A Day of Listening at the Lincoln Center Library
Posted: 06 Apr 2019 05:07
I thought I'd start a new thread rather than pile onto the old Lou Reed Archives thread - I hope that's okay.
I spent yesterday in the library at Lincoln Center in New York, listening to the archives.
First of all NO - I did not try to record anything - sorry everyone!
The research room was on the third floor. I really didn't know what to expect. At the third floor, I had to check in my bag and jacket, but I could keep the laptop and the headphones and notebook I had brought with me. I told the librarian I wanted to listen to the Lou Reed recordings. I was a little worried I would have to justify why I was researching Lou Reed, but nothing like that. She had me fill out a short form so I could get a library card. Since I'm not a New York State resident, I could only get a card which lasts for 3 months, but I think it's otherwise a normal New York Public Library card. I needed to show my driver's license for identification. They gave me one of the Lou Reed library cards, and a smaller version for me key chain. I didn't ask for it - I got the feeling that was the only library card they issue at that library.
They would have issued me headphones had I needed them, but no probably for me to use my own. Standard thin headphone jack. It turns out, I needed to use their computers, which they had plenty of. If there was a way for me to get the audio on my laptop, I wasn't able to figure it out. It didn't look to me like anyone else there that day was there to listen to Lou's music - it looked like mostly local graduate student types to me. They had a security guard checking people on their way in and out, but it looked like they were mostly there to prevent things from leaving the library rather than checking for what was brought in. Once I was set up, I was completely left alone.
It was hard to know where to start. I'll give my write ups in order, but I actually skipped around a lot. There were a few things I listened to twice. Of course, I didn't get to listen to everything I would like to listen to. But, as I told my sister-in-law, 6 hours of non-stop Lou is a lot, even for me.
Most of my listening was in the Demos and Rehearsals section. (http://archives.nypl.org/mus/24078#c1552811)
Lou Reed Playing Cover Songs:
I didn’t spend my time here. What I listened to was surprisingly good sound quality. I listed to a couple of the Dylan covers toward the end of the tape. They were pretty straightforward and fine renditions on acoustic guitar, but not very interesting. There were a few bars of a song I didn’t recognize and which was not cataloged. Perhaps an original? Words were “I love you baby, don’t walk out that door”.
Lou Reed and John Cale Demo 1965
This is what we were all waiting for, and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, sound was not the best and there was a loud hum throughout the first side. This was all acoustic guitar.
Men of Good Fortune – this was not the song we know from Berlin. A totally different song which happens to have the same name as the later Lou Reed song. A Dylanesque folk song.
Heroin – similar to the other early version played at Lou’s memorial event in New York
Put Your Money Down – a folky protest song, though not too sure what Lou was protesting, exactly. “Put your money down on the table. Let’s see if you’re really a man. Put your money down on the table. Stop all your talking and do what you can.”
Buttercup Song or (Never Get Emotionally Involved with Man, Woman Beast or a Child) – this song was silly and fun and the lyrics were pretty weird. It was a story song, but it was a little hard to hear all the lyrics. Sounded like he was making fun of an older poet or something. “Never get emotionally involved with man, woman, beast or a child, with cobblestone streets and subway turnstiles, and by World War Three you’ll have developed style.”
Walk Alone – similar to the version we know
Too Late – I really liked this song, though the second version was better. Doo wop influenced rocker. “It’s too late to be loved by a guy like me”.
Pale Blue Eyes – Cale harmonies on the “linger on”. Different (and inferior) words to the ones we know. Seemed like Lou was pretty angry at the subject of the song at the time. (“Not that I’m complaining. Just sooner see you dead”…) Harmonica solo.
Stockpile – This was a fun song. “Guess I’m gonna have to go and join the Stockpile”.
Buzz Buzz Buzz – A fun, novelty bluesy rocker. “Buzz buzz buzz. Buzz buzz all night long. I went buzz buzz buzz…”
Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams – I never liked this song much to begin with, and this is probably the worst version I’ve heard. I almost didn’t make it to the end. One of them is beating on a box or something very loudly and not keeping time well. Very long.
On side 2, the hum has gone away. There is an unidentified female on the tape who is chatting with Lou and Cale. She sings a little bit of harmonies on some of the songs.
Since all the songs on side 2 appear on side 1, I don’t have more notes on them, except that the second version of Too Late was really exceptional. Probably my favorite of all the listening on that day. The version of Pale Blue Eyes had slightly different lyrics from the one on side one, but was similar. I think it cut off early.
There was a version of Walk Alone on side 2 which was not listed for some reason. There was also an unlisted fragment of “Walking the Dog” – a Rufus Thomas song (I looked it up) which had been covered by the Rolling Stones.
Okay, getting tired for writing. I have some more notes I’ll get to later, but this tape was definitely the highlight. There were a few more goodies in the other tapes though.
Finally, a note that not everything listed was available for listening, unfortunately. You can see that some of the listings don’t have links. I don’t know if that’s because they haven’t gotten to digitizing them yet or because they will never be made public. It was a shame, since I had been really looking forward to the studio stuff for the third album, but no dice. I can’t complain too much, though!
