The Very Best of the Velvet Underground

:"There are Velvet Underground compilation albums with similar titles:" "(1989) and" "(2000).Infobox Album |
Name = The Very Best of The Velvet Underground
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The Velvet Underground


Released = March 31, 2003
Recorded = 1966–1970, New York City and Hollywood, United States
Genre = Rock, art rock, experimental rock, folk rock
Length = 62:12
Label = Universal Music
Producer = Andy Warhol, Tom Wilson, The Velvet Underground, Geoff Haslam, Shel Kagan
Reviews = |
Last album = ""
(2001)
This album = "The Very Best of The Velvet Underground"
(2003)
Next album = "Gold"
(2005)

"The Very Best of The Velvet Underground" is a compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in Europe on March 31, 2003, by Polydor, the record label that oversees the band's Universal Music Group back catalogue.

About the album

The album is a regular, balanced best-of compilation that draws from all four canonical studio albums. It is notable for including three songs from "White Light/White Heat", usually the compilers' least favourite album due to its uncommercial sound. "The Very Best of The Velvet Underground" was released on the back of a successful Hyundai television advert, which featured the band's 1970 recording "I'm Sticking with You" off "Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition)". The version included in this compilation is the 1969 "VU" take, however, despite the cover sticker's claim to the contrary.

Track listing

All tracks performed by The Velvet Underground except † The Velvet Underground and Nico. All titles written by Lou Reed except as noted.

# "Sweet Jane"
# "I'm Sticking with You" "(1969 version)"
# "I'm Waiting for the Man"
# "What Goes On"
# "White Light/White Heat"
# "All Tomorrow's Parties" †
# "Pale Blue Eyes"
# "Femme Fatale" †
# "Heroin"
# "Here She Comes Now" (Reed, Cale, Morrison)
# "Stephanie Says"
# "Venus in Furs"
# "Beginning to See the Light"
# "I Heard Her Call My Name"
# "Some Kinda Love" "(alternate take)"
# "I Can't Stand It"
# "Sunday Morning" (Reed, Cale) †
# "Rock and Roll"

(1, 18) taken from "Loaded"; (2, 11, 16) taken from "VU"; (3, 6, 8-9, 12, 17) taken from "The Velvet Underground and Nico"; (4, 7, 13, 15) taken from "The Velvet Underground"; (5, 10, 14) taken from "White Light/White Heat".

Personnel

The band

* Lou Reed – vocals except as noted, guitar, piano (1-18)
* Sterling Morrison – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals (1-18)
* Maureen Tucker – percussion (2-17), vocals on "I'm Sticking with You"
* John Cale – viola, bass guitar, keyboards, celesta (3, 5-6, 8-12, 14, 17)
* Doug Yule – bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, drums, backing vocals (1-2, 4, 7, 13, 15-16, 18)

Additional musicians

* Nico – lead vocals on "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "Femme Fatale", backing vocals on "Sunday Morning"

Technical staff

* Andy Warhol – producer
* Tom Wilson – producer
* The Velvet Underground – producers
* Geoff Haslam, Shel Kagan and The Velvet Underground – producers