The Velvet Underground / Nico (Deluxe Edition)

iTunes Review

Aptly named, The Velvet Underground never achieved mainstream success during their initial tour of duty in the late 1960s. The ensuing years saw their influence deepen and expand among the punk, new wave, no wave and post-punk groups that followed in future decades. This, their 1967 debut, is a monster, powerfully diverse and innovative in every respect. In addition, the album featured German actress and chanteuse Nico on several tracks, “Femme Fatale,” “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” that furthered the group’s exotic appeal. The “Deluxe Edition” includes the mono mix of the album, the five cuts that featured the involvement of Reed, Cale and Velvets’ guitarist Sterling Morrison in the performance and/ or writing from Nico’s Chelsea Girls, her highly recommended 1967 solo LP, and the “single” versions of several album tracks, “All Tomorrow’s Parties” having the most drastic edit, halving the time. The other bonuses are minimal, as “I’ll Be Your Mirror” doesn’t fade and “Sunday Morning” has some miniscule studio talk at the beginning. However, the mono mix should be of consequence to purists who enjoy hearing how the album was mostly heard upon release.