Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

11. The Velvet Underground – 1969: The Velvet Underground Live

When I was a kid I had this book of Rolling Stone’s top albums, and a lot of the critics had this record in their top 10, so this was the one I bought. It was the first Velvet Underground album I had; I heard this before any of their studio albums. I think it’s awesome. I bought all the other ones after, too, but something about it is so cool: it’s just the band playing, instead of Nico or all the fanfare with Andy Warhol. There’s something pure about it. I heard ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ on this album first, with Doug Yule singing, and I still like it better than the version with Nico singing.

PreviousNext Record

The Quietus Digest

Sign up for our free Friday email newsletter.

Support The Quietus

Our journalism is funded by our readers. Become a subscriber today to help champion our writing, plus enjoy bonus essays, podcasts, playlists and music downloads.

Support & Subscribe Today