Street Hassling

Lou Reed, birthday boy, is now 66. I've backed off a touch on my days of worship, but he's still a key figure in my life.

This is "Street Hassle," as performed by him and his band in 1980. The studio version has cellos and some spoken words from Bruce Springsteen (read Rolling Stone's take on it here); this version doesn't, but it still has one of the greatest arrangements any two-chord rock 'n' roll song could ask for, along with some of the most wrenching writing of Lou's career.

It's eleven minutes long, set up in three movements. Here's part 1:



And, after a mean pinball and an introduction to the band, here are parts 2 and 3.

Jealous Guy Times Two

John Lennon's song "Jealous Guy," from his Imagine album, is one of his most popular solo songs, even going top 40 in 1988 during the "Oh no he di-int, Albert Goldman!" days. While I liked it well enough, I always thought it could have been done better. Come to find out, I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Roxy Music did a cover as a tribute to Lennon shortly after his death, going to number 1 in the UK (their only #1). As with so much of later Roxy Music, there's a smooth sophistication that works well, and Bryan Ferry is able to look and sound appropriately hangdog.



What I never realized was that the song could use a little crunch. Thank God Lou Reed found the need and filled it. This is from October 2001, in a John's birthday/9/11 tribute, and considering how few covers Lou's done, it's great to see him take a near-standard and make it all his own.

Bowie and friend

David Bowie's had a great career, but it can be argued that he's at his greatest when he's collaborating with somebody. It could be a good guitarist, like Mick Ronson, or a good producer, like Brian Eno, or a good singer, like Bing Crosby.

Here are a couple of concerts where he teamed up with another singer, and the results are great.

"Queen Bitch" comes from Hunky Dory, where Bowie notes, "Some V.U. white light returned with thanks." Lou Reed returned the favor in 1997 at this show in Madison Square Garden.



And here's David, in full-on Ziggy regalia, duetting with Marianne Faithfull, who's disguised as a nun. Thank God for the '70s.

Get Crazy

Get Crazy is one of my top five favorite movies that has yet to be released on DVD. It's directed by Allan Arkush, who helmed Rock 'n' Roll High School and used to be an usher at the Fillmore East in its glory days of the late '60s and early '70s. This film's his tribute to it.

It's about a New Year's Eve concert at the Saturn Theater, owned by a very Bill Grahamy Allen Garfield and assisted by a young Daniel Stern. There's more sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll than you can shake a microphone at. And what a cast - Ed Begley Jr.! The Doors' drummer! Paul and Mary Bland! Fabian and Bobby Sherman! Lou Reed (with a sense of humor!!)! Clint Howard as an usher! And above them all, Malcolm McDowell IS Reggie Wanker!



Sparks performs the title track, with the great lyric "Get crazy / Tell your boyfriend that you're pregnant / Watch him smile." I'm telling you, this is one you've got to track down.

Sweet Jane Times Two

Happy birthday to Lou, happy birthday to Lou...

Today marks the day that Lou Reed is old enough to collect Social Security; I'm willing to bet there are an awful lot of people who didn't think he would last this long. In tribute to his having done so, let's look at a couple takes on one of his signature songs, "Sweet Jane."

First we have the Man Himself performing it in Paris in 1974, when he was rockin' the blond hair and sequins.



And now perhaps the most famous of many covers of it, the Cowboy Junkies' take. I think it's kind of funny how Margo Timmins is doing everything she can not to look at the camera.

Lou Reed Sells Out *snort*

You do a commercial, you're off the artistic roll call forever. Everything you say is suspect, and every word that comes out of your mouth is now like a turd falling into my drink. -- Bill Hicks


I have never seen [Jaws 4], but by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built and it is terrific. -- Michael Caine

Welcome to the second of an ongoing series of big artists who decided to channel their creativity toward the art of the shill. Today's subject: Lou Reed, watching the wheels go round and making the art go Honda.



A tip of the hat to Zach in DCish for bringing this clip to my attention. To me, nothing says "tires" like a song about sadomasochism. Seriously, surrealism just doesn't work for me in advertisements. If you're going to try and sell me something I don't want, the least you can do is not fuck with my head.



See, this is how to do it. Cool song, the city captured in a couple dozen shots, and a Lou quote that fairly screams, "Okay, so I'm reduced to selling scooters - I'm still Lou Reed, and that's more than you've ever done, so shut up."

Attitude. Look for it at a Honda dealer near you.

That Wunnaful Wunnaful Sister Ray

I discovered the Velvet Underground in high school, which of course means that I attach more intense feelings and opinions about them than they probably deserve, and that I can't be impartial about them to this day.

So why don't I consider this dubbing on The Lawrence Welk show to be sacreligious?

Because it's too damn funny, that's why. And so well done - check out how closely the drum sound matches the drum visual at around the 1:50 mark.

My younger brother, a working musician who loves bands from the Who to Husker Du, is a big Lawrence Welk fan. There was a period when he didn't have a TV when he'd visit the parents around 4pm on Saturday so he could watch the show. The strange thing is, he did this without any sense of irony. I guess a good musician loves music, period.

Where can I get an orange jacket like that?