'Sister Ray' by The Velvet Underground - Cam Forrester

[@kjcs_1896]

This is amazing! You captured Sister Ray in all its chaos and beauty. I wished you did those fast bits in the middle, but then again, did the Velvets play the same song twice? Great job!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Yeah I know exactly what you mean, that's actually why I was initially so reluctant to attempt it - all the changes in dynamics and tempo - it's difficult enough to get it sounding natural with no parts drifting in and out of time when recording everything separately, let alone then having to mime it all from memory to make the video look authentic and natural. In the end I opted to drop the tempo changes, and reduce the length slightly - those two sacrifices made it manageable, but even with that considered, it was still a monumental effort and has taken months to complete. The guitar parts were recorded and filmed live to maximise their accuracy in order to make syncing the video easier (with the exception of a couple of overdubbed sections). Overall I'm really happy with the result though, and very glad you enjoyed it my friend! Thanks for your support as ever! 😉

[@kjcs_1896]

@@CAMFORRESTER Only the Velvets can go to hell and back, change tempo and return seamlessly. They are special that way. Can't wait to hear more covers of yours for the Velvets, though after the Sister Ray, as Lou Reed said, how can one top that.

[@CAMFORRESTER]

@@kjcs_1896 This one is part of my final trilogy of VU covers - the other two will follow over the next month or so!

[@kjcs_1896]

@@CAMFORRESTER Now I'm excited. Now I have to wonder how you will top Sister Ray. Can't wait for that. Will be a bombastic way to start the year.

[@CAMFORRESTER]

@@kjcs_1896 I wouldn't go so far as to say they'll top Sister Ray, just accompany it nicely 😅😉

[@peterbee88]

Fukin great. Just as orchestratedly chaotic as the original. I'm pushing 70 now, and that is still one of my favourite pieces of music. Well done 👏

[@sikamt]

THANK you all so much! Made me so Happy. Love the VU! Loving and sharing! Happy 2024!

[@salters]

The greatest song of all time ..I cannot hear enough different versions of Sister Ray and this just adds to the list of versions I love❤

[@paredefazersentido]

Perfect! I love your Sterling Morrison and Moe impressions, spot on!

[@camilogarcia3171]

Pure gold, best cover ever

[@davidconnor5136]

Thank you for keeping this truly great band alive in the minds of today’s youth

[@CAMFORRESTER]

This comment literally defines the reason why I took the time to make these videos - and it makes me very happy to think I may have achieved that. So thank you very much!

[@davidconnor5136]

@@CAMFORRESTER keep up the good work the velvet’s are a very special band that touched the lives of many a teenager

[@GrumpyOldGit60]

That made me smile. I remember first hearing this in '77 and thinking it was like nothing on earth. All these years later it remains a unique blast of narrative mayhem.

[@artturnerjr]

Love it. Your knowledge of the VU members' playing styles, gear, etc., is, in my experience as a fan for over 30 years, unsurpassed. Please keep doing what you're doing! 😎

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks, this really means a lot to me!

[@phloxdiffusa]

Love the lead quitar half way through

[@mmarks4]

Thanks for the preview of What's Going On

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks so much for your order - I'll get your copy in the post asap!

[@koplegend1963]

Absolutely brilliant! Captured the essence of the VU.

[@cabiria_banda]

holy fuck, jesus fucking christ. i never thougth this song was capable of being reproduced lke the record, because its so chaotic and so spontaneous, sister ray is one of those songs that every time its performed its completely differnet. but my fucking god im amazed, im blown away from my chair. i dont have even words to describe how perfect this is. the tone of the organ, those chords played on specific moments that act like an accent. the tone of the guitars, the improv just like the album and some live versions like the matrix. the way you sing like lou, the moe drumming always spot on and sounding like a human standing machine. its sublime, perfect, awesome. i just fell in love with this video, and now i can play it correctly. thanks man, you made my day better. greetings from brazil

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks so much for your comment - I'm really glad you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed making it!

[@BenCDaugherty]

Dude I know you have talked about a VU tribute act/show someday I would happily be on board if I lived in the UK. Just know that you have 19 year old college students such as myself out there who are engulfed in the VU like you my friend. Rock on.

[@CAMFORRESTER]

That's great to hear! I'm still hopeful about the tribute show...but it's on the shelf at the moment unfortunately due to not being able to find a female drummer interested or committed enough sadly!

[@Alfiefagan0]

Me too mate

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@CAMFORRESTERi'll have a Sex Change IF that's what it takes!

