| John Cale discography | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio albums | 19 |
| EPs | 3 |
| Live albums | 4 |
| Compilation albums | 5 |
John Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band the Velvet Underground in the 1960s. In the subsequent four decades, Cale has released varied solo albums, film soundtracks, and collaborations with Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Bob Neuwirth and others.
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL Fl. [1] | BEL Wa. [2] | DEN [3] | NLD [4] | US [5] | |||
| Vintage Violence |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Church of Anthrax (with Terry Riley) |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| The Academy in Peril |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Paris 1919 |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Fear |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Slow Dazzle |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Helen of Troy |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Honi Soit |
| — | — | — | — | 154 | |
| Music for a New Society |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Caribbean Sunset |
| — | — | — | 28 | — | |
| Artificial Intelligence |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Words for the Dying |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Songs for Drella (with Lou Reed) |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wrong Way Up (with Brian Eno) |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Last Day on Earth (with Bob Neuwirth) |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| Walking on Locusts |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| HoboSapiens |
| — | — | 36 | — | — | |
| blackAcetate |
| 87 | — | — | — | — | |
| Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood |
| 58 | 169 | — | — | — [a] | |
| M:FANS |
| 52 | 185 | — | — | — | |
| Mercy |
| 14 | 145 | — | — | — | |
| Poptical Illusion |
| 79 | 129 | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Short soundtrack
| Year | Title | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Hallelujah" | I'm Your Fan | Leonard Cohen cover |
| "The Queen and Me" | "More Fans" | ||
| 1993 | "Helmut Newton Told Me"/"Wish You Were Here"/"Oh! To Be Invited to the Venice Biennale" | Caged/Uncaged: A Rock/Experimental Homage to John Cage [7] | soundtrack to an exhibition, with Ann Magnuson |
| 2004 | "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | Por Vida [8] | Alejandro Escovedo cover |
| 2022 | "Mr. Sparrow" | For the Birds: The Birdson Project, Vol. III [9] | original |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | June 1, 1974 | with Kevin Ayers, Brian Eno, Nico |
| Year | Artist | Release information | Cale's contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Nico | Chelsea Girl
| viola, organ, guitar: various |
| 1968 | Morning Glory | Two Suns Worth
| sound engineer: album |
| 1969 | Nico | The Marble Index
| viola, piano, bass guitar, guitar, bells, arrangements: album |
| 1969 | The Stooges | The Stooges
| production, viola: album |
| 1969 | Earth Opera | The Great American Eagle Tragedy
| guitar, vocals: various |
| 1970 | Glass Harp | Glass Harp
| viola: various |
| 1970 | Chelsea | Chelsea
| viola: various |
| 1970 | Nick Drake | Bryter Layter
| viola, piano, cembalo, celeste, organ: various |
| 1970 | Nico | Desertshore
| vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, production: album |
| 1971 | Mike Heron | Smiling Men with Bad Reputations
| guitar, bass guitar, vocals: various |
| 1971 | Tax Free | Tax Free
| viola: album |
| 1972 | Jennifer Warnes | Jennifer
| production: album |
| 1973 | Chunky, Novi and Ernie | Chunky, Novi and Ernie
| production: album |
| 1974 | Nico | The End...
