The Pop Corporation

You might know, you might not, but Lou Reed was writing and releasing music before his years in The Velvet Underground. He was an in-house guy at Pickwick Records, trying his hand at pop, R&B and even some dance craze records. There’s a lot of fun stuff in the troves, and all interesting given that we now know what Reed would become.

Well, these songs are being put on a compilation by the good heads over at Light in the Attic records, so you know it will be made with some love and affection.

This new album is called ‘Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65’ and you’ll be able to get your hands on it on September 27th, and it has been made in partnership with Reed’s partner Laurie Anderson. Perhaps the most famous of the early cuts is ‘The Ostrich’ which features a young Lou singing lead vocals about a supposed dance of the same name, and you can listen to it right now!

‘Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65’ tracklisting:

Side A
1. The Primitives – ‘The Ostrich’
2. The Beachnuts – ‘Cycle Annie’
3. The Hi-Lifes – ‘I’m Gonna Fight’
4. The Hi-Lifes – ‘Soul City’
5. Ronnie Dickerson – ‘Oh No Don’t Do It’
6. Ronnie Dickerson – ‘Love Can Make You Cry’
7. The Hollywoods – ‘Teardrop In The Sand’
8. The Roughnecks – ‘You’re Driving Me Insane’

Side B
1. The Primitives – ‘Sneaky Pete’
2. Terry Philips – ‘Wild One’
3. Spongy And The Dolls – ‘Really – Really – Really – Really – Really – Really Love’
4. The Foxes – ‘Soul City’
5. The J Brothers – ‘Ya Running, But I’ll Getcha’
6. Beverley Ann – ‘We Got Trouble’
7. The All Night Workers – ‘Why Don’t You Smile’
8. Jeannie Larimore – ‘Johnny Won’t Surf No More’

Side C
1. Robertha Williams – ‘Tell Mamma Not to Cry’
2. Robertha Williams – ‘Maybe Tomorrow’
3. Terry Philips – ‘Flowers For The Lady’
4. Terry Philips – ‘This Rose’

Side D
1. The Surfsiders – ‘Surfin’’
2. The Surfsiders – ‘Little Deuce Coupe’
3. The Beachnuts – ‘Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy’
4. The Beachnuts – ‘I’ve Got a Tiger in My Tank’
5. Ronnie Dickerson – ‘What About Me’