The Velvet Underground - Sister Ray - White Light/White Heat - part1

[polotool77]

SOOOO HAPPY THIS BAND IS FUCKING DEAD. KIDS NOW A DAYS CAN MAKE BETTER MUSIC IN A GARAGE IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

[TheBars69]

I SAID HAH ALRIGHT..... AHAH FUCK OH YEAH FUCK THE HELL OFF JUST LIKE SISTER RAY SAYS

[paulgad]

When I first heard this music, I knew I would try heroin, and now that I have it is all too real, and I regret it.

[az0r22]

@paulgad Regret nothing

[mironpa90]

@Debaser56789 Heavy is a feeling. Not a speed. God bless the Velvet Underground.

[cKunke2]

This is the greatest shit i've ever heard. It's almost too real

[amablue1]

i'm searchin' for my ding-dong

[elvispresley718]

this just blows my mind!

[helpiamarock]

God exists

[BigJamook]

Cecil should take out his new piece, cock it and shoot it at 5 people between three and four shoot them down dead on the floor

[Transmission434]

BRICK!

[anelphabet]

i forgive

[bonanzza]

so, this album and Sister blew my mind wide open in early high school, i guess i'm trying to perfect low-fi time travel....

[PreCodeMovies]

If I had to name just one band as my all-time favorite, I'd have to pick The Velvet Underground. I discovered them back in 1972 when I was fourteen years old, and haven't stopped loving them since.

[vfalcon79]

awesome: the last song of Brick, the film...

[JLWing77]

Is it just me or does this song remind anyone else of "Roadrunner" by the Modern Lovers?

[kabardinka1]

@JLWing77 Jonathan Richman was a Velvet fan #1 and has admitted that most of his early stuff is a complete rip-off of the VU... as is certain Bowie songs like "Queen Bitch" which is an obvious knockoff "Waiting for my man."

[JLWing77]

@kabardinka1 I knew Jonathan Richman was a VU fan. I was just saying I thought this song was almost identical to the main rhythm and phrasing from Roadrunner just sludgier.

I'll have to check out "Queen Bitch". Don't think I've ever heard that one.

[bodsnvimto]

@JLWing77

Check out Cornershop's 'Brim Full of Asha" See the resemblance?

[SgtCrumpet]

3 people can go suck on Lou Reed's ding dong!

[junkdevil1]

it is rather hard to hit your mainline sideways....

[wistoncap]

I want this song played as my funeral... no stpid ass talking... just this song and nothing else.

[metapenguin1]

wh wh wh --- WHhh wh wh (white) WHI wh wh ….. ( \ \ \ …) (wh - i - …0 ] (=> t! <= ) (…. t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t - - - - - - ) l - l -l -l L L L L (!) LLLLLLL (white) llllllllllllLLLLLLLLLLLLllllll­llll LIGHT ! LIGHT! LIGHT! (white) LIGHTLIGHTLIGHTLIGHT lightlightwhitewhitelightlight­whitewhite lightlightlightlightlightlight­llllLightttttt…..

[mariruimari]

うわーーーっ！この曲に埋もれたい。ずーっと埋もれていたい！

[MoisheKapoyr]

I couldn't hit it sideways.

[dueyramone]

@beefygoblin, If you were born in the era prior to wikipedia, you'd know that mainlining "is" shooting into your jugular, usually a last resort due to a long term habit when all other veins have collapsed. Read a bio on Lou, you'll see where he was coming from...

[dueyramone]

@beefygoblin, If you were born in the era prior to wikipedia, you'd know that mainlining "is" shooting into your jugular, usually a last resort due to a long term habit when all other veins have collapsed.

[plopplop1983]

i said i couldn't hit it sideways

thats just like sister ray said

dont you know you'll stain carpet

[blackblood1234able]

you ruined my ears

[witchdoctor66]

Rock n' Roll is the Velvet Underground. Bands that came afterward only poorly imitated their style. This one song alone pioneered more than most artists entire discographies.

[vinciano]

@witchdoctor66 "This one song alone pioneered more than most artists entire discographies." This is blible.

White Light/White heat is the only album i consider worth to be compared with some works of classic composers

[bojosection]

whip it on me jim

[jparksart]

Three people couldn't hit it sideways. Play it on.

[jplew138]

@jparksart They didn't tap that vein hard enough...

