The Velvet Underground and Nico - Definition and Overview

The Velvet Underground and Nico was The Velvet Underground's 1967 debut album.

About the album

As well as the band (which at this time consisted of Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and "Mo" Tucker), the record features Nico on several tracks, an addition made at the behest of the band's then-producer, Andy Warhol.

In 1998 Q magazine readers voted The Velvet Underground and Nico the 71st greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 19.

Cover

The early LP edition with the banana sticker peeled off.

Track listing

All songs written by Lou Reed unless indicated otherwise.

1. "Sunday Morning" (Reed/Cale) (2:56)
2. "I'm Waiting for the Man" (4:39)
3. "Femme Fatale" (2:38)
4. "Venus in Furs" (5:12)
5. "Run Run Run" (4:22)
6. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (6:00)
7. "Heroin" (7:12)
8. "There She Goes Again" (2:41)
9. "I'll Be Your Mirror" (2:14)
10. "The Black Angel's Death Song" (Reed/Cale) (3:11)
11. "European Son" (Reed/Cale/Morrison/Tucker) (7:46)

People involved

The band

• Lou Reed – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, piano
• John Cale – electric viola, piano, bass guitar, backing vocals
• Sterling Morrison – rhythm guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
• Maureen Tucker – percussion
• Nico – lead vocals on "Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "I'll Be Your Mirror"; backing vocals on "Sunday Morning"

Additional musicians

None.

Technical staff

• Andy Warhol – producer (except "Sunday Morning")
• Tom Wilson – producer ("Sunday Morning"), post-production editer, remixer
• Omi Haden – engineer
• Norman Dolph and John Licata – engineers
• Gene Radice and David Greene – remixers