The Velvet Forum

The Velvet Underground never fails to intrigue and mystify. Does anyone know anything about the keyboard instrument that first gurgles into the improv brew of "Chic Mystique" at approx. 15:30, and arises to the surface at approx. 16:45? It sounds to my ears like, of all things, a melodica, yet I'm aware of no other use of that instrument in the VU's known work.

I'd guess it's John playing it, but can't readily detect what instrument disappears from the brew (which could be a deductive clue) prior to its uptaking. Could this barely-known recording have, somehow, been the root of Augustus Pablo's introduction of melodica into Jamaican music? WTF?!?!

It is interesting, and I've always assumed it was a melodica - certainly has that sound. I wondered if possibly Nico played it? If you can pick it a tune on a harmonium I figure you could pick one out on a melodica. That said, I've always found it impossible to decipher the actual instruments on Chic Mystique, let alone who plays them.

We'll never know, but they did from time to time invite friends to play with them onstage, so who knows.

Which friends do you mean?

Hey,I"m not got dropbox neither gmail acount,Any kind soul can send me a Pm, looking hear these songs,love early stuff thanks.

Have you read Uptight The Velvet Underground Story? One is mentioned in there. I don't recall a name. They would do things from time to time like perform with Allen Ginsburg.

taxine wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2018 12:21

Hey,I"m not got dropbox neither gmail acount,Any kind soul can send me a Pm, looking hear these songs,love early stuff thanks.

I can take the files to work on Weds. I will wetransfer them to myself and send you a link.

Nice offer man,but got this stunnig song from Phil and is on phone for while ago,thanks.

taxine wrote: ↑

20 Nov 2018 10:24

Nice offer man,but got this stunnig song from Phil and is on phone for while ago,thanks.

Glad to hear. Thanks for letting me know.

There's a reference here http://www.monoculartimes.co.uk/monomus ... cale.shtml (about the Cale "New York in the 60s" releases) that says "[It] sounds like elasticated shortwave irruptions accompanied by a busted cortina".

There's a reference here to a Rosedale cortina https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalog ... s-lot-132/ which is a keyboard-with-chords instrument.

If the author is right, could that be the source of the Chic Mystique "melodica" sounds?

Never heard of a cortina before though.