White Light/White Heat

Sealed - Brand new half speed mastered 180 gram vinyl. Made in the EU.

White Light/White Heat is the second studio album by American rock band the Velvet Underground. Released on January 30, 1968, on Verve Records, it was the band's last studio recording with multi-instrumentalist and founding member John Cale. Recorded after Reed fired Andy Warhol, who had produced their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico, they hired Steve Sesnick as a manager and hired producer Tom Wilson who had worked on the band's debut. White Light/White Heat was engineered by Gary Kellgren.

The album includes lyrically transgressive themes like their debut, exploring topics such as sex, amphetamines, and drag queens. Reed was inspired by a variety of authors, including William S. Burroughs and Alice Bailey, and the lyrics create a cast of characters, such as in "The Gift" and those named in "Sister Ray". Musically, he took influence from jazz music and players such as saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Warhol conceived the album's cover art, although he is officially uncredited.

White Light/White Heat was recorded quickly and modeled after the band's live sound and techniques of improvisation, since they often played loud with new equipment from an endorsement deal with Vox. However, the final product was compressed and distorted—most members were dissatisfied with the final product and it was followed with the less experimental The Velvet Underground the following year; Cale would leave the band later in 1968. The distortion level became a prototype for punk rock, shoegaze^[2] and noise rock. The 17-minute "Sister Ray" is widely considered the standout track by critics and fans.

White Light/White Heat sold fewer copies than The Velvet Underground & Nico, and peaked at 199 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. The album's only single, "White Light/White Heat", failed to chart, which the band blamed on airplay bans and lack of promotion from Verve. The album was dismissed by many contemporary mainstream music critics, although underground newspapers took notice. Ultimately, White Light/White Heat had a hugely significant impact on early forms of punk rock and no wave and has appeared on several lists of the greatest albums of all time.

 

2:44
A2		The Gift Music By – John Cale, Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker*, Sterling Morrison Words By – Lou Reed

8:14
A3		Lady Godiva's Operation Words By, Music By – Lou Reed

4:52
A4		Here She Comes Now Music By – John Cale, Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker*, Sterling Morrison Words By – Lou Reed

2:00
B1		I Heard Her Call My Name Words By, Music By – Lou Reed

4:05
B2		Sister Ray Music By – John Cale, Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker*, Sterling Morrison Words By – Lou Reed

17:00

A1

White Light/White Heat Words By, Music By – Lou Reed