White
Light / White Heat 45th Anniversary EditionSo, this year is the 45th anniversary of the Velvet Underground’s ‘White Light/White Heat’ – and what better way to celebrate then with a super-deluxe, multi-format reissue? Released on the 2nd of December (today!) through Universal records, this new edition presents previously unreleased material chosen by Lou Reed and John Cale themselves – and it’s here just in time for Christmas. Well fancy that, folks.
Although it barely dented the top 200 on it’s release in 1968, ‘White Light/White Heat’ has gone on to become one of the most raw, abrasive and innovative records of all time, and has been a huge influence on countless acts since. “No one listened to it,” Reed said in a statement, “but there it is forever – the quintessence of articulate punk.”
Featuring remastered mono and stereo versions of the original album and a 56 page book, it’s also got new mixes of tracks like
‘Beginning to see the light’, ‘Hey Mr.Rain’, ‘Stephanie Says’ and an instrumental of the darkly sinister ‘The Gift’. If that wasn’t enough, the third disc includes a brilliant but rarely heard 1967 live set taken from the Gymnasium in New York.
It’s a real treat, and particularly poignant considering Reed’s untimely passing earlier this year. If all this is just for the 45th anniversary celebration, then we can’t wait to see whats in store for the 50th.
Pre-order this here.
TRACKLISTING
DISC ONE: ‘White Light / White Heat’ (Stereo Version)
‘White Light / White Heat’
‘The Gift’
‘Lady Godiva’s Operation’
‘Here She Comes Now’
‘I Heard Her Call My Name’
‘Sister Ray’
‘I Heard Her Call My Name’ (Alternate Take)
‘Guess I’m Falling in Love’ (Instrumental Version)
‘Temptation Inside Your Heart’ (Original Mix)
‘Stephanie Says’ (Original Mix)
‘Hey Mr. Rain’ (Version One)
‘Hey Mr. Rain’ (Version Two)
‘Beginning to See the Light’ (Previously Unreleased Early Version)
DISC TWO: ‘White Light / White Heat’ (Mono Version)
‘White Light / White Heat’
‘The Gift’
‘Lady Godiva’s Operation’
‘Here She Comes Now’
‘I Heard Her Call My Name’
‘Sister Ray’
‘White Light / White Heat’ (Mono Single Mix)
‘Here She Comes Now’ (Mono Single Mix)
‘The Gift’ (Vocal Version)
‘The Gift’ (Instrumental Version)
DISC THREE: ‘Live at the Gymnasium New York City, April 30, 1967?
‘Booker T.’
‘I’m Not a Young Man Anymore’
‘Guess I’m Falling in Love’
‘I’m Waiting for the Man’
‘Run Run Run’
‘Sister Ray’
‘The Gift’