I spent yesterday in the library at Lincoln Center in New York, listening to the archives.
First of all NO - I did not try to record anything - sorry everyone!
The research room was on the third floor. I really didn't know what to expect. At the third floor, I had to check in my bag and jacket, but I could keep the laptop and the headphones and notebook I had brought with me. I told the librarian I wanted to listen to the Lou Reed recordings. I was a little worried I would have to justify why I was researching Lou Reed, but nothing like that. She had me fill out a short form so I could get a library card. Since I'm not a New York State resident, I could only get a card which lasts for 3 months, but I think it's otherwise a normal New York Public Library card. I needed to show my driver's license for identification. They gave me one of the Lou Reed library cards, and a smaller version for me key chain. I didn't ask for it - I got the feeling that was the only library card they issue at that library.
They would have issued me headphones had I needed them, but no probably for me to use my own. Standard thin headphone jack. It turns out, I needed to use their computers, which they had plenty of. If there was a way for me to get the audio on my laptop, I wasn't able to figure it out. It didn't look to me like anyone else there that day was there to listen to Lou's music - it looked like mostly local graduate student types to me. They had a security guard checking people on their way in and out, but it looked like they were mostly there to prevent things from leaving the library rather than checking for what was brought in. Once I was set up, I was completely left alone.
It was hard to know where to start. I'll give my write ups in order, but I actually skipped around a lot. There were a few things I listened to twice. Of course, I didn't get to listen to everything I would like to listen to. But, as I told my sister-in-law, 6 hours of non-stop Lou is a lot, even for me.
Most of my listening was in the Demos and Rehearsals section. (http://archives.nypl.org/mus/24078#c1552811)
Lou Reed Playing Cover Songs:
I didn’t spend my time here. What I listened to was surprisingly good sound quality. I listed to a couple of the Dylan covers toward the end of the tape. They were pretty straightforward and fine renditions on acoustic guitar, but not very interesting. There were a few bars of a song I didn’t recognize and which was not cataloged. Perhaps an original? Words were “I love you baby, don’t walk out that door”.
Lou Reed and John Cale Demo 1965
This is what we were all waiting for, and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, sound was not the best and there was a loud hum throughout the first side. This was all acoustic guitar.
Men of Good Fortune – this was not the song we know from Berlin. A totally different song which happens to have the same name as the later Lou Reed song. A Dylanesque folk song.
Heroin – similar to the other early version played at Lou’s memorial event in New York
Put Your Money Down – a folky protest song, though not too sure what Lou was protesting, exactly. “Put your money down on the table. Let’s see if you’re really a man. Put your money down on the table. Stop all your talking and do what you can.”
Buttercup Song or (Never Get Emotionally Involved with Man, Woman Beast or a Child) – this song was silly and fun and the lyrics were pretty weird. It was a story song, but it was a little hard to hear all the lyrics. Sounded like he was making fun of an older poet or something. “Never get emotionally involved with man, woman, beast or a child, with cobblestone streets and subway turnstiles, and by World War Three you’ll have developed style.”
Walk Alone – similar to the version we know
Too Late – I really liked this song, though the second version was better. Doo wop influenced rocker. “It’s too late to be loved by a guy like me”.
Pale Blue Eyes – Cale harmonies on the “linger on”. Different (and inferior) words to the ones we know. Seemed like Lou was pretty angry at the subject of the song at the time. (“Not that I’m complaining. Just sooner see you dead”…) Harmonica solo.
Stockpile – This was a fun song. “Guess I’m gonna have to go and join the Stockpile”.
Buzz Buzz Buzz – A fun, novelty bluesy rocker. “Buzz buzz buzz. Buzz buzz all night long. I went buzz buzz buzz…”
Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams – I never liked this song much to begin with, and this is probably the worst version I’ve heard. I almost didn’t make it to the end. One of them is beating on a box or something very loudly and not keeping time well. Very long.
On side 2, the hum has gone away. There is an unidentified female on the tape who is chatting with Lou and Cale. She sings a little bit of harmonies on some of the songs.
Since all the songs on side 2 appear on side 1, I don’t have more notes on them, except that the second version of Too Late was really exceptional. Probably my favorite of all the listening on that day. The version of Pale Blue Eyes had slightly different lyrics from the one on side one, but was similar. I think it cut off early.
There was a version of Walk Alone on side 2 which was not listed for some reason. There was also an unlisted fragment of “Walking the Dog” – a Rufus Thomas song (I looked it up) which had been covered by the Rolling Stones.
Okay, getting tired for writing. I have some more notes I’ll get to later, but this tape was definitely the highlight. There were a few more goodies in the other tapes though.
Finally, a note that not everything listed was available for listening, unfortunately. You can see that some of the listings don’t have links. I don’t know if that’s because they haven’t gotten to digitizing them yet or because they will never be made public. It was a shame, since I had been really looking forward to the studio stuff for the third album, but no dice. I can’t complain too much, though!