After a short time the album was withdrawn from the market and hidden forever in the shade of shame, hoping that everybody would forget about it. In 1973 the label asked Yule to record one last album and then finally end the Velvet Underground chapter, leaving him the job to compose, write and play all the songs on his own. One by one all the original members followed his example and Yule tried to finish the scarcely successful 'Loaded tour' with another backing band under the false name of Velvet Underground, which unofficially was no more. So he eventually left the band some months later in 1971. This was 'the beginning of a new age': the next two works would be in fact more rock-orientated than the early noise-rock experiences, also including slow ballads: some of them sung by Yule himself.Īfter the last album in 1970, Reed had no intention to keep on with the show, strongly willing to go solo and finally become a real rock star, a goal that couldn't be possibly reached under the Velvet Underground's name. He could work in fact more like a jolly for the band, since he could play basically any instrument. Since this album is pretty delicate to review - no wonder nobody has done it before - I'll do my best to be as objective as possible, considering first of all the historical facts that lead to this critical point for VU 'posthumous' career.Īfter White Light/White Heat John Cale was kicked off the band by Lou Reed, who hired Doug Yule, referring to him as a more skilled bass player and a decent singer, who he was, indeed.

Review Summary: A controversial record, but often too underrated.

Members of the velvet underground