Ziggy

Time Machine Video of the Week

The Velvet Underground & Nico - Venus In Furs (1967)

Well i am posting this as the Velvets first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, was released 50 years ago today, March 12, 1967.

The Velvet Underground were a rock band formed in New York, America, by singer / guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise (who was replaced by Moe Tucker in 1965.

Accompanied by German born vocalist Nico, the album was recorded in 1966 while the group were featured on Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, which gained attention for its experimental performance sensibilities and controversial lyrical topics, including drug abuse, prostitution, sadism and masochism and sexual deviancy.

Most rock bands that have followed have been influenced by the Velvets, than by any other band in the history of music.

Venus In Furs was never released as a single but was the fourth track on side one of the debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico, and is one of my favourite Velvets tracks, but i love the whole album, i can remember that i was totally blown away by its sound the first time i played it.

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather Whiplash girl child in the dark Comes in bells, your servant, don’t forsake him Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart Downy sins of streetlight fancies Chase the costumes she shall wear Ermine furs adorn the imperious Severin, Severin awaits you there I am tired, I am weary I could sleep for a thousand years A thousand dreams that would awake me Different colors made of tears Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather Shiny leather in the dark Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart Severin, Severin, speak so slightly Severin, down on your bended knee Taste the whip, in love not given lightly Taste the whip, now plead for me I am tired, I am weary I could sleep for a thousand years A thousand dreams that would awake me Different colors made of tears Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather Whiplash girl child in the dark Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don’t forsake him Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart