The Velvet Underground - 1968-12-12 - Boston, MA (AUD/FLAC)

(Audience FLAC)

Boston Tea Party 

lineage: 
master reels > 10" reels (7-1/2ips, w/ modest EQ) > AIFF > FLAC > WAV > FLAC (level 8) 

Lou Reed: guitar, vocals 
Sterling Morrison: guitar 
Doug Yule: bass, organ, vocals 
Moe Tucker: drums 

CD1 
01: Heroin (9.11) 
02: Move Right In (5.42) 
03: Waiting For The Man (7.18) 
04: I'm Set Free (5.02) 
05: Foggy Notion (8.17) 
06: Beginning To See The Light (6.17) 
07: Candy Says (4.44) 

CD2 
01: White Light White Heat (5.18) 
02: Jesus (4.50) 
03: Sister Ray (26.17) 
04: Pale Blue Eyes (6.09) 

original audience recording by the "professor" 

December 12th 1968 was the first show of a 3 night stay at the Velvets "second home", the Boston Tea Party. This recording was made by the "professor", who reputedly smugged his reel-reel recorder into the venue under a large poncho. 

This show has long been my personal favourite of all the extant Tea Party recordings. Lou and Sterling's guitar playing is outstanding, and Moe never misses a beat. "Move Right In" is just great - Sterling sounds just like a tape loop and Lou's "improvised on the spot" lyrics are tantalisingly almost intelligible. "Foggy Notion" is a joyful breeze, with buzzsaw guitars and fine vocals. Going by Lou's introduction, this would appear to be the first public performance of "Candy Says". It's certainly the only Velvets recording of it which I am aware of where Lou actually sings it himself - he cant quite reach the high notes but there's a certain weary tenderness to his vocal which I dont think Doug ever managed to achieve, live or in the studio. This is undoubtedly my favourite version of one of my favourite songs.