Various Artists - Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964 -1965

Various Arists — Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-1965

Limited Edition Oxblood 1LP and Gold 1LP plus book

First official anthology of Lou Reed's work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965

Features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives' "The Ostrich"), and previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy")

Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive

Features 12" 20-page book with unseen photos and essays by Lenny Kaye and Richie Unterberger

Remastered by Grammy-nominated engineer John Baldwin

Pressed at Optimal in Germany

Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, presents the forthcoming release of Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27, the latest installment in LITA's critically acclaimed Lou Reed Archive Series is a compilation of pop songs penned by Reed during his mid-60s stint as a staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records. The compilation follows on the heels of Lou Reed's Hudson River Wind Meditations (2023) and Words & Music, May 1965 (2022).

One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed (1942-2013) first gained recognition as co-founder and frontman of the massively influential Velvet Underground. Over the course of his five-decade career, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his singular vision to an eclectic expanse of musical endeavors, including era-defining albums such as 1972's Transformer and wildly experimental works like the 1975 avant-garde noise classic Metal Machine Music.

But before establishing himself as an enduringly iconic singer, songwriter, musician, and poet, Reed got his start as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist) for Pickwick Records — a label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day. Encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry, Reed's output for Pickwick ultimately offers a fascinating early glimpse at his ever-evolving and truly limitless artistry.

The album has been restored and remastered by Grammy-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin. This 2LP edition features an in-depth booklet with unseen photos, liner notes by Richie Unterberger (renowned music journalist and author of such acclaimed titles as White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day), and an essay by Lenny Kaye (the legendary guitarist, Patti Smith Group co-founder, writer, producer, and curator of seminal garage-rock anthology Nuggets). The double-LP package is designed by multi-Grammy-winning artist Masaki Koike and pressed at world-renowned plant Optimal (Germany). A special color vinyl edition is pressed on "Oxblood" wax (A/B side) and "Gold" wax (C/D side). This release marks the first official anthology of Lou Reed's work for Pickwick Records and features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives' "The Ostrich"), and previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy").

 

1. The Primitives - the Ostrich

2. The Beachnuts - Cycle Annie

3. The Hi-Lifes - I'm Gonna Fight

4. The Hi-Lifes - Soul City

5. Ronnie Dickerson - Oh No Don't Do It

6. Ronnie Dickerson - Love Can Make You Cry

7. The Hollywoods - Teardrop in the Sand

8. The Roughnecks - You're Driving Me Insane

9. The Primitives - Sneaky Pete

10. Terry Philips - Wild One

11. Spongy and the Dolls - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really Love

12. The Foxes - Soul City

13. The J Brothers - Ya Running But I'll Getcha

14. Beverley Ann - We Got Trouble

15. The All Night Workers - Why Don't You Smile

16. Jeannie Larimore - Johnny Won't Surf No More

17. Robertha Williams - Tell Mamma Not to Cry

18. Robertha Williams - Maybe Tomorrow

19. Terry Philips - Flowers for the Lady

20. Terry Philips - This Rose

21. The Surfsiders - Surfin'

22. The Surfsiders - Little Deuce Coupe

23. The Beachnuts - Sad Lonely Orphan Boy

24. The Beachnuts - I've Got a Tiger in My Tank

25. Ronnie Dickerson - What About Me

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