Lou & Cool

 Lou Reed had already been The Velvet Underground’s main man for half a dozen years when the 70’s rolled around. And while the VU was a ground-breaking force in music (and one of the most unique musical listens you’ll ever experience), their light was fading when Lou left in 1971 to pursue a solo career, one that continues today. 

 The 70’s were a good decade for someone as experimental and “out there” as Lou Reed. Releasing no less than eleven albums in ten years, he was probably at his creative zenith during this time (although 1984’s “New Sensations” showed Lou wasn’t yet ready to pack it in, and he still isn’t!). Two of rocks greatest albums, “Transformer” (‘72) and the live “Rock and Roll Animal” (‘74), combined with the 1971 single “Walk On The Wild Side” cemented Reed’s place in rock history right then and there. They also highlighted the fact that Lou was (and remains) one of the truly “cool” guys in rock ‘n roll, or anywhere. Give another listen to any of the above, or to the succeeding 70’s releases “Sally Can’t Dance”, “Coney Island Baby”, or “Rock and Roll Heart”, and you’ll understand. That unpretentious, understated monotone of his, those straightforward riffs, and those sometimes hard-to-swallow lyrics are not your typical “presentation”, they’re Lou. Remember kids, nobody who tries to be cool (“hip”, “phat” etc.) can ever be cool. Now go put “Sweet Jane” on the iPod, crank it, and absorb.

Some Lou Reed facts:

• in his teens, Lou endured a series of electro-shock therapy treatments for his “homosexual behavior”
• Lou attended Syracuse University and later received an honorary English degree from the institution
• Contrary to the popular belief that 1975’s “Metal Machine Music” album was an attempt to break his contract with RCA, Lou claims it was a “genuine artistic effort.”
• Lou is skilled photographer who has recently published his second book of images
• In April, 2008, Lou married longtime companion, musician Laurie Anderson (“Oh, Superman”)

T.Rex : Get It On

Apropos of this blog’s moniker, here is T. Rex/ Marc Bolan performing (albeit lip-synching) “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” sometime in…yes…the 70’s. In the U.K., where it was originally released, the song was titled “Get It On (Bang A Gong)”. The emphasis was flip-flopped in the states to supposedly be “less offensive” and the title became “Bang A Gong (Get It On)”. Got that? With lyrics like “well you’re built like a car, you got a hubcap diamond star halo…you’re dirty, sweet, and you’re my girl”, I’m not sure it mattered where the emphasis was put. From it’s simple yet tasty off-the-beat riff to Marc Bolan’s glammy presence, this song is quintessential 70’s. I’ll have more on T. Rex and Bolan soon. In the meantime, dig this classic.