The Velvet Underground 1969: Velvet Underground Live with Lou Reed Volume 1 180g LP (White Vinyl)

During the Velvet Underground's 1969 U.S. and Canada tour, with the approval of the band, fans would bring equipment to record sets. Volume 1 and 2 of the 'Live' albums include tracks recorded live during the October 19, 1969 set at the "End of Cole Ave" club in Dallas recorded by one such fan using professional equipment. Tracks were also taken from the November 1969 performance at "The Matrix" in San Francisco which was recorded using the in-house four-track recording equipment.

"Notoriety they always had plenty of, but popular and critical acceptance came slowly to the Velvet Underground. To be sure, plenty of people knew about them in the late '60s, but even more people didn't, which is strange because they were among the very best American rock and roll bands of that time or this. Loaded broke the ice somewhat in 1970, but it also broke up the group: all of a sudden, there was no more. Today, it would seem very hard to say enough good things about Lou Reed and the Velvets, and anyone who doubts that has only to listen to the four sides* of this album, recorded live in Texas and San Francisco in late 1969 and featuring the band at the peak of their power. (there are many surprises: four previously unreleased songs and radically different versions of 'Sweet Jane'** and 'New Age,'** among others.) Putting together this double set from over eight hours of performance tapes was as pleasant a task as I've yet encountered, and I sincerely believe that 1969 will be remembered (with Loaded) as the very best work done by Reed and the Velvets. I can only hope you agree." - Paul Nelson

*Appears on two volumes. ORG 036 and ORG 037
**Appears on Volume 1, ORG 036