Peel Slowly and See is a five-disc box set of material by The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...

. It was released in September 1995 by Polydor.

Compilation

The set includes all four studio albums by the Lou Reed-era line-up of the Velvet Underground, alongside demo

Demo (music)

A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...

 recordings and live performances, some of which were bootleg

Bootleg recording

A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...

ged, some of which were never released. Squeeze, recorded after Reed's departure from the band, is not included. The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground (album)

The Velvet Underground is the third album by American rock group The Velvet Underground. It was their first record to feature Doug Yule, John Cale's replacement. It was recorded in 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California. This album's softer sound marks a radical shift in approach in style...

, the band's self-titled third album, is presented in its famous "closet mix", that is, Lou Reed

Lou Reed

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...

's mix of the album that features a cramped, closed-in sound with more emphasis on vocals. The band's fourth album, Loaded, is presented with "full-length versions" of two of its tracks, "Sweet Jane

Sweet Jane

"Sweet Jane" is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by band's leader Lou Reed, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances years later as a solo artist....

" and "New Age".

Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke

David Fricke

David Fricke is a senior editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where he writes predominantly on rock music. In the 1990s, he was managing editor before stepping down.-Background:David Fricke is a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania...

 wrote extensive liner notes

Liner notes

Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...

 in an accompanying booklet, which also pictured many items of Velvet Underground memorabilia from the collection of guitarist Sterling Morrison

Sterling Morrison

Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...

.

Track listing

All tracks written by Lou Reed except as noted.

All tracks performed by The Velvet Underground except † by The Velvet Underground & Nico; and ‡ by Nico

Nico

Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...

.

Disc one

1. "Venus in Furs
   Venus in Furs (song)
   "Venus in Furs" is a song by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and originally released on the 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Inspired by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the song includes sexual themes of sadomasochism, bondage and...
   
   " (demo)  – 15:33
2. "Prominent Men" (demo) (Reed, Cale) – 4:53
3. "Heroin
   Heroin (song)
   "Heroin" is a song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, the song is one of the band's most celebrated compositions, overtly depicting heroin use and abuse...
   
   " (demo) – 13:34
4. "I'm Waiting for the Man
   I'm Waiting for the Man
   "I'm Waiting for the Man" is a song by the American rock band The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed. It was first released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico....
   
   " (demo) – 9:50
5. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (demo) – 15:50
6. "All Tomorrow's Parties
   All Tomorrow's Parties
   "All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by The Velvet UndergroundAll Tomorrow's Parties may also refer to:* All Tomorrow's Parties , an annual festival in England...
   
   " (demo) – 18:26

(1–6) first appearance.

Disc two

1. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (single version) – 2:49†
2. "Sunday Morning
   Sunday Morning
   Sunday Morning may refer to:* "Sunday Morning" , a Canadian radio program formerly aired on CBC Radio One* CBS News Sunday Morning, a television news program on CBS in the United States...
   
   " (Reed, Cale
   John Cale
   John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
   
   ) – 2:54†
3. "I'm Waiting for the Man" – 4:38
4. "Femme Fatale
   Femme Fatale (song)
   "Femme Fatale" is a song by The Velvet Underground from their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. At producer Andy Warhol's request, band frontman Lou Reed wrote the song about Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick...
   
   " – 2:37†
5. "Venus in Furs
   Venus in Furs (song)
   "Venus in Furs" is a song by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and originally released on the 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Inspired by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the song includes sexual themes of sadomasochism, bondage and...
   
   " – 5:10
6. "Run Run Run" – 4:19
7. "All Tomorrow's Parties" – 5:58†
8. "Heroin" – 7:10
9. "There She Goes Again
   There She Goes Again
   "There She Goes Again" is a song by The Velvet Underground. It first appeared on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. The syncopated guitar riff is taken from the 1962 Marvin Gaye song, "Hitch Hike", but is most likely influenced by The Rolling Stones' cover version, from their...
   
