All Tomorrow's Parties

Last updated
"All Tomorrow's Parties"
All Tomorrow's Parties--I'll Be Your Mirror.JPG
Single b/w "I'll Be Your Mirror"
Single by The Velvet Underground and Nico
from the album The Velvet Underground & Nico
ReleasedJuly 1966 (1966-07)
RecordedApril 1966
Studio Scepter, New York City
Genre Psychedelic rock, [1] art rock
Length5:55 (album version)
2:55 (single version)
Label Verve
Songwriter(s) Lou Reed
Producer(s) Andy Warhol
The Velvet Underground and Nico singles chronology
"All Tomorrow's Parties" / "I'll Be Your Mirror"
(1966)		"Sunday Morning" / "Femme Fatale"
(1966)
Audio sample
Beginning of 3rd verse, with Nico's double-tracked lead vocals

"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released on the group's 1967 debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico .

Contents

Inspiration for the song came from Reed's observation of Andy Warhol's clique—according to Reed, the song is "a very apt description of certain people at the Factory at the time. ... I watched Andy. I watched Andy watching everybody. I would hear people say the most astonishing things, the craziest things, the funniest things, the saddest things." [2] In a 2006 interview, Reed's VU bandmate John Cale stated: "The song was about a girl called Darryl, a beautiful petite blonde with three kids, two of whom were taken away from her." [3] The song was Andy Warhol's favorite by The Velvet Underground. [4]

The song has notably lent its name to a music festival, a William Gibson novel, and a Yu Lik-wai film.

Recording

The song was recorded at Scepter Studios in Manhattan during April 1966. It features a piano motif played by Cale (initially written as an exercise) based largely on tone clusters. The repetitive keyboard part was inspired by the style of Cale's musician friend Terry Riley, with whom Cale had played in La Monte Young's mid 1960s group Theatre of Eternal Music. It was one of the first pop songs to make use of prepared piano [5] (a chain of paper clips were intertwined with the piano strings to change their sounds). The song also features the ostrich guitar tuning by Reed, by which all of the guitar strings were tuned to D. [6] [4] Drummer Maureen Tucker plays tambourine and bass drum while guitarist Sterling Morrison plays bass, an instrument that he professed to hate, despite his proficiency as a bassist. [7] [8]

Nico provides lead vocals. The song was originally recorded with only one track of her vocals; they were later double-tracked for the final album version. Most versions of the album use this version of the song, though the initial 1987 CD release uses the original mix without the double-tracking.

Personnel

Alternate versions

Ludlow Street Loft, July 1965

The earliest known recorded version of "All Tomorrow's Parties" was recorded on reel to reel tape by Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison in a New York apartment loft on Ludlow Street. With Reed on acoustic guitar, the song displays a strong influence from the American folk music revival—particularly in Cale and Morrison's harmony vocals—which critic David Fricke [9] suggests demonstrates Reed's fondness for Bob Dylan. This version, released on the Peel Slowly and See box set, is composed of multiple takes, which add up to a time of 18:26.

Single version, July 1966

An edited version of the song was released in July 1966 as a single with "I'll Be Your Mirror" as a B-side. The song cuts out about half of the studio version at just under three minutes. It did not chart.

This version later became available in 1995 on the Peel Slowly and See box set, and also appeared on the "Deluxe Edition" of The Velvet Underground & Nico released in 2002.

Other alternate versions

An anniversary reissue of the album included an "alternate single voice version" and an "alternate instrumental mix."

Japan version

"All Tomorrow's Parties"
Japan All Tomorrow's Parties 1983.jpg
Single by Japan
B-side "In Vogue" (Live in Tokyo) (7")
Released27 February 1983 (1983-02-27)
RecordedJune 1979
Studio DJM Studios, London
Genre
Length5:43 (album version)
3:32 (remix version)
Label Hansa
Songwriter(s) Lou Reed
Producer(s)
Japan singles chronology
"Nightporter"
(1982)		"All Tomorrow's Parties"
(1983)		"Canton"
(1983)

English new wave band Japan originally covered the song on their 1979 album Quiet Life . However, several months after the band split, a version of the song, remixed in 1981 by Steve Nye, was released as a single in February 1983. [11] The song peaked at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart. [12]

