The Velvet Underground – VU

This is the VU comp that came out in the 1980s. I like the fact that it came out in the 80s in America. For me it was my introduction to The Velvet Underground and it was like, ‘OK, this is where The Jesus And Mary Chain came from – this is the prototype for so many things that I’ve been listening to forever.’ The next one I got was White Light/White Heat and that is – technically – a better record, but I also love the late period, it’s technically perhaps not as artistically interesting but if White Light / White Heat and the first never existed this would still be fucking amazing, y’know? That whole reality of it all. Changed any life. My favourite American band of all time, and just behind The Beatles for my favourite band of all time.