   " – 2:39
10. "I'll Be Your Mirror
    I'll Be Your Mirror
    "I'll Be Your Mirror" is a song by The Velvet Underground. It appeared on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It also surfaced as a single a year earlier with "All Tomorrow's Parties" in 1966....
    
    " – 2:12†
11. "The Black Angel's Death Song
    The Black Angel's Death Song
    "The Black Angel's Death Song" is a song by The Velvet Underground, from their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It was written by Lou Reed and John Cale...
    
    " – 3:12 (Reed, Cale)
12. "European Son" (Reed, Cale, Morrison
    Sterling Morrison
    Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
    
    , Tucker) – 7:47
13. "Melody Laughter" (live edit) (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker, Päffgen
    Nico
    Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
    
    ) – 10:43†
14. "It Was a Pleasure Then" – 8:02 (Reed, Cale, Päffgen)‡
15. "Chelsea Girls" – 7:24 (Reed, Morrison)‡

(1) taken from the "All Tomorrow's Parties" single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

; (2–12) taken from The Velvet Underground & Nico (entire album

Album

An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...

); (13) first appearance; (14–15) taken from Chelsea Girl

Chelsea Girl (album)

Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album by Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records, also home to The Velvet Underground. The name of the album is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, which Nico starred in...

.

Disc three

1. "There Is No Reason" (demo) (Reed, Cale) – 2:12
2. "Sheltered Life" (demo) – 2:52
3. "It's All Right (the Way That You Live)" (demo) (Reed, Cale) – 2:48
4. "I'm Not Too Sorry (Now That You're Gone)" (demo) (Reed, Cale) – 2:17
5. "Here She Comes Now
   Here She Comes Now
   "Here She Comes Now" is the fourth track appearing on The Velvet Underground's second album, White Light/White Heat, released in 1968. The performance and mix of the song are both simple and traditional, making it somewhat distinct from the other five songs on the album, all of which contain some...
   
   " (demo) (Reed, Cale, Morrison) – 2:46
6. "Guess I'm Falling in Love" (live) – 4:10 (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker)
7. "Booker T." (live) (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker) – 6:30
8. "White Light/White Heat
   White Light/White Heat (song)
   "White Light/White Heat" is a song by American avant-garde rock band The Velvet Underground, the title track on their second album, released in 1968. It is a fast, relatively aggressive start to the album, similar to the punk rock genre it would ultimately influence.The song's vocals are performed...
   
   " – 2:45
9. "The Gift" (Reed, Morrison, Cale, Tucker) – 8:17
10. "Lady Godiva's Operation" – 4:54
11. "Here She Comes Now" (Reed, Cale, Morrison) – 2:02
12. "I Heard Her Call My Name
    I Heard Her Call My Name
    "I Heard Her Call My Name" is a song by American avant-garde rock band The Velvet Underground. It is the fifth track from the band's second album, White Light/White Heat. It is a particularly loud, brash and aggressive song that features a pair of atonal guitar solos performed by Lou Reed and...
    
    " – 4:46
13. "Sister Ray
    Sister Ray
    Sister Ray may mean one of the following:* "Sister Ray", 1968 song by The Velvet Underground* A fictional enormous laser cannon in the video game Final Fantasy VII* Sister Ray , a punk rock band from Youngstown, Ohio...
    
    " (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker) – 17:27
14. "Stephanie Says
    Stephanie Says
    "Stephanie Says" is a song by The Velvet Underground originally recorded in 1968. Although available on various bootlegs, the song was not officially released until 1985, when a remixed version appeared on the album VU. The original, 1968 mix of Stephanie Says was included on the 2005 Velvet...
    
    " – 2:49
15. "Temptation Inside Your Heart" – 2:30
16. "Hey Mr. Rain" (version one) (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker) – 4:40

(1–7) first appearance; (8–13) taken from White Light/White Heat

White Light/White Heat

The album briefly appeared on the Billboard 200, although only peaking at number 199. Despite its poor sales, the distorted, feedback-driven, and roughly recorded sound on White Light/White Heat became a notable influence on punk and experimental rock...