Releases

The 7-inch single was released with the B-side "In Vogue", which originally also featured on the Quiet Life album. However, this version is a live version from Tokyo in March 1980, with the single stating that it was taken from the 1982 ' Assemblage Special Edition Cassette' (however, it was originally released on the Live in Tokyo EP in 1980). [13] [14] The 12-inch single features two B-sides, also live versions from Tokyo: "Deviation" and "Obscure Alternatives", both of which originally featured on the band's second album Obscure Alternatives . A limited edition bonus 12-inch single "European Son" was also released. [14]

A total of 4 differently labelled 12-inch singles were released and along with the 7-inch single, none of them correctly credited the producers as Simon Napier Bell and Japan. The 7-inch single and 3 versions of the 12-inch single credited Giorgio Moroder as the producer, whilst the other 12-inch single credited the producer as John Punter. [14]

Track listings

7": Hansa / HANSA 18 (UK) [15]

  1. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (1983 Remix) – 3:32
  2. "In Vogue" (Live in Tokyo) – 6:10

12": Hansa / HANSA 1218 (UK) [15]

  1. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (1983 Extended Remix) – 5:15
  2. "Deviation" (Live in Tokyo) – 3:18
  3. "Obscure Alternatives" (Live in Tokyo) – 6:04

Double 12": Hansa / HANSA 1218 (UK, Limited Edition) [16] [15]

  1. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (1983 Extended Remix) – 5:15
  2. "Deviation" (Live in Tokyo) – 3:18
  3. "Obscure Alternatives" (Live in Tokyo) – 6:04
  4. "European Son" (Extended Remix) – 5:33
  5. "Alien" – 4:59

Personnel

Japan

Technical

Charts

Chart (1983)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 38

Related Research Articles

<i>The Velvet Underground & Nico</i> 1967 studio album by the Velvet Underground and Nico

The Velvet Underground & Nico is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Velvet Underground and the German singer Nico, released in March 1967 through Verve Records. It was recorded in 1966 while the band were featured on Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable tour. The album features experimental performance sensibilities and explicit lyrical topics, including drug abuse, prostitution, sadomasochism and sexual deviancy.

<i>Peel Slowly and See</i> 1995 box set by the Velvet Underground

Peel Slowly and See is a five-disc box set of material by the Velvet Underground. It was released in September 1995 by Polydor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterling Morrison</span> American musician (1942–1995)

Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr. was an American guitarist, best known as one of the founding members of the rock group the Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.

<i>Chelsea Girl</i> (album) 1967 studio album by Nico

Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album and second studio album by German singer Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records and was recorded following Nico's collaboration with the Velvet Underground on their 1967 debut studio album. It was produced by Tom Wilson, who added string and flute arrangements against the wishes of Nico. The title is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, in which Nico starred.

<i>The Very Best of The Velvet Underground</i> 2003 greatest hits album by The Velvet Underground

The Very Best of The Velvet Underground is a compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in Europe on March 31, 2003, by Polydor, the record label that oversees the band's Universal Music Group back catalog.

<i>Live MCMXCIII</i> 1993 live album by the Velvet Underground

Live MCMXCIII is a live album by the American rock band the Velvet Underground, released in 1993 by Sire Records. It was released simultaneously in single and double CD/cassette formats on October 26, 1993. In 2006, a DVD version of the concert was released as Velvet Redux Live MCMXCIII by Warner Music Vision and Rhino Home Video.

<i>Gold</i> (The Velvet Underground album) 2005 greatest hits album by The Velvet Underground

Gold is a two-CD compilation album by the Velvet Underground. It was released for the North American market on June 14, 2005, by Polydor, the record label that oversees the band's Universal Music Group back catalogue.

<i>VU</i> (album) 1985 compilation album by the Velvet Underground

VU is a 1985 album by the American musical group the Velvet Underground, a compilation album of outtakes recorded 1968-69. It was released in February 1985 by Verve Records.

<i>The Best of The Velvet Underground: Words and Music of Lou Reed</i> 1989 greatest hits album by The Velvet Underground

The Best of The Velvet Underground: Words and Music of Lou Reed is a compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released in October 1989 by Verve Records.

