The Depths · All albums

Loaded

The Velvet Underground · 1970

• Scores: Noise 1, Unease 1, Complexity 1 (each 1 to 5)
• Genre: Rock, Art rock
• Mood: easygoing, tuneful, bittersweet
• Sound: clean guitar, piano, short songs, bittersweet melodies

The Velvet Underground recorded this between April and August 1970 at Atlantic Studios in New York, after Atlantic asked for an album loaded with hits. Doug Yule sings lead on four tracks, and Lou Reed left the band in August 1970 before release. Moe Tucker is credited but did not play, because she was pregnant. On original pressings, Who Loves the Sun fades straight into Sweet Jane with no gap. The cover drawing of a subway entrance misspells downtown as dowtown.

Track list

1. Who Loves the Sun (2:50)
2. Sweet Jane (3:55)
3. Rock & Roll (4:47)
4. Cool It Down (3:05)
5. New Age (5:20)
6. Head Held High (2:52)
7. Lonesome Cowboy Bill (2:48)
8. I Found a Reason (4:15)
9. Train Round the Bend (3:20)
10. Oh! Sweet Nuthin' (7:23)