[ApplwPiw]

on my main line 

[paolosilv]

Lou Reed's voice is a weird blend of blues and Bob Dylan, combined with a very flat way of speaking.

[PorroFirst]

This song puts a smile on my face instantly.

[Asuplex]

Ah now I see where Johnathan Richmond got roadrunner from. 

[bodsnvimto]

@Asuplex

Not to mention 'Brim Full of Asha' by Cornershop.

btw - who cares, after all is said & done, as all three of these songs are top! But this is still far & away the most imaginative/creative.

[sprayred]

I'm searching for my mainline

I said I couldnt it it sideways

I said I couldnt it it sideways

Ah just like Sister Ray said

[BarWillTender]

check the lyrics! true dirty velvet underground quality

[LeshaAnn]

This is all ya need to learn on guitar...

[bouli123]

I Think This Song Is Genius

[bodsnvimto]

Let's have a sing-along, altogether now:

"Brim full of Asha on the 45..."

Just shows how little rock music has developed over the years eh? Actually, it shows how it's gone backwards, given how much more inventive this song is.

[bodsnvimto]

Whilst maybe just a little longer than it might have been - it could have said & done everything within twelve minutes or so - this song remains one of the most under-rated "epics" in the rock sphere.

[Erythromycine]

if you like this check out some similar songs, between 15 and 20 minutes and with that particular motorik beat and druggy feeling : can - yoo doo right, neu! - hallogalo, la dusseldorf - cha cha 2000, stereolab - jenny ondioline, spacemen 3 - rollercoaster (17min version), spiritualized - cop shoot cop... , Th' faith healers - everything all at once forever, Quickspace - precious mountain etc. etc.

[s23god]

@Erythromycine

thanks my dude... checked them all out..

[vfalcon79]

@Erythromycine cool. thanx.

[StradaEntraCasa]

@Erythromycine Our music tastes are alike. I like you. :)

[Erythromycine]

@StradaEntraCasa if we have the same music taste then i like you too ! :)

[anonimoitaliano]

@Erythromycine sorry, but none of these can reach the power of sister ray

[bodsnvimto]

Was this 'official' take an improvisation?

Either way, it's bloody brilliant stuff!!!

[noroofs]

Quiet possibly the greatest form of rock not jus any either.. disgusting brash unintentionally beautiful that it reverses it intentions and sounds like something that'll hit you with a rush of white light white heat as soon as you step outside on a day in agust

[AllTheCloudsArePink]

@noroofs god. I'm sorry. but shutup.

[noroofs]

I could really giva fuck how old you are but i know you dont know shit about the velvet underground so eat me@AllTheCloudsArePink

[AllTheCloudsArePink]

@noroofs well, none of what you said in your second post is true. But your first one I actually agreed with, it was just the way you said it that made me want to punch you in the mouth. Todays been a bad day for all. So even though I really want to tell you to fuck yourself, I'll be the bigger person and tell you to shutup.

[noroofs]

well in that case i apologize n actually didnt mean it but i love the velvets p.s. thanks for liking my first post (sorta)@AllTheCloudsArePink

[san5a89]

is there no bass on this??

[PunkAndFun]

@san5a89 No. It's like in Heroine.

[PAULisDEADMANnumber9]

@san5a89 nope. john cale, who normally played bass, viola, or keyboards is on the distorted organ.

[san5a89]

@PAULisDEADMANnumber9 hey paul is not dead man! :)

[oddmanout1792]

probably the best rock song ever made

[rainspirit100]

Duck and sally inside

[Clutnuckle]

endlessly quotable and perpetually renewable

[ToscanoRomano]

Drug.

[shonenmouse]

i was trying to think of the hardest rock song i know of (at 4:00AM) .. i went through everything in my mind from blues to metal to punk; in the end it was sister ray. this song evokes all of the things i loved and hated about drugs, starving and being around fringe people... it's all there, perfectly preserved.

[Nicolasduca]

Please accept my video response :P

[shit311]

velvet underground is now velvet overground

[AlecKronicle]

velvet underground does wonders when you're high

[jaywiltho]

For me, this song is pure gospel music. Best I've ever heard.