"The Black Angel's Death Song" is a song by the Velvet Underground, from their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It was written by Lou Reed and John Cale. In a footnote to the lyrics, Lou Reed wrote: "The idea here was to string words together for the sheer fun of their sound, not any particular meaning."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Light/White Heat (song)</span> 1968 single by the Velvet Underground

"White Light/White Heat" is a song recorded by the American rock band the Velvet Underground. It was released as a single in late November 1967 with the B-side "Here She Comes Now". The following year it appeared as the title track on their second studio album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground song)</span> 1966 single by the Velvet Underground

"Sunday Morning" is a song by the Velvet Underground. It is the opening track on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It was first released as a single in December 1966. The song is written in the key of F major.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ostrich guitar</span>

The ostrich guitar or ostrich tuning is a type of trivial tuning. It assigns one note to all strings, e.g. E-E-e-e-e'-e' or D-D-D-D-d'-d'. The term "ostrich guitar" was coined by the Velvet Underground's Lou Reed after the pre-Velvet Underground song "The Ostrich" by Lou Reed and the Primitives, on which he first recorded using this tuning, the first known commercial composition to make use of a trivial guitar tuning.

"European Son", also known as "European Son ", is a song written and performed by the American experimental rock band The Velvet Underground. It appears as the final track on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It is also the album's longest track at more than seven and a half minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Your Mirror</span> 1966 single by The Velvet Underground and Nico

"I'll Be Your Mirror" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico. It appeared on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It also surfaced as a single a year earlier with "All Tomorrow's Parties" in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There She Goes Again</span> 1967 song by the Velvet Underground

"There She Goes Again" is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground. It first appeared on their debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967). The syncopated guitar riff is taken from the 1962 Marvin Gaye song "Hitch Hike". Guitarist Sterling Morrison has stated:

Metronomically, we were a pretty accurate band. If we were speeding up or slowing down, it was by design. If you listen to the solo break on "There She Goes Again," it slows down—slower and slower and slower. And then when it comes back into the "bye-bye-byes" it's double the original tempo, a tremendous leap to twice the speed.

"Venus in Furs" is a song by the Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and originally released on the band's 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Inspired by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the song includes sexual themes of sadomasochism and bondage.

<i>Assemblage</i> (album) 1981 compilation album by Japan

Assemblage is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in September 1981 by Hansa Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Velvet Underground</span> American rock band

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. It originally comprised singer and guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. In 1965, MacLise was replaced by Moe Tucker, who played on most of the band's recordings. Though their integration of rock and the avant-garde resulted in little commercial success, they became one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music. Their provocative subject matter, musical experiments, and nihilistic attitude was also instrumental in the development of punk rock, new wave and several other genres.

<i>Andy Warhols Velvet Underground Featuring Nico</i> 1971 compilation album by The Velvet Underground

Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground featuring Nico is a compilation album of the Velvet Underground released by MGM Records in 1971 that features selections from the band's first three studio albums. Originally released as a double LP, the cover artwork and inside gatefold sleeve feature imitations of Andy Warhol's paintings of Coca-Cola bottles, but are credited to other artists on the back sleeve of the album. The album was released in the UK to capitalise on the interest from Warhol's Pork.

References

  1. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (2003). Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard. p. 80. ISBN   0-634-05548-8.
  2. ↑ Fricke, David (1995). Peel Slowly and See liner notes, p.22
  3. ↑ "Uncut: John Cale on The Velvet Underground & Nico". uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 12 Feb 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 Harvard, Joe (2007) [2004]. The Velvet Underground & Nico . 33⅓. New York City: Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 109–110]url-access= registration. ISBN   978-0-8264-1550-9.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Tim Sedition and Alchemy : A Biography of John Cale, 2003, ISBN   0-7206-1132-6
  6. ↑ Alan Licht, Common Tones: Selected Interviews with Artists and Musicians 1995-2020, Blank Forms Edition, Interview with Lou Reed, pp.170
  7. ↑ Hoffman, Eric. "Examinations: An Examination of John Cale". Mental Contagion. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2014. When I had to play viola, Sterling had to play bass, which he hated. According to the website, the quote is from John Cale's autobiography, What's Welsh for Zen (NY: St. Martin's Press (2000).
  8. ↑ Pinnock, Tom (18 September 2012). "John Cale on The Velvet Underground & Nico". Uncut. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. ↑ David Fricke, liner notes for the Peel Slowly and See box set (Polydor, 1995)
  10. 1 2 Mason, Stewart. Japan - Assemblage (1981) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Japan - All Tomorrows Parties". Discogs. February 1983. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  12. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Japan - All Tomorrows Parties". Discogs. 12 March 1983. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  14. 1 2 3 "Japan Nightporter - History of Japan by Paul Rymer". www.nightporter.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  15. 1 2 3 "Japan Discography - The Hansa Years". discog.info. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  16. ↑ "Japan - All Tomorrows Parties". Discogs. February 1983. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.