Is Anybody Here NOT Into Lou Reed?

kaisersose · Post by **kaisersose** » 13 Dec 2006 02:06

gordon wrote:Maybe I'm getting old but I had never heard about the "myth" that Lou's voice was "doctored" by RCA. Has this idea been discussed in print anywhere?

I dont think has been discussed in print,'cause it is something not supposed to be know outside of the record company.Let's say that I heard it through the Grapevine...

MJG196 · Post by **MJG196** » 13 Dec 2006 12:43

gordon wrote:Maybe I'm getting old but I had never heard about the "myth" that Lou's voice was "doctored" by RCA. Has this idea been discussed in print anywhere?

The myth of the whole "voice manipulation" thing is fan-perpetuated. Much like the "Louis Firbank" name...which was actually made up by Reed in an interview and everyone, including biographers at the time, picked it up as fact.

Most tellingly, is when you listen to live recordings of Lou and compare them to the album they are supporting. I just posted the '79 European Tour finale (Dublin, IRE), and Lou sings in that nasal Bells-LP whine. Or go back to his Sally Tour and hear him sound exactly like the LP (The Charlton FC show is a great example). Was someone out there behind the mixing desk adjusting his voice LIVE? No.

kaisersose wrote:I dont think has been discussed in print,'cause it is something not supposed to be know outside of the record company.Let's say that I heard it through the Grapevine...

This is just ridiculous rumor-spreading. It has been widely discussed and every time someone brings it up, I just gotta say he sounds exactly the same LIVE as in the studio. He puts on his "Sally disguise" or his "Street Hassle disguise" and acts the part. Sure, there are effects used...but the record company screwing with his voice? Again, no.

Credibility is always in question when you give out a "secret" (i.e. something not supposed to be know outside of the record company), but then say it is TOO secret to discuss.

gordon · Post by **gordon** » 13 Dec 2006 23:52

I agree with mg196. I've heard many many tapes of Lou live and his voice usually reflects the Lp he's promoting (in the 70s certainly). It's well known that his voice is not very "durable" but I that's not the same as it being manipulated (with or without his knowledge....)

btw I think that the "Butch Firbank" name was a Lester Bangs/Dave Marsh invention at Creem magazine - I dont think Lou was involved other than to not deny it...

MJG196 · Post by **MJG196** » 14 Dec 2006 01:01

gordon wrote:I agree with mg196. I've heard many many tapes of Lou live and his voice usually reflects the Lp he's promoting (in the 70s certainly). It's well known that his voice is not very "durable" but I that's not the same as it being manipulated (with or without his knowledge....)

btw I think that the "Butch Firbank" name was a Lester Bangs/Dave Marsh invention at Creem magazine - I dont think Lou was involved other than to not deny it...

That's right! Whenever I think of Bangs/Reed I always see "interview."

kaisersose · Post by **kaisersose** » 14 Dec 2006 02:42

I went to see Lou Reed in London in 1977.At that time I was really a Lou Reed fan & I remember very well having a long conversation after with a prominent RCA person about Lou Reed voice (in the first concert he was quite out of tune)thats where I heard about the voice manipulation for the 1st time.I saw all the 3 concerts (I remember 3rd day he did a great version of kicks).I didnt really enjoy the sets so much.I think Fogel with his sax was way too much involved.By the way I heard about the voice affair again in other occasions by others.Anyway it doesnt make any difference.I hope that he will be great performing Berlin after 33 years(the age of Jesus Christ)I'm jealous of Gordon.please report us your impressions after the gig.

gordon · Post by **gordon** » 14 Dec 2006 10:39

hey kaisersose, I have tapes of all 3 London 77 shows if you need copies.....(including that great version of "Kicks")

kaisersose · Post by **kaisersose** » 14 Dec 2006 14:10

Thanks for the offer,but I rather have a copy of the concert including that fantastic kicks version on youtube.Does anybody got it?

MJG196 · Post by **MJG196** » 14 Dec 2006 15:48

kaisersose wrote:Thanks for the offer,but I rather have a copy of the concert including that fantastic kicks version on youtube.Does anybody got it?

There are no known videios of these shows in existence. Better settle for the audio!! And if video does exist, if someone puts it on Youtube rather than torrenting the file online, I'm gonna hunt you down!!

kaisersose · Post by **kaisersose** » 14 Dec 2006 17:01

I'm new on this planet.Can you explain me this torrent thing?

Harvest · Post by **Harvest** » 14 Dec 2006 19:38

I've got about 18 Lou solo albums and a dozen Cale ones. I love a lot of them, there aren't many that don't have at least a few good tracks on them. Drella is nearly perfect.

My fave solo albums are:

Lou - Berlin, Take No Prisoners, The Bells, Street Hassle, New York

John - Paris 1919, Fear, Sabotage, Hobo Spiens, Black Acetate.

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