"To hear a tape containing their earliest demos, recorded on May 11, 1965, and locked away until now, is to hear traces of things rarely associated with The Velvet Underground: blues and folk, earthy and traditional, uncertain and hesitant... yet bristling with that rusty, caustic, Lou Reed spirit. It is a revelation." - Will Hodgkinson, MOJO. Light in the Attic Records, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson, proudly announces the inaugural title in their ongoing Lou Reed Archive Series: Words & Music, May 1965. Released in tandem with the late artist's 80th birthday celebrations, the album offers an extraordinary, unvarnished, and plainly poignant insight into one of America's true poet-songwriters. Capturing Reed in his formative years, this previously unreleased collection of songs-penned by a young Lou Reed, recorded to tape with the help of future bandmate John Cale, and mailed to himself as a "poor man's copyright"-remained sealed in it's original envelope and unopened for nearly 50 years. It's contents embody some of the most vital, groundbreaking contributions to American popular music committed to tape in the 20th century. Through examination of these songs rooted firmly in the folk tradition, we see clearly Lou's lasting influence on the development of modern American music - from punk to art-rock and everything in between. A true time capsule, these recordings not only memorialize the nascent sparks of what would become the seeds of the incredibly influential Velvet Underground; they also cement Reed as a true observer with an innate talent for synthesizing and distilling the world around him into pure sonic poetry.
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Recommended equipment and accessories
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Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
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Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
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Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
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Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
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Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
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Richard Hawley Coles Corner (20Th Anniversary; Half-Speed Master Edition)
Polygram UK
August 8, 2025 -
Mono Inc Darkness
No Cut
August 15, 2025 -
Jordan Davis Learn The Hard Way [2xLP]
Mca Nashville
August 15, 2025 -
Sarah McLachlan Better Broken
Concord Records
September 19, 2025 -
James K Friend [2xLP]
AD 93
September 5, 2025 -
Julia Wolf Pressure
Many Hats Dist
September 26, 2025 -
R.J.F. Cleaning Out the Empty Administration Building
Dais
August 15, 2025 -
Craig David Commitment [2xLP]
Believe Recordings
August 8, 2025 -
Kenny Thomas Unstoppable
777 Records
August 8, 2025 -
Solak Atlas
Kuroneko
August 15, 2025 -
Cate Le Bon Michelangelo Dying
Mexican Summer
September 26, 2025 -
Tom Odell A Wonderful Life
Urok
September 5, 2025 -
The Shame Cutthroat
Dead Oceans
September 5, 2025 -
Revocation New Gods, New Masters
Metal Blade
September 26, 2025