Review of Lou Reed's "Berlin" album (1973)

[@CookieMusic43]

Brilliant Jeff, a perfect review. I'm also pleased you emphasized the greatness of side 2, his best ever side of music. Well done!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Richard. Yes that Side 2 is quite a riveting listen, and remains so after years and years of listening to it. Jeff

[@Trifixion22]

I agree Richard. It's absolutely sublime! It's certainly one of the most emotional sides of any album.

[@thesocialspleen]

Hey, great little review as always, of course 😊 By 'Lady Day', it has been suggested that he is referring to Billie Holiday (she was known as Lady Day). He compares Caroline to Holiday. I don't know if you know about her but if you look at Holiday's life, you can see how there are parallels to what the life of Caroline. I hope this helps 😊 Oh, and by the way, I thought your 'Rough and Rowdy Ways' review was great. I know I don't comment a lot but I do watch every video. Thank you so much for posting regularly 😊

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks for the Billie Holiday info - now that you mention it, it rings a very vague bell in my head, but I never would have remembered it on my own, so THANKS for letting me know. I am sure you are right that that is what Lou had in mind here. Thanks again! Cheers. Jeff

[@thesocialspleen]

@@CalicoSilver No problem, anytime 😊

[@Slothrop67]

One of your best reviews Jeff! Well done. For me, Berlin is art in it's highest form. It's visceral. For me, it hits me in spots that trigger emotions before I can even think about it (They Are Taking Her Children Away for one). This album hits me like Lennon's first album did. What a wallop (Mama do go! Daddy stay home)! I find that I don't like listening to these particular albums with other people because of the emotional , deeply emotional rollercoaster that it puts me on. But, also like Great are (of any form) you have no idea where it starts and you end. In other words, I think " Is this affecting me because of certain personal experiences that I've had or is the artist just that good? Is it a combination? Who knows. Never the less, loved the review.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Tony. Yes this one requires a time and place to sit and absorb it. Very powerful art indeed.

[@mikewest1542]

Great review, descriptions of each track are perfect!

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate it! Cheers. Jeff

[@karlhughes849]

When I listen to this album I just hear great music, I don't get the "misery" bulls**t at all. The pretty and flamboyant arrangements make this such a perfect follow-on from Transformer, it's like he gave us glam rock to power of Lou. A nice review of a great great album. I've always had this as my favourite solo Reed album, I reckon its unassailable! Karl.

[@CalicoSilver]

Karl, I listened to this album for years before even really knowing the story contained in it (I almost always do that: absorb the music first, then the lyrics much much later.....which is why after all this time I am just now learning from viewers here who "Lady Day" refers to). I just loved the way the album sounded and the power of the performances and production. If the album was nothing more than about watching various items of baggage unload at the airport, I would still love it because of the music in it. I agree with you 100%.

[@gorvo31]

Hey again, Jeff. As ever another very thorough and evocative review making me feel like I've heard this. Even not having heard this, I feel like I understand where Lou is coming from with his own reactions to those feeling his album was too dark: Sometimes it's necessary for us to face up to and be ok with our own darkness to a degree....acknowledging that it's part of us, and even a tool or vessel to work with to bring us to a better place if we are aware enough. I mean, he could have meant something totally different than that anyhow. :-) Thanks for sharing this. I'm curious to hear this also for the line-up too at some point. -Carm

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Carm. There are people I know who are most likely perplexed by my enthusiasm for Lou Reed, being that he explores the underbelly or dark side of humanity fairly often. I've always been a goody-two-shoes live-and-let-live kinda guy for most of my life, and I surely cannot relate on a personal level to some of the things Lou writes about, but I have always appreciated artists who "went" down alleyways that I would not have gone down. Like you said, we all have our own "darknesses" anyway. Thanks for the comment. Jeff

[@toddfan3263]

Your reviews make look at albums from a completely different perspective! Thanks for all your efforts.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks! I appreciate you saying that. Cheers. Jeff

[@silviomurru8364]

Same here Always loved Lou and the velvet, and Always dislike this album. Until few days a go,I jus listened again and some how clicked on me Now I can't stop to listen it I'm just watching Berlin live on you tube,oh man is amazing! Thanks for the suggestion 🙏🤘

[@arti2909]

I've come to "Berlin" by Bob Ezrin footsteps :) I know you're not so much fond of his production style with Cooper going Broadway, but that's exactly what I like about him :) Combining such aesthetic with rock creates unique sound and vibes which I love. Anwyway, I've checked the "Berlin" album and I'm in awe. Wonderful and powerful stuff!

[@CalicoSilver]

Berlin is an amazing album, yes!! It is at least as much Ezrin as Reed.

[@darrellsmith4204]

I think the greatness (yes, I used that word) of Berlin is it's brutal honesty, it's clarity. It's emotionally specific. It's not a happy story, but it's an honest story. It's a love story, but like many love stories it doesn't have a happy ending. Jim and Caroline tried, but they were too flawed individually to be anything other than one drowning person pulling another under. It's a tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet but without the trappings of beauty and royalty. It dares you to stare into the abyss and not blink.

[@CalicoSilver]

Great comment, Darrell. I think you precisely nailed why this single album carries such a punch. Great comment!! Thanks. Jeff

[@toddfan3263]

My two favorite Lou Reed albums are Berlin and New York. Both are awesome! Great review as always!

