LIVE MCMXCIII

The Velvet Underground: Lou Reed (guitar, vocals); Sterling Morrison (guitar, bass); John Cale (bass, keyboards, viola, vocals); Maureen Tucker (drums, vocals). Recorded live at L'Olympia Theater, Paris, France on June 15-17, 1993. All songs written by Lou Reed except "The Gift" (L. Reed/J. Cale/M. Tucker/S. Morrison. The Velvet Underground: Lou Reed (guitar, vocals); Sterling Morrison (guitar, bass); John Cale (bass, keyboards, viola, vocals); Maureen Tucker (drums, vocals). Recorded live at L'Olympia Theater in Paris, France between June 15-17, 1993. This limited edition version of LIVE MCMXCIII contains one track not found on the standard release and comes packaged in black vinyl. When after years of acrimony, infighting and critical disdain, The Velvet Underground finally decided to call it quits in 1970, the last thing anyone expected was to hear from them again. When the Velvets announced plans for a reunion tour of Europe opening for U2, expectations of a U.S. tour rose to a fever pitch. Tragically, the Velvets broke up once again before reaching the States, and shortly afterwards guitarist Sterling Morrison succumbed to cancer, leaving the clamoring fans with only LIVE MCMXCIII to console themselves. However, LIVE MCMXCIII can proudly take its place with the best of the Velvet's recorded output. It contains not only brilliantly extended versions of Velvet's classics like "Femme Fatale," "Pale Blue Eyes" and "Heroin," but also its share of ultra-obscure numbers such as the bombastic "Hey Mr. Rain" and drummer Moe Tucker's sweetly innocent warbling on "Afterhours" and "I'm Sticking With You." Morrison, one of the most underrated guitarists in rock, holds his own during increasingly rambunctious guitar duels with Reed. The Velvet Underground reunion may never have reached America, but as live albums go, LIVE MCMXCIII stands as a fitting tribute to both Morrison and the legacy of the Velvet Underground.