Another music post....Lou Reed

[tonypep]

My artists think I was born in just the right time. Don't know about that but among many colorful stories I do remember catching glimpses of guys like Andy and Lou at Max's Kansas city and CBGBs etc. when I was in my early 20s. When Lou died recently one of my long lost musical enthusiast friends tracked me down and sent me the original video of "Street Hassle". It's a mini poetic rock opera which never got any airplay except perhaps in the wee hours of the morning. Still it was a classic. Heavy on strings, it represents the epitome of that era in that place known as New York City.
It's gritty yet poetic stream of lyrics is laced with dark beauty. He simply nailed it.
Its a bit long but worth it for those who only know him for one or two songs. This was the real Lou. Released in 1978 we raced out to buy it and played it over and over.
Two years later I saw him perform this in NYC and it was awesome. The audience was completely hushed; not wanting to miss a word.
Oh and on the original album there is a special guest who was never credited on the album but whom some of you will easily guess.
RIP buddy

[blue moon]

I was gonna guess Nico (Niko? sp), but she would not be recognizable. Next guess is DB. I thought I heard they lived in the same house in Berlin at some point in time. . . is that it?

pierre

[Frog]

Here's the title cut, listen for yourself.

Lou Reed - Street Hassle (complete music video)

[tonypep]

I just listened to it again while doing the schedule, sorry I'm not great on posting vids but P, I know you are. It is so hauntingly beautiful and took me back 30+ years when we were unkowingly right in the middle of a scene that will never repeat itself. We'd catch the train to NYC  on Friday nights and catch some of the now famous playing in small clubs; sleeping at the train station and return to New Haven Sunday morning, sometimes fueled by substances that are gratefully no longer around and some that, sadly, still are. Saturday Night Live was catching on and guys like Bill and Chevy could sometimes be seen in the crowd. They were just getting to get recognized, although Chevy only played for one season and later developed a feud with Bill that lasts today.
It was easy to sneak back stage then and we'd see Debbie Harry, David Byrne, Joe Jackson, and so many others; too awestruck to approach them. A few years ago I had to deliver some shirts to Todd Rundgrent when he played the Mohegan Sun with Joe J and we reminisced backstage for a bit. Nervous at first, once we recalled those days, it was like talking with old friends that hadn't seen eachother in a while. Now those guys have some stories!
PS the special guest is a male. You may have heard of him.



Oh a hint......the special guest is a male.

[Zelko-4-EVA]

Bruce Springsteen?

[tonypep]

You got it Diz

[Zelko-4-EVA]

one of my friends posted some lou reed vids on youtube and asked this same question - otherwise i wouldnt have known.

[blue moon]

DB= David Bowie. I remember hearing about them living together in Berlin (or could that have been while he was recording Berlin?) and supposedly Iggy Pop was somewhere around too.

Would not have guessed The Boss working with Lou.

Have you had a chance to see Laurie Anderson (Lou's wife) live?

pierre

[tonypep]

No, I understand shes a performance  artist. And yes all three of those guys were tight; with producing some of Iggys and Lous albums