| bass guitar, xylophone, guitar, synthesizer, piano, organ, marimba, triangle, glockenspiel, percussion, production: album |
| 1975 | Geoff Muldaur | Is Having a Wonderful Time
| viola: "Wondering Why" |
| 1975 | Brian Eno | Another Green World
| viola: various |
| 1975 | Patti Smith | Horses
| production: album |
| 1976 | The Modern Lovers | The Modern Lovers
| production: primary sessions |
| 1977 | Kate & Anna McGarrigle | Dancer with Bruised Knees
| organ, marimba: various |
| 1977 | Squeeze | Packet of Three
| production: EP |
| 1977 | Sham 69 | Sham 69
| production: EP |
| 1978 | Squeeze | Squeeze
| production: album |
| 1978 | Cristina | "Disco Clone"
| production |
| 1978 | Marie et les Garçons | "Attitudes"/"Re-Bop"
| production, marimba: both sides |
| 1978 | Brian Eno | Music for Films
| viola: "Patrolling Wire Borders" |
| 1978 | Julie Covington | Julie Covington
| piano, clavinet: various |
| 1978 | David Kubinec | Some Things Never Change
| keyboards, production: album |
| 1978 | Harry Toledo & The Rockets | Busted Chevrolet
| production: EP |
| 1978 | Menace | "I Need Nothing"/"Electrocutioner"
| production: both sides |
| 1979 | Ian Hunter | You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic
| piano, keyboards, harp: "Bastard" |
| 1979 | Model Citizens | Model Citizens
| production: EP |
| 1979 | The Necessaries | "You Can Borrow My Car"/"Runaway Child"
| production: both sides |
| 1980 | Snatch | Shopping for Clothes
| production: EP |
| 1980 | Modern Guy | Une nouvelle vie
| production, cembalo, organ, percussion: album |
| 1983 | Made for TV | "So Afraid of the Russians"/"Unknown Soldier"
| production, baritone guitar, synthesizer: both sides |
| 1985 | Nico | Camera Obscura
| production, vocals: album |
| 1986 | Lio | Pop Model
| production: various |
| 1987 | Element of Crime | Try to Be Mensch
| production, keyboards: album |
| 1987 | Happy Mondays | Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile
| production: album |
| 1988 | Art Bergmann | Crawl with Me
| production: album |
| 1989 | Big Vern | Lullabies for Lager Louts
| production, keyboards: album |
| 1990 | Los Ronaldos | Sabor Salado
| production: album |
| 1990 | The Replacements | All Shook Down
| viola: "Sadly Beautiful" |
| 1991 | Maureen Tucker | I Spent a Week There the Other Night
| viola, synthesizer: various |
| 1991 | Sister Double Happiness | Heart and Mind
| radar blips: unknown |
| 1991 | Louise Féron | Louise Féron
| production, piano: album |
| 1991 | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses
| piano: "Nana" |
| 1992 | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue
| vocals: "Hunger" |
| 1994 | Vince Bell | Phoenix
| piano: unknown |
| 1994 | Yohji Yamamoto | Your Pain Shall Be a Music
| vocals: "John Cale" |
| 1994 | Hector Zazou | Chansons des mers froides
| vocals: "The Long Voyage" |
| 1995 | Siouxsie and the Banshees | The Rapture
| production: album |
| 1995 | Ivan Kral | Nostalgia
| piano: "Perfect Moon" |
| 1996 | Marc Almond | Fantastic Star
| piano: "Love to Die For" |
| 1996 | Goya Dress | Rooms
| production, piano, mixing: album |
| 1996 | Patti Smith | Gone Again
| organ: "Beneath the Southern Cross" |
| 1996 | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses | In Paradisu
| production and arrangements: various |
| 1996 | The Maids of Gravity | The First Second
| production: album |
| 1997 | Garageland | "Feel Alright"
| piano |
| 1998 | The Jesus Lizard | The Jesus Lizard
| production: "Needles for Teeth" |
| 1998 | Alan Stivell | 1 Douar
| instruments, mixing: "Ever" |
| 1998 | Jack Smith | Les Evening Gowns Damnées (recorded 1962–1964)
| sarinda: "Cold Starry Nights" |
| 1999 | Jack Smith | Silent Shadows on Cinemaroc Island (recorded in the 60s)
| performance: "Silent Shadows on Cinemaroc Island" |
| 1999 | Ventilator | Desert Station Frequency
| production: various |
| 2000 | Mediæval Bæbes | Undrentide
| production: album |
| 2001 | Super Furry Animals | Rings Around the World
| piano: "Presidential Suite" |
| 2001 | Jools Holland | Small World Big Band (live)
| vocals: "I Wanna Be Around" |
| 2002 | Gordon Gano | Hitting the Ground
| piano, vocals: "Don't Pretend" |
| 2002 | Trash Palace | Positions
| vocals: "The Insult" |
| 2003 | Angus MacLise | The Cloud Doctrine (recorded in the 60s)
| viola, guitar, keyboards: various |
| 2006 | Alejandro Escovedo | The Boxing Mirror
| production: album |
| 2008 | The Shortwave Set | Replica Sun Machine
| viola, synths, atmospheres: album/various |
| 2010 | Manic Street Preachers | Postcards from a Young Man
| keyboards, noise: "Auto-Intoxication" |
| 2020 | Kelly Lee Owens | Inner Song
| vocals, lyrics: "Corner of My Sky" |
| Year | Title | Medium | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "I Shot Andy Warhol Suite" [10] | Film theme | String section, arranged by Cale |
| 1998 | Dance Music | Ballet score | Ice Nine, arranged by Dave Soldier |
| 2000 | Saint Cyr | Film score | Various musicians, arranged by Randy Wolf |
Lewis Allan Reed was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band The Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Although not commercially successful during its existence, the Velvet Underground came to be regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of underground and alternative rock music. Reed's distinctive deadpan voice, poetic and transgressive lyrics, and experimental guitar playing were trademarks throughout his long career.