(entire album); (14–15) taken from VU

VU (album)

VU is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in February 1985 by Verve Records.-Composition and collection:...

; (16) taken from Another View

Another View

Another View is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in 1986 by Verve Records and is comprised of material recorded between 1967 and 1969.-Composition and collection:...

.

Disc four

1. "What Goes On" (live) – 5:34
2. "Candy Says" (closet mix) – 4:04
3. "What Goes On
   The Velvet Underground (album)
   The Velvet Underground is the third album by American rock group The Velvet Underground. It was their first record to feature Doug Yule, John Cale's replacement. It was recorded in 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California. This album's softer sound marks a radical shift in approach in style...
   
   " (closet mix) – 4:35
4. "Some Kinda Love" (closet mix) – 3:39
5. "Pale Blue Eyes
   Pale Blue Eyes
   "Pale Blue Eyes" is a song written by Lou Reed and performed by The Velvet Underground. It was included on the band's eponymous 1969 album The Velvet Underground....
   
   " (closet mix) – 5:42
6. "Jesus" (closet mix) – 3:24
7. "Beginning to See the Light" (closet mix) – 4:47
8. "I'm Set Free" (closet mix) – 4:04
9. "That's the Story of My Life" (closet mix) – 2:02
10. "The Murder Mystery" (closet mix) – 8:55
11. "After Hours
    After Hours (song)
    "After Hours" is a 1969 song written by Lou Reed and originally performed by The Velvet Underground. It is the tenth and final track on their self-titled album. It is one of few songs with lead vocals by drummer Maureen Tucker, as Lou Reed stated the song was "so innocent and pure" that he could...
    
    " (closet mix) – 2:09
12. "Foggy Notion" (Reed, Morrison, Yule, Tucker, Weiss
    Hy Weiss
    -Biography:Born Hyman Y. Weiss in Romania, he was an immigrant to the United States when young and was brought up in the Bronx, New York. He started in the music industry in 1949, setting up Parody Records with his brother Sam....
    
    ) – 6:47
13. "I Can't Stand It" – 3:22
14. "I'm Sticking with You" – 2:28
15. "One of These Days" – 4:00
16. "Lisa Says" – 2:57
17. "It's Just Too Much" (live) – 2:59
18. "Countess from Hong Kong" (demo) (Reed, Cale) – 3:17

(1, 17–18) first appearance; (2–11) taken from The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground (album)

The Velvet Underground is the third album by American rock group The Velvet Underground. It was their first record to feature Doug Yule, John Cale's replacement. It was recorded in 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California. This album's softer sound marks a radical shift in approach in style...

(entire album, alternate closet-mix); (12–16) taken from VU

VU (album)

VU is an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in February 1985 by Verve Records.-Composition and collection:...

.

Disc five

1. "Who Loves the Sun" – 2:45
2. "Sweet Jane
   Sweet Jane
   "Sweet Jane" is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by band's leader Lou Reed, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances years later as a solo artist....
   
   " (full-length version) – 4:06
3. "Rock & Roll" – 4:43
4. "Cool It Down" – 3:04
5. "New Age" (long version) – 5:07
6. "Head Held High" – 2:56
7. "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" – 2:43
8. "I Found a Reason" – 4:15
9. "Train Round the Bend" – 3:21
10. "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" – 7:25
11. "Satellite of Love
    Satellite of Love
    "Satellite of Love" is one of Lou Reed's best-known songs from his solo career. It is the second single from his 1972 album Transformer. At the time of its release it did not achieve any chart success, though it later became a staple of his concerts and compilation albums.-Background and...
    
