LOU REED - Words And Music, May 1965 (Deluxe Ed) - 2LP - 180g Black Vinyl + 7" / CD / Book

2LP - 180g Black Vinyl cut for 45rpm. Also includes 7", 28 Page Booklet and CD Version. Housed in Gatefold Die Cut Sleeve.

Released in tandem with the late artist’s 80th birthday celebrations, the album offers an extraordinary, unvarnished, and plainly poignant insight into one of America’s true poet-songwriters. Capturing Lou Reed in his formative years, this previously unreleased collection of songs—penned by a young Reed, recorded to tape with the help of future bandmate John Cale, and mailed to himself as a “poor man’s copyright”—remained sealed in its original envelope and unopened for nearly 50 years. 

The centerpiece of the inaugural Lou Reed Archive Series release is the Deluxe 45-RPM Double LP Edition of Words & Music, May 1965. Limited to 7,500 copies worldwide, this stunning collection was designed by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike and features a stylized, die-cut gatefold jacket manufactured by Stoughton Printing Co., with sequential foil numbering. Housed inside are two 45-RPM 12-inch LPs, pressed on HQ-audiophile-quality 180-gram vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) featuring the only vinyl release of “I’m Waiting for the Man – May 1965 Alternate Version.” A bonus 7-inch, housed in its own unique die-cut picture sleeve and manufactured at Third Man Record Pressing includes the only vinyl release of six previously-unreleased bonus tracks providing a never-before-seen glimpse into Reed’s formative years, including early demos, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and a doo-wop serenade recorded in 1958 when the legendary singer-songwriter was just sixteen years old. An accompanying saddle-stitched, die-cut 28-page book features lyrics, archival photos, and liner notes Also included is an archival reproduction of a rarely-seen letter, written by Reed to his college professor and poet, Delmore Schwartz, circa 1964. The set includes a CD containing the complete audio from the package, housed in a die-cut jacket.

* All tracks previously unreleased
*  Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive
* Inaugural release in Light in the Attic’s Lou Reed Archive Series
* Features the earliest-known recordings of “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Pale Blue Eyes" and “Heroin" as made famous by The Velvet Underground
*  Includes seven unheard Lou Reed compositions
* 45 RPM 2LP set pressed on Audiophile-Quality 180-gram black vinyl at RTI
* Features the only vinyl release of “I’m Waiting for the Man – May 1965 Alternate Version”
* Remastered from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer John Baldwin
* Package designed by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike
* Includes bonus 7-inch record, housed in die-cut picture sleeve containing the first-ever vinyl release of six unheard tracks recorded between 1958 and 1964, including early demos, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and a doo-wop serenade recorded in ‘58 when the legendary singer-songwriter was just sixteen-years-old.
*  Saddle-stitched, die-cut 28-page book featuring lyrics, archival photos, and liner notes by Greil Marcus, Don Fleming and Jason Stern
*  Archival reproduction of letter written by Reed to Delmore Schwartz, circa 1964
*  Includes CD containing complete audio from the package, housed in die-cut jacket
*  Entire package housed in stylized, die-cut gatefold LP jacket manufactured by Stoughton Printing Co.
* Foil numbered and limited to 7,500 copies worldwide on black vinyl


Vinyl / CD Tracklist:

1. I'm Waiting for the Man - May 1965 Demo
2. Men of Good Fortune - May 1965 Demo
3. Heroin - May 1965 Demo
4. Too Late - May 1965 Demo
5. Buttercup Song - May 1965 Demo
6. Walk Alone - May 1965 Demo
7. Buzz Buzz Buzz - May 1965 Demo
8. Pale Blue Eyes - May 1965 Demo
9. Stockpile - May 1965 Demo
10. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams - May 1965 Demo
11. I'm Waiting for the Man - May 1965 Alternate Version
12. Gee Whiz - 1958 Rehearsal
13. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down - 1963/64 Home Recording
14. Michael, Row The Boat Ashore - 1963/64 Home Recording
15. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Partial) - 1963/64 Home Recording
16. W & X, Y, Z Blues - 1963/64 Home Recording
17. Lou's 12-Bar Instrumental - 1963/64 Home Recording