[TheMrMaxAll]

This isn't a song... This is a miracle!^^

[MrJas1991]

Searching for my mainline 

[mrtropicalpuppy]

best fuckin song ever

[MrHitmewithaflower]

I'm back! This is a fucking drug! Can't stop. Can't stop. Whip it on. Whipp it on Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmm­mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm­mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm­mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .......

[shiftlulz]

Velvet Underground -> The Clash -> Sonic Youth -> Nirvana

In my opinion I think this is the foundation line of Alternative right?

[BenadrylAnnug]

@shiftlulz the clash doesnt really belong.

[TheNEWfilmfanatic99]

This is a song that you can listen to multiple times and hear something new. Hell, the whole album is like that. For one listen, focus on the lyrics, then on another listen focus on the drums, then the guitar, etc. It may sound like noise at first, but if you take your time to actually focus on these multi-layered facets you will hear an entire symphony. Plus it makes for excellent bus ride music!

[zachevansskates]

@TheNEWfilmfanatic99 you got that from rolling stone playlist issue

[TheNEWfilmfanatic99]

@zachevansskates No. I just made it up myself.

[OutlawLeFemme]

I saw them in philly years ago, Lou Reed was so fucked up he was 35 minutes late, was on stage for about 20 minutes fell over got up and left.

[boyztomen]

The term "factory" comes to mind. Honestly this might be the start of industrial, no?

[waffledude114]

Too busy sucking on my dingdong? Classic

[joefax530]

One, TWO, three, one, two, THREE, one TWO, three. Bliss code.

[jimmyloquendopage]

the riff is perfect...

[heystopit123]

@eightyeightthousand exactly! I'm arguing for VU

[nextstopheavnn]

The bluesy guitar style is like a trademark of The VU. Is it heard anywhere else?

[ZioStronzo]

When I listen to this, I picture myself a bloody gigantic trash bin dancing all around and dirtying everything in sight.

[Phaetonmagic]

Just discovered this song in the credits of Brick.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, simply view it.

A masterpiece, like this song !

[nottommy333]

TOO BUSY SUCKING ON MY DING DONG

[wood1155]

this album cover was way too gaudy and busy they could have toned it down a bit

[rainspirit100]

@wood1155 yeah that gaudy all black cover, by the way have ya got a dollah???

[queenofthemodwolves]

Noel Fielding likes this song. He said so on Nevermind The Buzzcocks.

[MrSuperdico]

Ths song has far more violence and is by far more agressive than all metal music. And by the way it's the greatest thing ever played by the band (with all the album).

[xXxXTravisBickleXxXx]

engineer in the studio during the recording of "Sister Ray" :

"I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS SHIT!"

"I AM GOING OUT AND WHEN YOU GUYS ARE DONE FUCKING AROUND LET ME KNOW!"

[sonicyouth1985]

@xXxXTravisBickleXxXx i want that guy quoted and referenced in some lyrics, just to immortalise him as the total cunt he is i guess

[kanga2795]

@sonicyouth1985 idk, I found it kinda funny :)

[sofialaughs]

@xXxXTravisBickleXxXx Is this true? If it is, it just shows how much the VU's music brought people out of their comfort zones and really challenged their assumptions on what is music and what is noise, and whether noise itself is music, and so is there such a thing as sound that isn't in some way music?

[xXxXTravisBickleXxXx]

@sofialaughs A direct quote from lou reed from the reunion of last year.

Not a musical reunion but for an interview with Lou ,Tucker and the base player Gale wasn't there.

.

The Velvet Underground got so much shit from everybody only Andy was there for them he loved their music and obviously made covers video clips photo's etc.

[jackal59]

@sofialaughs Actually, it's not quite true. I quoted what Lou Reed claims the engineer said farther down in the comments, which was, "The engineer said, 'I don't have to listen to this. I'll put it in Record, and then I'm leaving. When you're done, come get me.'"

And after this song, the first song of their next released recording was "Candy Says," which sounds so gentle but is essentially just as violent ("Candy says, 'I've come to hate my body/and all that it requires in this world.")

[elementz1986]

this makes me wanna go score with a bunch of hookers.

[freetheradio79]

this makes me wanna go score

[PAULisDEADMANnumber9]

this makes me want to go out and kill a bunch of hookers.

[theNomadz]

I was lucky enough to catch VU at Glastonbury '93 one of the last times they performed due to the death of guitarist Sterling Morrison....Great music never dies it just gets repackaged/covered or ripped off... Susan Boyle try cover this you old swamp troll...

