We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Is it as good as the critics said? Of course, music quality is in the ear of the beholder. One man’s trash is another’s gold. Some call this one of the greatest albums of all-time. I’m skeptical.
How do you rate “Transformer”, the second studio solo effort from former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed?
Is it one of the most influential LPs of the glam rock movement….or an insipid ego trip for a guy that’s been described as a real asshole?
David Bowie and Mick Ronson help this rise above mediocrity at times. “Vicious”, “Satellite of Love” and “I’m So Free” are good. “Perfect Day” sounds like some MOR schlock and you almost think Reed is playing you with it’s apparent sincerity. I’m still not sure which.
The misses include “Make Up” and “New York Telephone Conversation” which to my Midwestern ear are crap trying to shock me.
And then, sometime you catch lightning in a bottle. “Walk On The Wild Side” is an incredible record. I still don’t know how the censors of 1972 allowed a song about transvestite prostitutes and other low-lifes of the New York scene get on the radio. Maybe it’s the incredible bass from noted session man and T-Rex member Herbie Flowers. Maybe it’s Reed laconic delivery of the vocals…making these weirdos accessible.
If 1972 showed us anything…it’s that the hippie vibe of “love, peace and granola” was on it’s way out and the antidote to what many saw as the navel-gazing of the singer-songwriter avalanche or the slick, polished sound of the coming disco craze…was the growling, cynical nihilism of people like Iggy Pop & Reed. The punks were coming…this was one of the first shots across the bow.
- Lou Reed – lead vocals; rhythm guitar
- Mick Ronson – lead guitar; piano; recorder; string arrangements
- David Bowie – backing vocals; keyboards; acoustic guitar on “Wagon Wheel” and “Walk on the Wild Side”
- Herbie Flowers – bass guitar; double bass; tuba on “Goodnight Ladies” and “Make Up”
- John Halsey – drums
- Trevor Bolder – trumpet
- Ronnie Ross – soprano saxophone on “Goodnight Ladies”; baritone saxophone on “Walk on the Wild Side”
- Thunderthighs – backing vocals
- Klaus Voormann – bass guitar on “Perfect Day”, “Goodnight Ladies”, “Satellite of Love” and “Make Up”
- Barry DeSouza – drums
- Ritchie Dharma – drums
Production
- David Bowie – producer
- Mick Ronson – producer
- Ken Scott – engineer
side one: Vicious 0:00 Andy’s Chest 2:59 Perfect Day 6:20 Hangin’ ‘Round 10:07 Walk On the Wild Side 13:43 side two: Make Up 18:02 Satellite of Love 21:03 Wagon Wheel 24:46 New York Telephone Conversation 28:07 I’m So Free 29:41 Goodnight Ladies 32:51
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