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CD Reviews

The Velvet Underground | The Verve/MGM Albums

Sundazed Music Inc (2012)

By JONATHAN DONALDSON | November 27, 2012

4.0 Stars

Sundazed scores with an LP-only box featuring rare original mono mixes of the Velvet's first three records; Nico's debut, Chelsea Girl; and an unreleased album heretofore known to fans by legend only. Called 1969, the box set's last record is the first real attempt to release the Velvet Undeground's long-speculated, shelved fourth album — a label-dispute casualty and a brilliant snapshot of the band at the peak of their jittery-R&B stage, between their homonymous third album and their final one, Loaded. Although fans probably first heard these tracks in the mid-'80s on the VU/Another View CDs (crummy digital mastering), the process of compiling the album-proper has always been difficult due to the band's lack of interest. Band archivist Bill Levenson nails it here, though, with proper mastering/EQ and an inspired Side 2, where an arrestingly sloppy version of "Rock & Roll" slides into a laconically masterful "Ride into the Sun." A perfect juxtaposition of a legend about to pop.

Topics: CD Reviews , Music, The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground, More

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