[MrProfessornutbutter]

I just heard this song for the first time today at the end of the movie "Brick" this song is awesomely epic and snazzy!!!!!!!

[MrHitmewithaflower]

This is rock'n'roll, I don't know anything else. Get a turntable, get the vinyl, get some JBL's, get a rotten sofa, some bottles of red wine, one of whiskey, long cold whiskey, maybe some amphetamines, a dark room except for the fucking red light, I mean: fuck. I'll have all of this RIGHT NOW.

[ZioStronzo]

@MrHitmewithaflower Best comment ever

[cody4556743]

@MrHitmewithaflower good idea

[boyztomen]

@MrHitmewithaflower  "JBL's"?

[LiveJoyDivision]

@MrHitmewithaflower Get life? Or maybe Choose Life. :)

[SupperOfTheMightyOne]

Somebody explain to me how the two highest-rated comments here are people saying that the Beatles are better than the Velvet Underground.

Because that doesn't really add up so well.

[PorroFirst]

So wild

[BazzTheBoss]

Two people can't hit it sideways.

[RayNDeere]

@BazzTheBoss I was going to say they were still searching for their mainline

[Mygoderer]

Grande 13fuji, sto pezzo spacca veramente!

My favourite album ever WLWH

[amoreena42]

2 people were busy sucking on their ding-dongs.

[ntn777]

2 people should suck on my ding-dong

[pro2101]

the vu were so good because they wouldnt play the music indystry's games

they would do whatever the fuck they wanted

[SupperOfTheMightyOne]

Baagghh, those drums are hypnotic and orgasmic at the same time....

[DrSquidley]

the velvet underground was a remarkable band. each one of the albums is a raw assault on the senses, and it is an aquired taste, but well worth listening to. however, i think that sgt. pepper's lonely hearts club band by the beatles is the best album every made.  vu & nico prob comes in at like 12th or 13th

[jackal59]

"The engineer said, 'I don't have to listen to this. I'll put it on Record, and then I'm leaving. When you're done, come get me.'"--Lou Reed talking about recording Sister Ray for the album _White LIght/White Heat_.

[theempiremelts]

@jackal59 Is this jk or did you find this out somewhere?

[jackal59]

@theempiremelts It's from Wikipedia and sourced to the American Masters documentary on Lou Reed that played on PBS. I do seem to remember it from that documentary, but I might be mistaken. After all, it's one of those things that if it isn't true, it should be. (Though I'd guess somebody had to be in there keeping the levels out of the red with this much leakage.)

[persphlp]

V.U Forever !!!!

[TheFate23]

First two albums of Velvet Underground are superior to any Beatles album.

[bigdunk9]

@TheFate23 First 3 I think. Abbey Road is the only one that comes close for me, the VU were so brutally honest and creative, what they lacked for in commercial circles they more than made up for in artistic circles.

[MrGrieves1000]

@TheFate23 in my opinion all four of the velvets records are pretty much better than anything else. some of their songs take a while to grow on you, but those are usually the best ones. the beatles are great, but i believe lou reed is the most brilliant and fearless songwriter of all time

[phucketification]

@MrGrieves1000 without a doubt the most fearless

[bigdunk9]

@MrGrieves1000 Excellent statement my friend, although The Beatles constantly had pressure to produce a good record, Lou Reed was given so much artistic freedom by Warhol that he could write whatever he wanted to anyway. The stuff he did write are the best songs in modern musical history to be fair.

[GoinDownToJunkieTown]

me and my boys used to listen to this and the banana album when we were using gear, as nobody writes junkie tunes like lou reed, but i must ive always found it a bit unusual that reed wrote/recorded a load of heroin infused songs during the years that he didnt use heroin and then when he left the velvets and went solo and did use heroin again never wrote another junkie song, except maybe perfect day but im not sure when he actualy conceived that one.

[johnnylongback]

It's 2010. there is no "Discuss" with the Velvet underground 40 years plus and it still and always will stand up, any contrary oppinons are just that oppinions. and they are wrong!!

[Marphis]

Best fuckin' VU song, one of the best songs you'll ever hear.

[jasonbigelow]

everything after this album is garbage.

[MikeMcQuagge]

@jasonbigelow Loaded is garbage?

