Velvet Underground have an extensive vinyl box set on the way, capturing live highlights from a run of shows they played almost 50 years ago.
Velvet Underground – The Complete Matrix Tapes takes in 43 tracks in total, offering alternate live versions of the same song in some cases. The recordings featured on the 8xLP box set were captured across two nights at San Francisco’s North Beach club the Matrix.
The two dates (on November 26 and 27, 1969, which was Thanksgiving) formed part of an 18-date residency that the band took up in San Francisco across November and December of 1969, which saw them play shows at the Matrix and before that another venue called the Family Dog.
The box set, which comes with an accompanying book, includes 18 live cuts that were featured on a Super Deluxe Edition of the band’s third album in addition to nine previously unreleased recordings. The release marks the first time all the available tapes from the two gigs will be released together on vinyl.
You can find a full tracklist for the release, and pre-order the limited edition box set, here. it’s out on July 12.