Christa Päffgen, known by her stage name Nico, was a German singer, songwriter, actress, and model.
The Velvet Underground & Nico is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Velvet Underground and the German singer Nico. Released by Verve Records in March 1967, the album underperformed in sales and polarized critics upon release due to its abrasive, unconventional sound and controversial lyrical content. It later became regarded as one of the most influential albums in rock and pop music and one of the greatest albums of all time.
John Davies Cale is a Welsh musician, composer, and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his six-decade career, Cale has worked in various styles across rock, drone, classical, avant-garde and electronic music.
White Light/White Heat is the second studio album by the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Released on January 30, 1968, by Verve Records, it was the band's last studio album with multi-instrumentalist and founding member John Cale. Recorded after band leader Lou Reed fired Andy Warhol, who had produced their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico, they hired Steve Sesnick as a manager and hired producer Tom Wilson, who had worked on the band's debut. White Light/White Heat was engineered by Gary Kellgren.
"Here She Comes Now"/"Venus in Furs" is a split single by American rock bands Nirvana and Melvins. It was released in June 1991 by The Communion Label.
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.
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.
"Femme Fatale" is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground from their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico, with lead vocals by Nico.
"Heroin" is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, the song, which overtly depicts heroin usage and its effects, is one of the band's most celebrated compositions. Critic Mark Deming of Allmusic writes, "While 'Heroin' hardly endorses drug use, it doesn't clearly condemn it, either, which made it all the more troubling in the eyes of many listeners." In 2004, it was ranked at number 448 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and was re-ranked at number 455 in 2010.
Songs for Drella is a 1990 studio album by Lou Reed and John Cale, both formerly of the American rock band the Velvet Underground; it is a song cycle about Andy Warhol, their mentor, who had died following routine surgery in 1987. Drella was a nickname for Warhol coined by Warhol superstar Ondine, a contraction of Dracula and Cinderella, used by Warhol's crowd but never liked by Warhol himself. The song cycle focuses on Warhol's interpersonal relations and experiences, with songs falling roughly into three categories: Warhol's first-person perspective, third-person narratives chronicling events and affairs, and first-person commentaries on Warhol by Reed and Cale themselves. The songs, in general, address events in their chronological order.
"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."
"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.
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released as the band's debut single in 1966. The song is from their 1967 debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico.
Honi Soit is the seventh solo studio album by the Welsh rock musician John Cale, released in March 1981 by A&M Records, and was his first studio album in six years following 1975's Helen of Troy. It was recorded and mixed by Harvey Goldberg at CBS Studios, East 30th Street and Mediasound in New York City with the intention of making a more commercial album with record producer Mike Thorne at the helm, Thorne would soon be known for his work with Soft Cell. "Dead or Alive" was the only single released from the album but it did not chart. However, Honi Soit is Cale's only studio album to date to chart on the US Billboard 200, peaking at No. 154.
"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.
The discography of the American rock band The Velvet Underground consists of five studio albums, six live albums, 14 compilation albums, six box sets and eleven singles.
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. It originally comprised the singer and guitarist Lou Reed, the Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, the guitarist Sterling Morrison and the 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 are now widely regarded as 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.
The Velvet Underground and Nico: A Symphony of Sound is a 1966 American film by Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey. The film was made at The Factory on January 3, 1966. It is 67 minutes long and was filmed in 16mm black and white.
Paris s'eveille - suivi d'autres compositions is a compilation album by Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer John Cale, centered around the score to Olivier Assayas' film Paris s'eveille, featuring the Soldier String Quartet. It was released in 1991 on Belgian independent label Les Disques du Crépuscule. Cale wrote "Sanctus" for the Randy Warshaw Dance Company in 1987, "Animals at Night" for the Ralph Lemon Dance Company in the same year, and "Primary Motive" for Daniel Adams' film Primary Motive. "Booker T." was recorded live by The Velvet Underground at the Gymnasium club in New York in April 1967. The final song is a newly recorded version of "Antarctica Starts Here" from Cale's 1973 album Paris 1919.