His days at Pickwick would leave an indelible mark not only on Reed but on rock ’n’ roll; it was here, as part of The Primitives—a faux-group formed to promote the Pickwick-penned, dance-craze single, ”The Ostrich”—that Lou would meet and first collaborate with his future VU-bandmate John Cale. 2xLP, CD, and merch ship 10/4; digital lands 9/27. "The Ostrich" digital single is out now! 

Adds producer/compiler Pat Thomas:

"Several years ago, the call came from Light in the Attic Records (I was no longer a staffer there, having moved over to Fire Records), but I couldn't say no to this offer - "please compile the best of Lou Reed's pre-Velvets recordings for Pickwick Records" - probably the most exciting of these tracks is ‘The Ostrich’ by The Primitives (written and song by Lou). Various friends helped me out with ideas - including something I didn't know - Lou Reed singing on a Beach Boys tribute album that Pickwick released! Other pals supplied original '45s and albums - it was a team effort - the CD / vinyl will be called 'Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65' on Sept 27th via Light in the Attic - this project was fully endorsed by the Lou Reed estate and will include some wonderful insider info and photos, I'm honoured to be the reissue producer/compiler of this Lou Reed set."

Have a listen to a few tunes following the tracklisting below. 

 

Why Don't You Smile Now: 

Lou Reed at Pickwick Records, 1964-65

The Primitives - The Ostrich

The Beachnuts - Cycle Annie

The Hi-Lifes - I'm Gonna Fight

The Hi-Lifes - Soul City

Ronnie Dickerson - Oh No Don't Do It

Ronnie Dickerson - Love Can Make You Cry

The Hollywoods - Teardrop In The Sand

The Roughnecks - You're Driving Me Insane

The Primitives - Sneaky Pete

Terry Philips - Wild One

Spongy And The Dolls - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really Love

The Foxes - Soul City

The J Brothers - Ya Running But I'll Getcha

Beverley Ann - We Got Trouble

The All Night Workers - Why Don't You Smile

Jeannie Larimore - Johnny Won't Surf No More

Robertha Williams - Tell Mamma Not To Cry

Robertha Williams - Maybe Tomorrow

Terry Philips - Flowers For The Lady

Terry Philips - This Rose

The Surfsiders - Surfin'

The Surfsiders - Little Deuce Coupe

The Beachnuts - Sad Lonely Orphan Boy

The Beachnuts - I've Got A Tiger In My Tank

Ronnie Dickerson - What About Me

 

Listen to a Kicksville Radio special on Pickwick Records, Sunday

Tune into Kicksville Radio (https://kicksvilleusa.com) today at 4 pm for a special on the Pickwick Records label. 

Of course Todd Haynes' Velvet Underground doc comes with a soundtrack album

The 2CD soundtrack for the new Velvet Underground doc – out October 15 – includes a few unexpected tracks. 

Here's the scoop...

Even before the complete track listing had been announced for the soundtrack of Todd Haynes' much-anticipated new Velvet Underground documentary, the debate amongst longtime fans of the group regarding what should and shouldn't be included had already begun. Whether the focus should be on the music recorded by the group's classic line-up with Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Moe Tucker and Nico or if there should be any post-Cale material at all. And what about Lou Reed's pre-Velvets studio forays on behalf of Pickwick? 

Well, the serious discussions are about to begin as the official track listing has been released by Republic Records/Universal Music for the selections made by director Todd Haynes with his music supervisor Randall Poster for the 2CD package entitled The Velvet Underground: A Documentary Film By Todd Haynes – Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack set for release on October 15th, the same day the film premieres globally on Apple TV+.  

Along with the expected studio cuts of such Velvets classics as "I'm Waiting For The Man," "All Tomorrow's Parties," "Pale Blue Eyes," "Sweet Jane," "Venus In Furs," "Foggy Notion," "Ocean" and "Heroin" (mono), there are also live versions of "Sister Ray" and "After Hours." There's one Nico showcase "Chelsea Girls" and one pre-Velvets track "The Ostrich" cut by Reed using the studio alias of The Primitives circa 1964. 

The soundtrack also features a few tunes by artists which inspired the group. There's a live version of "Road Runner" by Bo Diddley, a Fortune label doo-wop gem "The Wind" by Nolan Strong & The Diabolos (credited to simply The Diablos") and perhaps most intriguing, a previously unreleased recording of a LaMonte Young composition "17 XII 63 NYC The Fire Is A Mirror (excerpt)" attributed to The Theatre of Eternal Music.  Check the full track listing following a few song clips from The Primitives, Nolan Strong & The Diablos and The Velvet Underground below. 

The Velvet Underground: A Documentary Film By Todd Haynes – Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack

Disc 1

Venus In Furs - The Velvet Underground  5:12

The Wind - The Diablos  3:05

17 XII 63  NYC  The Fire Is A Mirror (excerpt) - The Theatre of Eternal Music  6:21

Heroin [mono] - The Velvet Underground  7:14

Road Runner (Live) - Bo Diddley  4:14

The Ostrich - The Primitives  2:25

I'm Waiting For The Man - The Velvet Underground  4:40

Chelsea Girls - Nico  7:27

Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground  2:56                

Disc 2             

Sister Ray (Live) - The Velvet Underground  19:03

Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground  5:40

Foggy Notion - The Velvet Underground  6:59

After Hours (Live) Version 1 - The Velvet Underground  2:56

Sweet Jane - The Velvet Underground  4:09

Ocean - The Velvet Underground  5:14

All Tomorrow's Parties - The Velvet Underground  5:53