Lou Reed Comes Alive!

Rock n' Roll Animal was recorded live at Howard Stein's Academy of Music in New York City on December 21, 1973. In addition to Lou Reed on vocals and guitar, the players are as follows:

Dick Wagner, guitar
Ray Colcord, keyboards
Pentti Glan, drums
Prakash John, bass
Steve Hunter, guitar

When I first heard this album over 25 years ago, I was truly amazed at the quality of the live performance. All of the work that I had heard by Lou Reed prior to this album had an acoustic feel and was rather low-key. This recording can best be described as high-energy rock n' roll, with an edge. The musicians are world-class players, and together they create a great sound, but they all have their moments of individual virtuosity.

The songs and an individual synopses of each are as follows:

1. Intro/Sweet Jane--The album opens with a riveting instrumental jam, featuring some dazzling guitar work by Hunter and Wagner, and really melodic bass fills by John. The intro gives way to Sweet Jane, in a ponderous slow tempo (Mott The Hoople covered this song on All The Young Dudes, but their version was upbeat and much brighter). This song is pure Lou Reed, and there is no mistaking his inimitable vocal style. When this song ends, you feel like you've been run over by a particularly large bulldozer, or Godzilla, take your pick, it's just that powerful.

2. Heroin--Lou Reed's experiences with heroin are well-documented, and the lyrics to this song make the listener acutely aware of the rush that Reed is experiencing, as well as the nightmare that the junkie endures trying to get clean. Reed's vocal delivery is almost conversational, and when the musicians enter with their overpowering licks, you feel like you've been whacked over the head with a plank. The guitar and keyboard work is incredible. At just over 13 minutes long, this tune runs the gamut, from quiet to heavy.

3. White Light/White Heat--Another song about the use of heroin . This is pure rock n' roll, featuring a driving beat and some creative slide guitar work by Dick Wagner.

4. Lady Day--Did you know that Billie Holliday's nickname was "Lady Day'? Yep, sure was, and this song is about her. This is probably Lou Reed's finest vocal performance on this album, and again, the lead guitar work is first-class.

5. Rock n' Roll--You guessed it, this song is about rock n' roll. "When Jenny turned on that New York station, she couldn't believe what she heard, at all". Reed is addressing the fact that all of us, when we listen to rock n' roll music, are affected by it, albeit in different ways. This tune features some more of that incredible guitar work, and the break down in the middle of the song gives all of the musicians a chance to strut their stuff.

Five songs may not seem like enough for an album, but in this instance, it's more than enough. This is the best live album that I have ever listened to, as far as the quality of the recording is concerned. Lou Reed's abilities as a song writer are unquestionable; this album establishes him as a great performer.