Search - Velvet Underground :: Bootleg Series, Vol. 1: The Quine Tapes

A Must for VU Fans

J. Ross | NYC | 10/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"More raw and experimental than "69 Live." Better (and warmer) sound, to my ears, than Max's. Never mind the tape hiss and lo-fi--the music gets through. As others here have said, this is not the best place to begin listening to the Velvets, but if you already are a fan, you will love it. The sprawling stretches of "Sister Ray" and other extended versions of VU songs are a revelation. There is nothing like the shock of hearing a band you revere live for the first time. This set can bring you quite close to that experience."

Follow the leader

M. SMITH | Music Heaven | 01/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Overall, worse than "Live, 1969"--the best live rock band record alive. Much better though than "Max's Kansas City", which is ruined with Billy Yule's monster drums (where one can hear how soon Lou's solo career would sound). Certainly, the quality of this is worse than Max's, it's however, the VU at the top of their game, similar to "Live, 1969." This collection includes estimable versions of "Sister Ray" which is preferable to early bootleg versions with John Cale (the 38:00 minute version is otherworldly)--and, it positively must be true they were a much better live band during this period. All said and done, the linchpin is the 17:00 minute version of "Follow the Leader," an extended rhythm guitar marathon w/ a mighty band pumpin' in unison. The 10:00 version of "White Light/White Heat" comes a close second...And if you want to really know how good this is, dig up how it influenced Robert Quine's guitar playing. "You know his life was changed by rock-n-roll.""

This is coolest band on the planet

I am the famous Ralph Buttawitz | USA | 02/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't even imagine would it be like at these concerts or any of the VU shows from the 60's. All we have in terms of visual is the warhol films and 1993 which doesnt even come close. I can't imagine what cool Lou must of looked flippin out with his voice and guitar of that period. As a matter of fact it's hard for me to imagine this music was even created."