[@whitbrown1648]

Jesus Christ - no words …. Thank you

[@commonbirdsband]

Awesome job. Greatest band.

[@germinallajaunie5085]

So good to hear your "sister ray" but reading the introduction above I can understand how difficult it is to come closer and closer to the original spirit. Talking about spirit (different one), I hear that song first in 81 under massive tide of absinthe. Thanks Cam. Merci beaucoup je suis un fan.

[@arthurcrime]

Used play this song in the sacred Cowboys, it is indeed a good un.

[@kurtstephan7039]

This is EPIC, Cam! 👏You keep outdoing yourself. I'd play it for people who can't hear past the muddy sound of the WL/WH recording and I'm sure they'd finally get why "Sister Ray" is brilliant.

[@fatjoesatan]

everything changed as it should ... this rocks.

[@dudearmageadonn9173]

Damn, this has to be your most ambitious interpretation. I don't think anyone has tried so hard to replicate this song in this detail. Do you plan to publish the individual parts? I kinda missed that tbh. Pretty good editing too!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Yeah there will be a 'making of' video to follow at some point! Thanks for your comment 😉

[@magraretsbane6274]

HOLY SHIT, I love the Vox continental

[@CAMFORRESTER]

I f***ing love that thing too 😎😉

[@Vishangro]

These guys might be the greatest tribute band in the world.

[@CAMFORRESTER]

@@Vishangro Guys? 🤨

[@Vishangro]

Sorry Cam. I should have read your bio. Just goes to show how good your recreation is!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

@@Vishangro Haha no worries I was only teasing 😜

[@zcx70]

Finally! Righteous take.

[@AsAngelsSing]

Excellent! Your modern mix brings out much more life vs. the original. You do a great job making yourself look like each member too!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@charlessale409]

Bless ya Cam. Greets from sweaty Queensland.

[@jabal64]

Bravo! Masterpiece!

[@andreatondini3116]

Bellissima versione, grandi❤❤

[@majortom1358]

Great, great job, bravo! 🤗

[@josepharmand6117]

My man! Splendid job on a daunting task! You've gone to some real trouble. Well done.

[@antmerchan4120]

Impresionante! El sonido de la Velvet no tiene secretos para usted ! Gracias por sus vídeos.

[@JamesNaked]

very good

[@Alfiefagan0]

Love this , what about foggy notion next!!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

I haven't recorded that one I'm afraid...if I ever get the live tribute band going it will certainly be in the setlist though!

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@CAMFORRESTER are you seriously getting a VUband together? Where are you based?

[@joakimgoksor7375]

Amazing job Cam! 😎

[@salubrious]

A new kind of genius.

[@livecoilarchive1458]

Goddamn, dude! Is there anything you can't do?

[@jamescolyn5960]

This cover is surprisingly good. With my first glance of the 4 musicians -- who even look eerily like Lou, John, Sterling, and Mo -- I expected a cheap imitation version of the original. However, it turned out to be a superb version, true to the original but sufficiently creative to merit a complete listen.

[@CAMFORRESTER]

I appreciate that - thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😃

[@nullvoid244]

Praise ye the lord, and also this fine cover

[@HarrisonProductions]

One word, beautiful

[@PizzaPokerPsych]

Well done. This is my favorite song.

[@MrLouRules]

Just brilliant. Thank you :-)

[@Peter64n]

👏👏👏👏👏breathtaking cover

[@nocarbonfootprint9120]

Nailed it. Wow. I can't wait to check out your other stuff.

[@mjlotus]

Great version. Whip it on!

[@mjlotus]

Third listen. Loving this more and more. I like how you can hear the instruments distinctly, especially "Sterling's" lead licks. The keyboard sound is classic, right out of the 60s. I like how you just sing it mostly as Cam and don't try to mimic Lou, or not too much. This is not a replica of the original but an homage and even dare I say an updating, though I dare not say an improvement. You cannot improve on an event or an organism that just happened, inexplicably and uniquely. The original is a force of nature, something vast, vulgar, unstoppable, and inhumanly beautiful, and this is a worthy response.

[@Scottwazear]

Yes Cam! long time, the editing is sick

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks man, hope you are well!

[@russellurwin1374]

still waiting for There she goes again {album version}. If you can re-create SR , TSGA should be a dodle

[@CAMFORRESTER]

I did record a full cover of it a year or so ago after you first asked me but I wasn't happy with how it came out; it sounded hollow like there was something missing, even though I transcribed all the parts as accurately as possible. The original track relies heavily on the bass guitar for all its propulsion, since there is no bass drum playing in it, and the bass would have originally been played through a large amplifier at full volume, recorded through microphones and then fed through an analogue compressor - it seemed no matter what I tried, I just could not get the same sound. I may revisit it at some point, but I have a lot of other projects I''m working on at the moment, so we'll see!