[@CalicoSilver]

My two favorites also! We have great discernment in music, my friend! ;-)

[@rocky-o]

hey jeff...another great video...always love lou...berlin is probably my second favorite as well, behind ecstasy...by the way...lady day was a nickname for billie holiday...but i'm sure you knew that already...be well my friend...peace always...rocky

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Rocky. Oh yeah, I love Ecstasy also. My #1 has always been New York, but who knows? After I finish "reviewing" these albums my "ranking" may change! Haha. How absurd to "rank" art, isn't it? Anyway, thanks very much for letting me know about the Billie Holiday thing....it rings a vague bell but I certainly wouldn't have recalled it had it not been for you and Brooklyn Baker letting me know. Thanks! Jeff

[@rocky-o]

@@CalicoSilver of course new york is up there too...my hometown....maybe we can just have a whole bunch of his albums at number one and call it even (ha)...stay well my friend....peace...

[@Trifixion22]

I was waiting for this Jeff! I was actually just watching one of your Terje Rypdal reviews when I saw the notification for this. I must admit, I was unaware of the players on this album. I had no idea it was such a powerhouse lineup! As of now, this is my favourite Lou Reed album. Usually I like Lou Reed a bit more stripped down and raw; I've always felt him to be one of the precious few artists who play pure rock n roll, with no frills or forays into folk or anything. Despite the presence of the choir and more orchestral elements on this album, I still find it to be a pretty rocking album (especially on songs like How Do You Think It Feels and Oh, Jim). Virtually every song, with a few exceptions, rocks in it's own strange way. Lpu really channels his William Burroughs influence on this album; showing the absolute ugliest parts of life. It's for that reason I think it's such an important album.

[@CalicoSilver]

Wow, thanks for your great comment, Nick. I really like the William Burroughs connection there - good call! Yes, even though this is an extremely produced project, Lou's rock and roll heart shines forth for sure. As the years and decades pass, my enthusiasm for this man grows and grows. (and yeah, I tend to prefer the stripped down Lou.....my fave is New York.....but I gotta say, just about everything he has done has been marvelous....well, almost everything, haha!) Cheers. Jeff (yes, I need to go to bed.....)

[@fantasticmr.fox77]

CalicoSilver The Bells album isn't that bad. 'Families' is a track I keep going back to.

[@CalicoSilver]

@@fantasticmr.fox77 I am quite sure you (and many other The Bells fans) are correct. And I look forward to giving The Bells a whole new look when I get to it in my "reviews" series of Lou albums. Sometimes focused repeated listens result in a deeper appreciation.....I sincerely hope that I end up appreciating it much more than I have in the past. Thanks for your comment! Jeff

[@DarthR2D2101]

Great lou reed album, great review. You should continue reviewing more Reed although this one might be my favorite of his along with blue mask, new york, and legendary hearts.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks. I also love the albums that are your favorites (mine is New York, I think). Yes I plan to review all of Lou's studio albums. I'm almost ready to post my review of Coney Island Baby.

[@TomCwimpRock]

I’ve also always assumed that “Lady Day” was alluding to Billie Holiday, referring to her falling into decline and early death due to drugs and alcohol. The screen biopic “Lady Sings The Blues” starring Diana Ross portraying Billie, had come out in 1972 and was a big hit, the year before “Berlin” was released, and likely was on Lou’s mind when he was writing the album - but who knows? Your information that it also referred to the annunciation is food for thought though... I have also always found it interesting that “Lady Day” was included on the otherwise all-Velvet Underground songs, on his live, 1974 “Rock ‘N” Roll Animal” collection, it does fit in with that albums druggy, decadent atmosphere... I used to play the heck out of “Berlin” back when I was in my twenties, nowadays not so much, but as you said, it is a “strangely beautiful” record... I read that after Lou Reed passed away, Brian Wilson mentioned that “Sad Song” was a personal favorite of his, which at first surprised me, but the more I think about it, makes perfect sense... Great review Jeff !

[@CalicoSilver]

Hi Thomas. Yeah, based on your (and others') comments, I am positive you are right on about the "Lady Day" title origin. I'm already preparing for my next Lou video, on the R&RAnimal album, about which I have pros and cons.... Interesting about Brian Wilson's fave - I'd love to sit and chat with him for a while! Thanks again, Thomas. Cheers! Jeff

[@NathanielAhart]

When I was listening to the first side earlier, I was sort of on autopilot. However, once I got to Caroline Says II, the album completely had me in its grasp and it wouldn't let go. I went back and revisited side one again as I didn't want to put myself through the second side again 😂😂😂 Definitely appreciated it much more. What a bleak, but incredible artistic statement.

[@CalicoSilver]

Man I really HATED this album when I first heard it. Not because I thought the topic matter was depressing or anything, but because I just hated the music.....until I kept listening to it and it clicked. Definitely one of "those" kind of albums.

[@NathanielAhart]

@@CalicoSilver I'm lucky to have appreciated it from the get and I agree with you; Lou Reed fans who don't like this at first should DEFINITELY give it another listen!

[@RandallWeaver]

This was an excellent review Jeff. I really enjoyed it. I lived in West Berlin for a couple years (87-88). I always thought the song "Lady Day" was sort of a reference to Billie Holiday. That was a nickname for her, I think...and of course the song is about a dissolute woman who sings in bars, much like Billie. I think. Early on in her career, anyway. I think Billie was probably involved in abusive relationships...anyway, just thought I'd throw that in. Certainly a great album.

[@CalicoSilver]

Thanks Randy. Yeah other viewers said likewise about the obvious Billie Holiday reference that I missed. I shoulda just taken a few minutes to look that up before making the video, haha! (btw, I really hated this album the first few times I heard it.....funny how that can happen)

[@RandallWeaver]

@@CalicoSilver oh yeah, I thought it was the most depressing things I'd ever heard the first few times...I actually didn't grow to like it until I was living in Berlin - I had sold or traded my first copy and bought a replacement while there.