While they never had a single chart hit, The Velvet Underground is considered one of the most influential groups of the late 60s and early 70s. Lou Reed's trademark spoken-word delivery and John Cale's incorporation of varied musical styles were revolutionary at the time. The group has secured their place in music history with a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement (2017) and induction into the R&R Hall of Fame (1996). The group crafted diverse music with an intellectual edge, probably too smart and avant-garde for radio. But it is strange that a sweet little ditty like "Who Loves The Sun" couldn't even crack the Top 100. The song comes from their 1970 record, "Loaded."
New York city born and bred singer/songwriter Lou Reed is widely considered to be the father of punk rock. His solo work along with his tenure with the Velvet Underground ran counter to the groovy sounds heard on early 70s radio. Nevertheless, Reed's distinctive spoken word vocals earned him a top 20 hit in 1973 when the classic "Walk On The Wild Side" reached #16. "Wild Side" would remain his only chart appearance, despite a resurgence in 1989 with his comeback record, "New York." Popular cuts like "Dirty Blvd," "Romeo Had Juliette," and "Busload Of Faith" received considerable airplay. One of my favorites from this LP is "There Is No Time," one of the hardest rocking tracks Reed has done, perhaps foreshadowing his ill-fated project "Lulu" with Metallica in 2011. Reed passed away at the age of 71 in 2013, two years shy of being inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame.
