Rock 'n' Roll Animal

Infobox Album
Name = Rock n Roll Animal
Type = Live
Artist = Lou Reed


Released = start date|1974|2
Recorded = start date|1973|12|21, Howard Stein's Academy of Music, New York
Genre = Rock
Length = 40:32 (original) 48:12 (remaster)
Label = RCA
Producer = Steve Katz, Lou Reed
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hekmikb6bb79g link]
*Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Lou+Reed link]
*"Rolling Stone" (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/loureed/albums/album/228746/review/5943093/rock_n_roll_animal link]
Last album = "Berlin" (1973)
This album = "Rock n Roll Animal" (1974)
Next album = "Sally Can't Dance" (1974)

"Rock n Roll Animal" is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1974. In its original form, it features five songs from different periods of his creative career, including several songs by the Velvet Underground. The songs are all re-arranged into a powerful glam rock set. The musicians were Pentti Glan (drums) and Prakash John (bass) of the contemporary Alice Cooper band, Ray Colcord (keyboards), and Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter on guitars. The album was recorded live on start date|1973|12|21, at Howard Stein's Academy of Music in New York.

The level of musicianship and entertainment on this album is extremely high, with long adventurous guitar and bass solos, fast paced rhythms and amusing lyrics. The ornate polish applied to the four Velvet Underground tracks is in jarring contrast to the VU's minimal approach to the songs.

A remastered version was released on CD in 2000. It featured greatly improved sound quality, including two tracks not included on the original LP or 1990 CD release.

Further excerpts from the same concert were released in 1975 as "Lou Reed Live". This live album's stereo mix differs from its counterpart in that guitarist Dick Wagner is heard on the left channel, and Steve Hunter is on the right; this arrangement is reversed on "Rock 'n' Roll Animal."

Track listing

Original version

All songs written by Lou Reed unless otherwise indicated.
#"Intro/Sweet Jane" (Steve Hunter, Reed) – 7:57
#"Heroin" – 13:16
#"White Light/White Heat" – 5:11
#"Lady Day" – 4:00
#"Rock 'n' Roll" – 10:08

Remastered version

#"Intro/Sweet Jane" (Hunter, Reed) – 7:48
#"Heroin" – 13:12
#"How Do You Think It Feels" – 3:41
#"Caroline Says I" – 4:06
#"White Light/White Heat" – 4:55
#"Lady Day" – 4:05
#"Rock 'n' Roll" – 10:21

Personnel

* Lou Reed – vocals
* Pentti Glan – drums, percussion
* Steve Hunter – guitars
* Prakash John – bass, vocals
* Dick Wagner – guitar, vocal
* Ray Colcord - keyboards

Charts

Album