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@CAMFORRESTERwhat about the LIVE69 version?

[@naranjojo]

Nailed it.

[@outtathyme5679]

Great

[@MrGeorge514131]

Magic !!! Many thanks

[@pierrevespaman1442]

Great cover - already one of the best !

[@thebaddestgene8853]

Wow, now we need a lesson!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

This one can't really be taught 😅

[@thebaddestgene8853]

i mean individiual parts maybe) @@CAMFORRESTER

[@edwardmulholland7912]

Excellent stuff

[@pizzaman-fx3xx]

great cover

[@jhutch888]

This is incredible!!!

[@willowufgood261]

Wow awesome. I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel. You nailed that sound. I love this!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@willowufgood261]

@@CAMFORRESTER I played it on my stereo system today and it sounds awesome!

[@BenCDaugherty]

Hey Cam! I read one internet article that said John’s Vox Organ broke in the middle of the song which gave his organ that crazy aggressive snarl. Is this true or was he legit just yanking out all the stops and cranking his amp to achieve those gnarly growls?

[@CAMFORRESTER]

I will have an interesting revelation coming up regarding that very subject in a 'Making Of' video - look out for it!

[@BenCDaugherty]

@@CAMFORRESTERdude! I can’t wait for that video. Hope to see it soon 🙏🏼

[@MrYeahyouknow]

Love it cam 😁

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Cheers mate! 😉

[@IncredibleMr.E]

was just wondering if you’d cover this !

[@CAMFORRESTER]

;)

[@Cguy212]

i fucking love you man is there any way we can get the stems for this or like a brief tutorial ive been praying youd do sister ray

[@CAMFORRESTER]

There will be a 'making-of' video to follow at some point 😉

[@Cguy212]

@@CAMFORRESTER dream come true

[@jefferysweaty6028]

What tuning is Lou's guitar in for this song? Is it dropped down like usual?

[@CAMFORRESTER]

DGCFAD

[@TheAMCover88]

I've always been fascinated with the song and who plays what guitar wise. So the first lead break in original recording (one of my favourite VU moments) was Morrison? And who plays that crazy bluesy outro stuff in the last minute or so? My understanding also was LR had re-mixed album to make himself more prominent like in heard her call my name, did he play around with volume of his guitar in parts of Sisterray also?

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Lou's guitar is the darker and more distorted/fuzzy sounding one, his solos tend to have more long-held notes, and he was always wailing or bending them. His tone setting in 'Sister Ray' is almost identical, if not exactly the same as in 'I Heard Her Call My Name'. Sterling's guitar was much brighter in tone and trashier-sounding; using amp overdrive instead of distortion. The balance does favour Lou somewhat in SR, but not as extremely as in IHHCMN, which Sterling was so angry about he actually quit the band for a few days in protest!

[@TheAMCover88]

@@CAMFORRESTER thanks so much for that explanation! I just went back and re-listened. Love your work! If you're taking requests Run Run Run would be great, good luck with that first solo.

[@CAMFORRESTER]

@@TheAMCover88 Skip to 27:45 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmezq6irpcSbrZosi=aeevBE95qfumZtkJ

[@TheAMCover88]

@@CAMFORRESTER I didn't realise, just listened that was brilliant! Would love to see a video of the guitar breakdown for Run Run Run.

[@mmarks4]

Wait wait - How did the video make Cam's Sterling taller than Cam's Lou?!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

That was on purpose 😉

[@pinkzeppelin428]

You did spectacular on this, it came out well done. Maybe we can jam together since we both write music. As for record labels & companies, I would rather self release my stuff since none of them are essential as it was back in the day! Just FYI! Oh didn't know you're a full-time bus operator. Dang that's cool!

[@CAMFORRESTER]

Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Are you in the UK? Always up for a jam!

[@pinkzeppelin428]

@CAMFORRESTER unfortunately I'm in USA

[@CAMFORRESTER]

@@pinkzeppelin428 Damn! 😭

[@pinkzeppelin428]

@@CAMFORRESTER sorry 😞

[@hectoralcielo]

GG

[@lucassiccardi8764]

Better than Joy Division : )

[@user-rh2csk]

Fantastic, wonder what Moe and John think of your performance. They’d like it for sure

[@CAMFORRESTER]

I'd like to think so! I did my best to do them proud 😎