The Blue Mask

Infobox Album |
Name = The Blue Mask
Type = Album
Artist = Lou Reed


Released = February 1982
Recorded = October 1981 RCA Studios, New York
Genre = Rock
Length = 40:30
Label = RCA Records
Producer = Lou Reed, Sean Fullan
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7z2tk60x9kra link] "
* Rolling Stone" Rating|5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/loureed/albums/album/98632/review/5941738/the_blue_mask link]
Last album = "" (1980)
This album = "The Blue Mask" (1982)
Next album = "Legendary Hearts" (1983)

The Blue Mask is the eleventh album by singer-songwriter Lou Reed. It was the first album released after Reed left Arista and returned to RCA. It returns to the stripped-down sound of his previous group, the Velvet Underground, with only guitars, bass and drums. It also follows the Velvet Underground stylistically by counterposing jarring feedback-driven rock with tender ballads. Reed's and Robert Quine's guitars were mixed separately in the right and left stereo channels respectively. The album contains no instrumental overdubs with the exception of Reed's guitar on "My House", but all vocals were overdubbed with the exception of "The Heroine". In 2000, a remastered version of the album was released.

The album cover was designed by Reed's wife, Sylvia, and features a photograph of Reed by Mick Rock.

"My House" is dedicated to Delmore Schwartz.

Track listing

All songs written by Lou Reed.

ide one

#"My House" - 5:25
#"Women" - 4:57
#"Underneath the Bottle" - 2:33
#"The Gun" - 3:41
#"The Blue Mask" - 5:06

ide two

#"Average Guy" - 3:12
#"The Heroine" - 3:06
#"Waves of Fear" - 4:11
#"The Day John Kennedy Died" - 4:08
#"Heavenly Arms" - 4:47

Personnel

* Lou Reed - Guitar, Vocals
* Robert Quine - Guitar
* Fernando Saunders - Bass, backing vocals
* Doane Perry - drums