Top 5 Lou Reed Albums

[@ready4u2trade]

Thanks for giving your selections. I think his best albums are: 1. Self Titled Album (1972) Favorites: Going Down (great foreshadowing for Perfect Day and Satellite of Love), Wild Child, Berlin, Lisa Says, I Cant Stand It and Walk and Talk It, The Ocean, - basically like every song 2. Transformer (1973) Satellite of Love, Perfect Day and Walk on the Wild Side 3. Berlin (1974) Candy Says, Men of Good Fortune and Lady Day 4. Coney Island Baby (1975) Favorites: My Best Friend and Coney Island Baby 5. New York (1989) Romeo and Juliette and Busload of Faith

[@top5records796]

That’s an awesome list!

[@spaceengineer1452]

Candy says is on Velvets album.

[@MarionJInce]

I agree with Berlin as number one. I bought the LP when it first came out and loved it ever since..

[@murdockreviews]

'New York' is such a cool album. Also one of my Reed faves.

[@insidernj8933]

Excellent analysis, man, thank you.

[@top5records796]

Thanks!

[@Diecastclassicist]

My top five: Ecstasy, Magic & Loss, Take No Prisoners, Legendary Hearts, Berlin

[@keithamandahall8548]

I think I'd have to put The Blue Mask at number one. And then maybe Magic And Loss in there somewhere too! Love Lou Reed. ✨💫💥🔥

[@top5records796]

I love The Blue Mask aswel!

[@syater]

Good choices and assessments. I think because expectations were high for Reed's solo debut it was not received well, maybe a little like McCarney's solo debut ? It's actually a pretty good album, most of the songs were from the Velvet Underground era. Half of the band Yes meets Lou Reed sounds odd but the songs are good and it rocks at regular intervals.

[@top5records796]

I agree. But I’m not quite sure about the expectations. The Velvet Underground was very underground in those days. Reminds me of the story of Bowie who traveled to New York to see the Velvet Underground and hang out with Lou Reed. He talked to the singer the entire evening later to find out that he was not Lou Reed but a replacement. Perhaps Reed’s first solo album was just a bit too ‘dry’ in sound. Which I really like but clearly; the world was ready for glam. In regard of McCartneys solo album; I think it’s his best but I think it’s the opposite of what McCartney/Beatles fans wanted from him. A lot of the songs aren’t “finished”, they are more like fragments or demo’s which is really what I like about it. When McCartney is fully stylized I think he loses edge. But I think a lot of the fans weren’t up for that.

[@syater]

@@top5records796 Good points. First, I agree with you entirely about McCartney's debut solo album. Second, I believe the process of VU's reputation had already begun widening in the two years after Loaded, at least in certain pockets of the press. Bowie's sudden rise in popularity in combination with his "secret" knowledge of the VU was the major boost to Transformer's sales. In a kind of symbiosis, Bowie brought Reed along with him, but Reed added to Bowie's cool factor. I wasn't aware of the story of Bowie's first meeting with "Lou Reed." Thanks.

[@top5records796]

@@syater that is interesting! Do you perhaps also know if the sales if VU albums was increasing? I do know that early seventies there were a lot of VU represses going around.

[@billmay7364]

LOU REED ... Critics hated this Record. Because it Followed Transformer .BERLIN today is a Masterpiece . TRANSFORMER it's GLAM with Bowie Mick Ronson . THE BLUE MASK it's like a VELVET UNDERGROUND RECORD. Great Band backing him. Robert Quine, Fernando Saunders . NEW YORK another great Comeback Record. CONEY ISLAND BABY has aged nicely. LOU REED Rockn Roll Animal & LOU REED LIVE were from the same show. Best Lou Reed Live Recordings. Seen LOU quite a few Times. I personally liked his Rock n Roll Animal Years. LOU had a serious Edge. R. I. P. Lou Punk On.

[@top5records796]

Nice! Where did you see Lou Reed? I am jealous!

[@billmay7364]

Seen LOU REED. In 76 Coney Island Baby Tour. Rock n Roll Heart Tour. Blue Mask Tour. New York Tour Magic and Loss Tour. A great Artist. Wish I could have caught. Rocks Roll Animal period.

[@grahameedwards7972]

Interesting. Coming from the UK the first time heard Reed was in 1980 at a student party, the first Velvet Underground album. I've got 44 of his albums, including the 45th anniversary editions of the Velvets albums. As for the solo albums my top 5 5 New York 4 Lou Reed 3 Coney Island Baby 2 Transformer 1 Berlin

[@thomasfazzini4424]

it was mick ronson on transformer, mick rock was a famous 70s rock photographer.

[@eekowarrior4409]

Excellent choices

[@top5records796]

Thank you!

[@dannydontgoin237]

All good albums. Rock & Roll Animal sounds like a Velvet Underground cover band with Lou on guest vocals, but I still enjoy it. Yes, his lyrics and storytelling are fantastic. I prefer his work with the Velvets, but his solo work has grown on me over the years. My favorite, seriously, is Metal Machine Music. I think it's a fascinating album.

[@sectiongang]

Good choices, Lulu would have been good to include though. Bowie's favorite Lou work

[@carlomatthews6676]

Street Hassle instead of Drella by a long shot

[@bradleylowden9433]

I knew your choices before I even watched the video!

[@top5records796]

Wow! Am I that predictable?

[@bradleylowden9433]

@@top5records796 Everyone chooses the same ones.

[@spaceengineer1452]

Coney Island Baby...

[@top5records796]

Awesome album!

[@spaceengineer1452]

@@top5records796 It is! Except for Kicks, it’s got a nice slinky groove. The title track is amazing. Love the band, whispered backing vocals. 👍✌️

[@MichaelManiscalco-k5k]

No problem all are great.

[@diggerthegroundhog8799]

Lou Reed is a tough character to like but I love Transformer. Otherwise I can't get into him. Just a few songs here and there.

[@RadioMartyT1B]

My only problem with Berlin is that it's too short. Otherwise, it's his best.

[@FBG61]

Re Rock'n'Roll Animal ....what a bs story about the Sweet Jane into....the shows well before had a long intro as well ... check the Copenhagen gig in September of the same year (1973) or the soundboard of the NY gig (where RRA came from).. a myth that can easily be checked and denied by a little research

[@top5records796]

It’s written in biographies.

[@FBG61]

@@top5records796 listen to Copenhagen 1973 on youtube or the NY soundboard 2nd set also on youtube....long intros. On top the gig was going to be recorded so I don't think anything would heve been left to coincidence...urban myth...on another subject, happy you enjoyed Nick Cave too at the Ziggodome. Groeten, Frank

[@lukeheywood7334]

Street hassle the bells take no prisonersberlinconey islandtransformer

[@slimjim4239]

sally cant dance Take no Prisoners The Bells New York The Raven

[@bradleylowden9433]

The Raven lol I don't think so!

[@slimjim4239]

some great songs plus when reed was bad he did it properly@@bradleylowden9433