No Money Down (Lou Reed song)

Last updated
"No Money Down"
Nomoneydown.jpg
Single by Lou Reed
from the album Mistrial
ReleasedJune 1986 [1]
Recorded1986
Studio Power Station (New York City)
Genre
Length3:09
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Lou Reed
Producer(s)
Lou Reed singles chronology
"The Original Wrapper"
(1986)
"No Money Down"
(1986)
"Busload of Faith"
(1989)
Music video
"No Money Down" on YouTube

"No Money Down" is a song written and recorded by American rock musician Lou Reed, released as both a 7" and 12" single from his fourteenth solo studio album, Mistrial (1986). The only single to chart from the album, it peaked at No. 75 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.

Contents

Eddie Martinez provided the funky rhythm guitar on the track. Martinez had played on Run-DMC's "Rock Box" and the "King of Rock" a couple of years prior this recording, and Rick Bell played the tenor saxophone. Bell was a former member of the Michael Stanley band, and had also played with Peter Gabriel of Genesis.

Music video

The official music video was filmed in March 1986 in England, and directed by English rock duo Godley & Creme formerly of 10cc, [2] [3] [4] featuring a simple animatronic version of Reed miming along to the song. During the final verse, gloved human hands tear away its wig, sunglasses, and rubber skin to expose the skeleton beneath, then pull off underlying components of the face. [5]

The animatronic was originally intended for a music video for "Video Violence", but "No Money Down" was released as a single instead, and it had already been made so the animatronic was still used despite the change in theme. It was deemed too graphic for MTV, who had received complaints that it was distressing to younger viewers and making them cry, and was almost completely banned. [6] [7] In one of his final interviews, Reed described the music video as "really funny", whilst implying that it didn't match the theme of the song. [8]

It was later featured on an episode of adult animated sitcom Beavis and Butt-Head .

Live performances

Reed performed the song live four times during Amnesty International's A Conspiracy of Hope short tour, including a filmed performance of the song at Giants Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with altered lyrics. [9] [10]

Track listing

  1. "No Money Down" – 3:10
  2. "Don't Hurt a Woman" – 4:01
  1. "No Money Down" (Extended Version) – 5:40
  2. "No Money Down" (Dub Version) – 5:22
  3. "Don't Hurt a Woman" – 4:01

Chart performance

ChartPeak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [11] 75

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10cc</span> British art rock band

10cc are a British rock band formed in Stockport in 1972. The group initially consisted of four musicians — Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme — who had written and recorded together since 1968. All four members contributed to songwriting, working together in various permutations. Godley and Creme’s songwriting has been described as being inspired by art and cinema. Every member of 10cc was a multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer and producer. Most of the band's records were recorded at their own Strawberry Studios (North) in Stockport and Strawberry Studios (South) in Dorking, with most of those engineered by Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockit (instrumental)</span> 1983 single by Herbie Hancock

"Rockit" is a composition recorded by American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and produced by Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn. Hancock released it as a single from his studio album Future Shock (1983). The selection was composed by Hancock, Laswell, and Beinhorn.

<i>Transformer</i> (Lou Reed album) 1972 studio album by Lou Reed

Transformer is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Lou Reed. Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, the album was released on November 8, 1972 by RCA Records. It is considered an influential landmark of the glam rock genre, anchored by Reed's most successful single, "Walk on the Wild Side", which touched on controversial topics of sexual orientation, gender identity, prostitution and drug use. Although Reed's self-titled debut solo album had been unsuccessful, Bowie had been an early fan of Reed's former band the Velvet Underground and used his fame to promote Reed, who had not yet achieved mainstream success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godley & Creme</span> English rock duo

Godley & Creme were an English rock duo formally established in Manchester in 1977 by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. The pair began releasing music as a duo after their departure from the rock band 10cc. In 1979, they directed their first music video for their single "An Englishman in New York". After this, they became involved in the production of videos for artists such as Ultravox, the Police, Yes, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Huey Lewis and the News and Wang Chung, as well as directing the groundbreaking video for their 1985 single "Cry". The duo split at the end of the 1980s. Both have since been involved in music videos, TV commercials, and sporadic music projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Have Fun Tonight</span> 1986 Single by Wang Chung

"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is a song by the English new wave band Wang Chung, released as a single from their fourth studio album Mosaic in 1986. Collaboratively written by Jack Hues, Nick Feldman, and Peter Wolf, it reached no. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1986 Christmas season. It also hit No. 1 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart the week of 17 January 1987. With some different lyrics, the original ballad version of the song was placed on the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lol Creme</span> British musician (born 1947)

Laurence Neil "Lol" Creme is a British musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He was later one half of the duo Godley & Creme, with 10cc drummer Kevin Godley. Creme has collaborated with Trevor Horn's Band. He sings and plays guitar, bass and keyboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurt (Nine Inch Nails song)</span> 1994 song by Nine Inch Nails

"Hurt" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from its 1994 studio album The Downward Spiral—where it is the closing song on the album—written by Trent Reznor. It was subsequently released on April 17, 1995, as a promotional single from the album, wherein it was issued straight to radio. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Song in 1996. In 2020, Kerrang and Billboard ranked the song number two and number three, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Nine Inch Nails songs.

