Velvet Underground - Live at Maxs Kansas City (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

Inferior To Live 1969 Vols. 1 & 2 - But Still Good

G.C. | Potomac, MD USA | 06/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Those new to the Velvet Underground or looking for good live material should first purchase both volumes of the "Live 1969" collection. The 1969 sets were professionally recorded and also feature drummer Mo Tucker, who was not on stage for the Max's KC gig. After digesting Live '69, this disc is worth exploring for a couple of reasons. First, this concert, recorded on a hand-held cassette recorder on 8-23-70, would prove to be Lou Reed's last appearance with the VU until the 1990's. (The band performed additional concerts at Max's KC without Reed and over the next couple years was "led" by Doug Yule. This version of the band, which also included Tucker, released a 1973 import-only album "Squeeze" before disbanding.) So despite the fact that the sound quality is not of the highest fidelity and the foundation of the band is missing, its still a good addition the the VU discography. The setting is intimate and Reed seems relaxed performing before a hometown audience. The set also features songs from the 1970 "Loaded" album which was recorded in the spring and early summer. In summary the relaxed playfulness of "Live At Max's KC" provides an interesting contrast to the focused intensity of the "Live 1969" discs."

That's Jim Carroll you hear asking for Pernod between songs

Cassie Carter | New York, NY USA | 04/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just wanted to add this little factoid: poet/musician Jim Carroll, best known for *The Basketball Diaries* and his song "People Who Died," held the microphone for this recording. It is he, doing his best Andy Warhol immitation, you hear asking for Pernod between songs."

Quick note to reviewer "Askutnik" in Monroe, NY

dowens78 | Southington, CT United States | 03/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know of the recording you talk about where Lou was performing for a small crowd in NY. He was asked, "Where is Doug Yule these days", and Lou replies, "dead, I hope". That recording is available on CD and is titled "Lou Reed, American Poet (Live)". It was recorded at an FM radio station in NY in 1972 and is available through Amazon for under $15.00. To other readers, we highly recommend picking up a copy of this CD. Very Velvetish with a great set of popular songs."

"We Don't Do Heroin"

Solomon Cherniak | mobile, al | 06/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was one of the first VU albums I heard as a kid. A classmate (who I was in a garage band with) had it and we damn near wore out the grooves. It inspired us to get a different bass player and do most of the songs on that record. It sounded great until my buddy's mom said we couldn't play with him 'cause she didn't like his look.

I just recently got this record on CD and had forgotten how great it is. Yeah, the sound quality blows. But, keep in mind, it IS the Velevet Underground. Playing's great. Energy's fantastic. Lou's singing is top notch. And best of all, a fan yells out a request for "Heroin". Lou flatly responds, "We don't do Heroin". You can't write that kinda stuff."

Better than most bands' authorized live recordings.

Stephen Caratzas | Brooklyn, New York | 01/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to imagine that the Velvet Underground was on the brink of dissolution when this keepsake (i.e. bootleg) cassette recording was made of the band's legendary final stand at Max's Kansas City. Granted, this is the Velvets without two of its founding members, John Cale and Mo Tucker being replaced by brothers Doug and Billy Yule on bass and drums, respectively. But there is a fierce amount of energy being generated by a very tight, well-rehearsed unit, as these shows were played around the same time the band was recording its final studio offering, "Loaded". This disc features a slew of Velvets classics - "I'm Waiting for the Man", "Sunday Morning", "I'll Be Your Mirror", "Femme Fatale", "Sweet Jane" and "New Age" - interspersed with an unusually chatty and upbeat Lou Reed providing between song banter and occasional explanations of various songs' origins. For a brief, shining moment Lou Reed was at the top of his game as a songwriter and performer, and the Velvet Underground seemed poised for the elusive commercial breakthrough it never achieved.Serious fans will have no trouble looking past the sonic limitations of this recording to savor the historical importance of a great band captured at a point when its flame was arguably burning most brightly. The casual listener may be surprised to find that the performance and material more than compensate for the raw sound quality."

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	Velvet Underground Live at Max's Kansas City Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock Track Listings (10) - Disc #1 I'm Waiting For The Man Sweet Jane Lonesome Cowboy Bill - The Velvet Underground, Morrison, Sterling Beginning To See The Light I'll Be Your Mirror Pale Blue Eyes Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground, Cale, John New Age Femme Fatale After Hours
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