- White Light/White Heat (song)
Song infobox
Name = White Light/White Heat
Type = Single
Artist =The Velvet Underground
Album =White Light/White Heat
Released =January 30 ,1968
track_no = 1
Recorded = September 1967, Scepter Studios,New York City ,New York
Genre =Rock and roll ,experimental rock ,noise rock
Length = 2:47
Writer =Lou Reed
Composer = Lou Reed
Label =Verve Records
Producer = Tom Wilson
Tracks =
#"White Light/White Heat"
#"The Gift"
#"Lady Godiva's Operation "
#"Here She Comes Now "
#"I Heard Her Call My Name "
#"Sister Ray "
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = The Velvet Underground
Type = singles
Last single = "Sunday Morning" / "Femme Fatale"
(1966)
This single = "White Light/White Heat" / "Here She Comes Now "
(1968)
Next single = "What Goes On" / "Jesus"
(1969)"White Light/White Heat" is a song by American
avant-garde rock bandThe Velvet Underground , the title track on their second album, released in 1968. It is a fast, relatively aggressive start to the album, similar to thepunk rock genre it would ultimately influence.The songs vocals are performed primarily by
Lou Reed , withJohn Cale andSterling Morrison performing backing vocals. The song, much like "I'm Waiting for the Man ", features pounding rock-and-rollBarrelhouse -style piano."White Light/White Heat" was released in 1968 as a single with the
B-side "Here She Comes Now ".Reed also recorded a live version of the song in
1974 , which is featured on his "Rock 'n' Roll Animal " and "Greatest Hits" albums.Influence and cover versions
"White Light/White Heat" is often cited as a major influence on punk bands, as well as more varied rock and roll artists. The song has been covered by
David Bowie (see below),Mick Ronson andSlaughter & The Dogs , among others. A live recording byGary Numan appears on his concert album, "Living Ornaments '78".German industrial rock band
Die Krupps released a single in 1997 called "Black Beauty White Heat".Lou Reed played a portion of the song with
alternative rock bandThe Raconteurs during the 2006MTV Video Music Awards .The song "
Bang Bang Rock & Roll " by British bandArt Brut makes reference to this song in its chorus.The song is heard in promotional spots for "
The Starter Wife ".The 1996 album
White Light, White Heat, White Trash bySocial Distortion was named after the song.Personnel
1967 studio version
* Lou Reed - vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
* Sterling Morrison - lead guitar, backing vocal
* John Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
* Maureen Tucker - percussion1969 live versions
* Lou Reed - vocals, rhythm guitar
* Sterling Morrison - lead guitar, backing vocal
* Doug Yule - bass guitar, backing vocal
* Maureen Tucker - percussion1993 live version
* Lou Reed - vocals, rhythm guitar
* Sterling Morrison - lead guitar, backing vocal
* John Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
* Maureen Tucker - percussionDavid Bowie cover
Single infobox
Name = White Light/White Heat
|200px
Artist =David Bowie
from Album =Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture
B-side = "Cracked Actor"
Released = November 1983
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Hammersmith Odeon,London 3 July 1973
Genre =Glam rock
Length = 4:06
Label =RCA Records
372
Producer =David Bowie ,Tony Visconti
Chart position =- #46 (UK)
Reviews =
Last single = "Without You"
(1983)
This single = "White Light/White Heat"
(1983)
Next single = "Blue Jean "
(1984) |
David Bowie . A version he recorded in 1973 was released as a single in 1983 to promote the album "Ziggy Stardust – The Motion Picture ".Bowie, a long-time Velvets fan, had been performing “White Light/White Heat" since 1971. It had featured throughout the Ziggy Stardust tour (including a performance with
Lou Reed on8 July 1972 ), been recorded by Bowie for twoBBC sessions, and been slated for inclusion on "Pin Ups " (the backing track from this session was later recorded as a solo version byMick Ronson in 1975). Despite this, the "Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture" project would be the first time the song had been issued on a Bowie record, and as such it was released as a single.With Bowie at the peak of his global stardom thanks to "Let's Dance", "White Light/White Heat" was considered an unusual turn for the pop audience he had attracted, and reached only #46 in the UK. The song has continued to feature in Bowie’s live repertoire.
Track listing
# "White Light/White Heat" (
Lou Reed ) – 4:06
# " Cracked Actor" (David Bowie) – 2:51Production credits
* Producers:
**David Bowie
**Tony Visconti *
Musician s:
**David Bowie : Vocals,Guitar
**Mick Ronson : Guitar
**Trevor Bolder : Bass
**Mick Woodmansey :Drum s
**Mike Garson : KeyboardsReferences
Pegg, Nicholas, "The Complete David Bowie", Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5
- #46 (UK)
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