The Depths · All albums

Chelsea Girl

Nico · 1967

• Scores: Noise 1, Unease 2, Complexity 2 (each 1 to 5)
• Genre: Folk, Baroque Pop
• Mood: wistful, delicate, melancholic
• Sound: baroque arrangements, strings, flute, deep deadpan vocals, acoustic guitar, songs by other writers, lush production

Chelsea Girl is Nico's first solo album, recorded in April and May 1967 at Mayfair Recording in Manhattan and produced by Tom Wilson. The songs were written by Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Bob Dylan and Tim Hardin, and the basic arrangements are one or two guitars or a keyboard, with no drums or bass. Wilson and arranger Larry Fallon then added strings and flute without consulting Nico, who disliked them. The title refers to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, in which she appeared.

Track list

1. The Fairest of the Seasons (4:06)
2. These Days (3:30)
3. Little Sister (4:22)
4. Winter Song (3:17)
5. It Was a Pleasure Then (8:02)
6. Chelsea Girls (7:22)
7. I'll Keep It with Mine (3:17)
8. Somewhere There's a Feather (2:16)
9. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (5:07)
10. Eulogy to Lenny Bruce (3:45)