Description
- Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964 -1965 (Various Artists)
- (Colored Vinyl, Red, Gold)
- Artist: Various Artists
- Note: Filed with Lou Reed
- Format: LP
- Release Date: 10/18/2024
- LABEL: Light in the Attic
- VENDOR: Light in the Attic Records
- DISTRIBUTOR: AMPED
- NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
- UPC: 826853212113
- GENRE: Rock
DESCRIPTION
Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27th, the latest installment in LITA's critically acclaimed Lou Reed Archive Series is a compilation of pop songs penned by Reed during his mid-60s stint as a staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records. The compilation follows on the heels of Lou Reed's Hudson River Wind Meditations (2023) and Words & Music, May 1965 (2022). One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed (1942-2013) first gained recognition as co-founder and frontman of the massively influential Velvet Underground. Over the course of his five-decade career, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his singular vision to an eclectic expanse of musical endeavors, including era-defining albums like 1972's Transformer and wildly experimental works like the 1975 avant-garde noise classic Metal Machine Music. But before establishing himself as an enduringly iconic singer, songwriter, musician, and poet, Reed got his start as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist) for Pickwick Records-a label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day. Encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry, Reed's output for Pickwick ultimately offers a fascinating early glimpse at his ever-evolving and truly limitless artistry. The album has been restored and remastered by GRAMMY®-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin. Both the 2xLP & CD editions feature in-depth booklets with unseen photos, liner notes by Richie Unterberger (renowned music journalist and author of such acclaimed titles as White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day), and an essay by Lenny Kaye (the legendary guitarist, Patti Smith Group co-founder, writer, producer, and curator of seminal garage-rock anthology Nuggets). The double-LP package is designed by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike and pressed at world-renowned plant Optimal (Germany). A special color vinyl edition is pressed on "Oxblood" wax (A/B side) and "Gold" wax (C/D side). This release marks the first official anthology of Lou Reed's work for Pickwick Records and features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives' "The Ostrich"), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy").
Tracklist:
- 1
- The Primitives – the Ostrich
- 2
- The Beachnuts – Cycle Annie
- 3
- The Hi-Lifes – I'm Gonna Fight
- 4
- The Hi-Lifes – Soul City
- 5
- Ronnie Dickerson – Oh No Don't Do It
- 6
- Ronnie Dickerson – Love Can Make You Cry
- 7
- The Hollywoods – Teardrop in the Sand
- 8
- The Roughnecks – You're Driving Me Insane
- 9
- The Primitives – Sneaky Pete
- 10
- Terry Philips – Wild One
- 11
- Spongy and the Dolls – Really – Really – Really – Really – Really – Really Love
- 12
- The Foxes – Soul City
- 13
- The J Brothers – Ya Running But I'll Getcha
- 14
- Beverley Ann – We Got Trouble
- 15
- The All Night Workers – Why Don't You Smile
- 16
- Jeannie Larimore – Johnny Won't Surf No More
- 17
- Robertha Williams – Tell Mamma Not to Cry
- 18
- Robertha Williams – Maybe Tomorrow
- 19
- Terry Philips – Flowers for the Lady
- 20
- Terry Philips – This Rose
- 21
- The Surfsiders – Surfin'
- 22
- The Surfsiders – Little Deuce Coupe
- 23
- The Beachnuts – Sad Lonely Orphan Boy
- 24
- The Beachnuts – I've Got a Tiger in My Tank
- 25
- Ronnie Dickerson – What About Me