The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground (read more)

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The Velvet Underground was an American rock band first active from 1965 to 1973. Its best-known lineup is vocalist/guitarist Lou Reed, bassist/violist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker.

Some see Velvet Underground as being a bridge between the pacifist themes of the late 60s and the sheer chaos and indifference of the mid-70s punk rock movement.

The Velvet Underground was one of the first rock music groups to experiment heavily with the form by incorporating avant-garde influences. The group’s often raw, sometimes difficult sound would influence many later punk, noise rock, and alternative music performers, and singer Lou Reed’s lyrics brought new levels of social realism and sleaze to rock. Critics Scott Isler and Ira Robbins argue that “The Velvet Underground marked a turning point in rock history. After the release of The Velvet Underground and Nico knowing the power of which it was capable, the music could never be as innocent, as unselfconscious as before.”

Pre-history (1964-1965)

The foundations for what would become The Velvet Underground were laid in late 1964. Lou Reed had performed with a few short-lived garage bands and had worked as a songwriter for Pickwick Records, a job Reed described as “a poor man’s Carole King”. Reed met John Cale, a Welshman who had moved to the United States to study classical music. Cale had worked with John Cage and La Monte Young, but was also interested in rock music. (read more)

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Track	Time	Listeners	Download
Add this track to your playlist Heroin full track	8:15	144,494	Buy mp3
Add this track to your playlist There She Goes Again full track	2:41	106,678	Buy mp3
Add this track to your playlist All Tomorrow's Parties full track	2:52	105,431	Buy mp3
Add this track to your playlist I'm Sticking With You full track	2:27	93,393	Buy mp3

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White Light/White Heat

Top Tracks, Last Week

–	1	Add this track to your playlist I'm Sticking With You full track	4,317
–	2	Add this track to your playlist Heroin full track	3,968
–	3	Add this track to your playlist I'm Waiting for the Man	3,387
–	4	Add this track to your playlist Sunday Morning	3,303
–	5	Add this track to your playlist Venus in Furs	2,995
–	6	Add this track to your playlist Femme Fatale	2,819
–	7	Add this track to your playlist There She Goes Again full track	2,775
–	8	Add this track to your playlist All Tomorrow's Parties full track	2,676
–	9	Add this track to your playlist Pale Blue Eyes full track	2,270
–	10	Add this track to your playlist Run Run Run	2,234
–	11	Add this track to your playlist I'll Be Your Mirror	2,219
–	12	Add this track to your playlist Who Loves the Sun	2,100
–	13	Add this track to your playlist The Black Angel's Death Song	1,882
–	14	Add this track to your playlist What Goes On full track	1,680
–	15	Add this track to your playlist Sweet Jane	1,575
2	16	Add this track to your playlist After Hours full track	1,504
–	17	Add this track to your playlist Candy Says full track	1,434
2	18	Add this track to your playlist Beginning to See the Light full track	1,411
2	19	Add this track to your playlist Oh! Sweet Nuthin'	1,253
–	20	Add this track to your playlist European Son	1,249

Number of listeners for the last week More top tracks…

Top Tracks, Last Six Months

–	1	Add this track to your playlist I'm Sticking With You full track	63,182
–	2	Add this track to your playlist Heroin full track	54,093
–	3	Add this track to your playlist I'm Waiting for the Man	45,785
–	4	Add this track to your playlist Sunday Morning	43,294
–	5	Add this track to your playlist Venus in Furs	40,507
1	6	Add this track to your playlist There She Goes Again full track	38,768
1	7	Add this track to your playlist Femme Fatale	38,421
1	8	Add this track to your playlist All Tomorrow's Parties full track	38,053
1	9	Add this track to your playlist Run Run Run	32,006
1	10	Add this track to your playlist I'll Be Your Mirror	31,850
–	11	Add this track to your playlist Pale Blue Eyes full track	31,284
–	12	Add this track to your playlist Who Loves the Sun	29,085
–	13	Add this track to your playlist The Black Angel's Death Song	28,007
–	14	Add this track to your playlist Sweet Jane	27,993
–	15	Add this track to your playlist What Goes On full track	24,661
–	16	Add this track to your playlist Beginning to See the Light full track	21,062
1	17	Add this track to your playlist Candy Says full track	20,372
1	18	Add this track to your playlist European Son	20,186
–	19	Add this track to your playlist After Hours full track	19,732
–	20	Add this track to your playlist Stephanie Says full track	19,089
–	21	Add this track to your playlist Some Kinda Love full track	17,912
–	22	Add this track to your playlist Oh! Sweet Nuthin'	17,733
–	23	Add this track to your playlist White Light/White Heat full track	15,839
1	24	Add this track to your playlist Cool It Down	15,701
1	25	Add this track to your playlist Here She Comes Now full track	15,512
–	26	Add this track to your playlist I Found a Reason	14,695
–	27	Add this track to your playlist Jesus full track	14,086
–	28	Add this track to your playlist I'm Set Free full track	13,427
–	29	Add this track to your playlist Sister Ray full track	13,341
–	30	Add this track to your playlist Lady Godiva's Operation full track	12,923
1	31	Add this track to your playlist Lonesome Cowboy Bill	12,753
1	32	Add this track to your playlist That's the Story of My Life full track	12,716
–	33	Add this track to your playlist Head Held High	12,643
–	34	Add this track to your playlist Rock and Roll full track	12,297
1	35	Add this track to your playlist Rock & Roll	11,700
1	36	Add this track to your playlist The Gift full track	11,672
–	37	Add this track to your playlist

The Velvet Underground

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