Rare finds in museum

PITTSBURGH, PA (AAPNW) – The discovery and digitization of the rare master tapes of the Velvet Underground’s debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967, Verve Records) were ‘unearthed’ in the archives of the Andy Warhol Museum.

     The recording will premiere as part of an upcoming exhibition at The Warhol in 2023. The nine initial tracks recorded by the band were the bedrock of the album that became one of my most jarring and influential albums in rock music. The monophonic reel-to-reel ¼” tapes feature alternate versions and mixes of songs later issued on the 1967 release.

The Velvet Underground signed on with MGM/Verve Records on May 2, 1966. After some re-mixing and re-recording of the nine tracks from the Scepter master tapes The Velvet Underground & Nico was released in March 1967, with Warhol’s iconic peel-able banana on the cover. The original master tapes were given to Warhol after the album’s creation and have remained unheard since that time.

“You’re hearing the album as the band originally intended,” said Matt Gray, manager of archives at The Warhol. “The track listing alone is a retelling of the album; the quality of sound is remarkable; it gives you a new perspective.”

More information at www.warhol.org.