    " – 2:58
12. "Walk and Talk" – 2:23
13. "Oh Gin" – 2:44
14. "Sad Song" – 3:30
15. "Ocean" – 5:43
16. "Ride into the Sun" (Reed, Cale, Morrison, Tucker) – 3:20
17. "Some Kinda Love" (live) – 10:22
18. "I'll Be Your Mirror" (live) – 2:06
19. "I Love You" – 2:03

(1–10) taken from Loaded (entire album; first appearance of 2, 5 in "original" versions); (11–17, 19) first appearance; (18) taken from Live at Max's Kansas City

Live at Max's Kansas City

Live at Max's Kansas City is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released on May 30, 1972, by Cotillion, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records.-About the album:...

.

Personnel

The Velvet Underground

• John Cale
  John Cale
  John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
  
   – bass guitar
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
  , viola
  Viola
  The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
  
  , keyboards
  Keyboard instrument
  A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
  
   (discs 1–3); lead vocal on "The Gift" and "Lady Godiva's Operation"; organ
  Organ (music)
  The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
  
   and viola
  Viola
  The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
  
   on disc 5, track 15
• Sterling Morrison
  Sterling Morrison
  Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
  
   – guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  , bass guitar, backing vocals
  Backing vocalist
  A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
  
  , co-vocal on "The Murder Mystery"
• Lou Reed
  Lou Reed
  Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
  
   – vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
  , guitar, piano
  Piano
  The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
  
  , harmonica
  Harmonica
  The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
  
  
• Maureen Tucker
  Maureen Tucker
  Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...
  
   – percussion
  Percussion instrument
  A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
  
   (discs 2–5), lead vocal on "After Hours" and "I'm Sticking with You", co-vocal on The Murder Mystery.
• Doug Yule
  Doug Yule
  Douglas Alan Yule is an American musician and singer, most notable for being a member of The Velvet Underground from 1968 to 1973.- Early career :Yule began playing with various bands in Boston in the 1960s...
  
   – bass guitar, keyboards, guitars, drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
   (disc 4–5); lead vocal on "Candy Says", "Who Loves the Sun", "New Age", "Lonesome Cowboy Bill", "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'", "Ride into the Sun" and "I'll Be Your Mirror" (live).

Additional musicians

• Nico
  Nico
  Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
  
   – lead vocal on "All Tomorrow's Parties" (both single and LP versions), "Femme Fatale", "I'll Be Your Mirror", "Melody Laughter", "It Was a Pleasure Then" and "Chelsea Girls"; backing vocals
  Backing vocalist
  A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
  
   on "Sunday Morning"
• Adrian Barber
  Adrian Barber
  Adrian Barber is a musician / producer who is responsible for recording the Beatles "Gray Zone" Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962.-Musician / electronics:...
  
   – drums on "Who Loves the Sun" and "I Found a Reason"
• Tommy Castanaro – drums on "Cool It Down" and "Head Held High"
• Billy Yule
  Billy Yule
  William "Billy" Yule is best known for having been a sit-in drummer for The Velvet Underground during 1970.-1970:When in early 1970, regular Velvet Underground drummer Maureen Tucker became pregnant, a temporary replacement was needed to fulfill the band's live obligations...
  
   – drums on "Lonesome Cowboy Bill", "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'", "Ocean", "Some Kinda Love" (live) and "I'll Be Your Mirror" (live).

Technical staff

• The Velvet Underground – producers (disc 1; disc 3: 1–7, 14–16, disc 4, disc 5: 17–18)
• Andy Warhol
  Andy Warhol
  Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
  
   – producer
  Record producer
  A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
  
   (disc 2: 1–12)
• The Velvet Underground & Nico – producers (disc 2: 13)
• Tom Wilson – producer (disc 2: 14–15, disc 3: 8–13)
• Geoff Haslam, Shel Kagan and The Velvet Underground – producers (disc 5: 1–10, 15–16)
• Adrian Barber – producer (disc 5: 11–14, 19)
• Brigid Polk – engineer (disc 5: 17–18)