[Quiggification]

@jasonbigelow

Well, they're basically a new band. So think of that stuff as a different, differently awesome band...

[OSAGraffitiCrew]

@Quiggification velvet underground is an old band. 1969?

[GoinDownToJunkieTown]

@OSAGraffitiCrew 64-69/70 i think, their first studio album didnt come out til 67

[bigdunk9]

@jasonbigelow The Velvet Underground (1969) is garbage?! Are you having a laugh?!

[jasonbigelow]

@bigdunk9 No laugh,no wind-up. everything after this,is shit.

[bigdunk9]

@jasonbigelow Listen to Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, The Murder Mystery & try and tell me they're shit.

[jasonbigelow]

@bigdunk9 i'm not going to waste my time with that Doug Yule shit.

[OSAGraffitiCrew]

@jasonbigelow lol haha then please tell us whats good then? lou reed is the fucking man! every song of his is amazing in its own way. and how about david bowie? is he garbage too?

[OSAGraffitiCrew]

@bigdunk9 those are good songs :P i like heroin by velvet underground. GREAT SONG :O

[limitedwhole]

The organ crushes this song. ORGAN KA BOW!

[kamalmanzukie]

there's definitely something to be said for them having recorded this whole album way too loud. not many songs growl like this.

[ColonCleansification]

I am a huge fan of both the Beatles and Velvet Underground.

Yes, I like the song too. It has this nice feel, especially when Cale enters with the distorted organ. Pure heavenly jam!

[bigdunk9]

The greatest and most original band of all time. End of dicussion.

[metal4lifeddie]

The Velvet Underground are my favourite 60s band.

[dvdbeverly]

brilliant, here we have the beginnings of Punk/Alternative music! Light years ahead of its time!

[dannycefc]

the velvet underground changed music

[vinciano]

Im a huge fan of beatles great works. But this song alone can top all beatles efforts. What can be call in comparison? Helter Skelter, LITSWD, While my guitar gently weeps? No, all fantastic works but Velvet are on another planet, planet of pure Art.

[Hip0lit0]

one of my all time favorites! any songs like this out there?

[pablodmdp]

@Hip0lit0 check out Shake the dope out by The Warlocks

[lvgrl90]

Anytime I play a velvets song my bf always says oh it sounds like the doors. I don't really see the similarity. Maybe it is because of the organ in this song? Would you really lump them in the same category? I would not for sure.

[worldbefreed]

@lvgrl90

The Doors and The Velvet Underground are similar in that they were both great groups who had no equals in some ways, but I agree with you that they don’t sound very much alike. I admit that part of this song (Sister Ray) reminds me a little of the extended instrumental interludes in Riders on the Storm and LA Woman, but you should still leave your bf and hook up with me.

[lvgrl90]

@worldbefreed

Thanks for the response. And yes, I need to hook up with a vu fan. :)

[elephantrange]

@lvgrl90 It's a history thing; both bands represented the 'dark side' of psychedelic music in the late 1960's. A lot of bands were about peace, love, and rainbows. Neither the VU or Doors fell into that category. Also, both Morrison and Reed were great lyricists. Yes, early VU with John Cale on keyboards sounds a bit like Ray Manzarek of the Doors.

[chinoETS]

Stop hating on everything, people. The Beatles, the Velvets, pop music, it doesn't matter.

Just listen to this song and let your ears orgasm.

[beatlemaniac1966]

the beatles and the velvet underground. up there with dylan as the most expiremental influential and all around brilliant musicians in history, and i've only been listening to the velvets for a week

[Skeeterbag]

I'm searching for my mainline. I said I couldn't hit it sideways. It's just like Sister Ray said...

[Skeeterbag]

@Skeeterbag and that John Cale is one organ-playin' mofo

[breenfantwo]

This was perfectly used for the end credits of "Brick". The ending could count as one of the most depressing endings of any movie, and then that guitar kicks in and you just forget all about it.

[KillSwitch2]

@breenfantwo

That's one of the reasons I thought that movie sucked. Too gimmicky. Joseph Gordon Levitt was good though.

[drafu]

The mother of all songs by the only band that matters.

[VioletDecapod]

whip it on

[MrMetallaroincazzato]

sorella raggio

[boredvesuvian]

Contemporary music is so crap, man.

[BOBZOWNER]

Yep - why can't anyone do proper music like this anymore? - AWESOME!!