<i>Coney Island Baby</i> 1976 studio album by Lou Reed

Coney Island Baby is the sixth solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in January 1976 by RCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not in Love</span> 1975 song by British band 10cc

"I'm Not in Love" is a song by British group 10cc, written by band members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. It is known for its innovative and distinctive backing track, composed mostly of the band's multitracked vocals. Released in the UK in May 1975 as the second single from the band's third album, The Original Soundtrack, it became the second of the group's three number-one singles in the UK between 1973 and 1978, topping the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. "I'm Not in Love" became the band's breakthrough hit outside the United Kingdom, topping the charts in Canada and Ireland as well as peaking within the top 10 of the charts in several other countries, including Australia, West Germany, New Zealand, Norway and the United States.

<i>Mistrial</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Lou Reed

Mistrial is the fourteenth solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in April 1986 by RCA Records two years after his previous studio album, New Sensations (1984). Fernando Saunders and Reed produced the album.

<i>The Bells</i> (Lou Reed album) 1979 studio album by Lou Reed

The Bells is the ninth solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in May 1979 by Arista Records. It was recorded in binaural sound at Delta Studios in Wilster, West Germany. Production was handled by Reed with Michael Fonfara serving as executive producer. Three out of nine songs on the album are the product of a short-lived writing partnership between Reed and Nils Lofgren. More of the team's work appeared on Nils' solo studio album Nils, released the same year. Lofgren released his version of "Stupid Man" as "Driftin' Man" on Break Away Angel (2001). Lofgren resurrected five songs he wrote with Reed in the late 70s on Blue with Lou (2019).

<i>Deceptive Bends</i> 1977 studio album by 10cc

Deceptive Bends is the fifth studio album by the British rock band 10cc, released in 1977. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of founding members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme and produced the hit single "The Things We Do for Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry (Godley & Creme song)</span> 1985 single by Godley & Creme

"Cry" is a song released by the English music duo Godley & Creme on 11 March 1985. It was included on the duo's album The History Mix Volume 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leave It</span> 1984 single by Yes

"Leave It" is a song by English rock band Yes. It appears on their 1983 album, 90125, and released as its second single, following "Owner of a Lonely Heart".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrapped Around Your Finger</span> 1983 single by the Police

"Wrapped Around Your Finger" is the second single in the UK from the Police's 1983 album Synchronicity. Written by Sting, it was released worldwide by A&M Records and featured the non-album track "Someone to Talk To" as the B-side in the UK, while a live version of "Tea in the Sahara" was the B-side in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Reed discography</span>

American rock musician Lou Reed released 22 studio albums, 17 compilation albums, 15 live albums, six video albums, 46 singles, 16 music videos, and one box-set.

<i>Changing Faces – The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme</i> 1987 greatest hits album by 10cc

Changing Faces – The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme is a compilation album that included the hits of 10cc and Godley & Creme, the first album to include both bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only Time Will Tell (song)</span> 1982 single by Asia

"Only Time Will Tell" is the second single released by the rock band Asia from their successful first album, Asia (1982).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding Bells (Godley & Creme song)</span> 1981 single by Godley & Creme

"Wedding Bells" is a song written and recorded by English duo Godley & Creme, released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Ismism (1981). The single peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Things We Do for Love (song)</span> British pop song released in 1976

"The Things We Do for Love" is a song by British band 10cc, released as a single in 1976. It later featured on the album Deceptive Bends released in 1977 and was the group's first release after the departure of band members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme.

References

  1. "The Great Rock Discography". p. 681.
  2. https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/animatronic-lou-reed-made-for-the-no-money-down-video-dir-news-photo/1338048250
  3. "The Works of Godley & Creme > music videos > Lou Reed / No Money Down". Gcworks.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  4. "Lou Reed - "No money down"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  5. O'Neal, Sean (2008-03-13). "The Five Faces Of Lou Reed". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  6. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/35-years-later-lou-reeds-banned-no-money-down-video-is-still-the-stuff-of-nightmare-fuel-230216192-230216950.html
  7. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/lou-reed/no-money-down
  8. https://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool_Stuff/Interviews/Waiting_for_the_Man_-_Lou_Reed
  9. "Lou Reed Tour Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  10. "Lou Reed – No Money Down". Paste. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 249. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.