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Dismissed and vilified
Far Out magazine just published an opinion piece on the much maligned Velvet Underground album Squeeze. Yep, the one featuring the one and only Ian Paice on the drums. There’s not a whole lot on how exactly Paicey came into the picture, but more on how the album itself fits into the VU legacy.
Reed’s departure didn’t end the group, however. Yule, Morrison, and Tucker soldiered on for a few more shows, with Powers taking over bass and Yule becoming the band’s new frontman. Morrison left in 1971, with Tucker departing in 1972. But even that wasn’t the end, as Yule was dispatched to the UK by manager Steve Sesnick, complete with an entirely new band of musicians, to perform as The Velvet Underground. Sesnick basically stranded them there, and Yule was informed that he had to record an album to satisfy a contract made with Polydor Records.
Over the course of a few weeks, Yule and Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice recorded an ad-hoc album that was eventually released as Squeeze. Upon release, it was immediately dismissed and vilified by the rock music writers who had previously championed the original Velvet Underground. Rolling Stone writer David Fricke called it “an embarrassment to the VU discography”, while Allmusic’s Steven Erlewine said the album “doesn’t just ride the coattails of VU’s legacy but deliberately co-opts their achievement”. When the band’s back catalogue was collected as part of the box set Peel Slowly and See, Squeeze was deliberately excluded.
Read the whole thing in Far Out.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Screw Rolling Stone and David Fricke. Rolling Stone for years vilified Purple, Sabbath, Rush, the Prog Rock bands, but in recent years, reversed their position and gives them their just due. I can care less what their reviews are.
October 25th, 2021 at 01:39This reminds me of “cut the crap” by the clash.
October 25th, 2021 at 02:00A last gasp by a once great band.
They must have had the same person mixing this that mixed some of the mid 70’s Sabbath albums, the drums are way down in the mix. Cheers.
October 25th, 2021 at 07:00Certainly the VU album with the best drumming. Nuff said.
October 25th, 2021 at 13:53That acoustic guitar riff sounds a lot like The Who’s Pinball Wizard.
October 25th, 2021 at 20:43