Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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Lou Reed with the help of Andy Warhol at the 'Factory', made The Velvet Underground a massively influential band. However it was Transformer, Lou Reed's second solo album, which took him from cult hero of The Velvet Underground to international superstar status. The program takes a track-by-track look at the album, which was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson. In an exclusive interview in New York, Lou Reed talks of the making of the album and together with Ken Scott, the original engineer, takes us through the multi-track tapes of 'Perfect Day', 'Vicious', 'Satellite Of Love' and 'Walk On The Wild Side' amongst others.

In London Herbie Flowers shows us how the bass line on 'Walk On The Wild Side' was recorded, creating what is one of the most famous riffs in popular music. Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics talks of Lou Reed's influence on him as a songwriter and musician. The program is illustrated throughout with archive footage of Lou Reed in concert, The Velvet Underground, Andy Warhol and the 'Factory' and features new acoustic material from Lou.

This program provides a unique insight into the process behind the recording of Transformer, which perfectly captured the spirit of the early 1970's, and illustrates why today it is still considered a truly Classic Album.

Ask the casual music fan to name four solo Lou Reed songs, and it would be fairly safe to say that if they managed it they would come up with Walk on the Wild Side, Vicious, Satellite of Love and Perfect Day. Other than the blatantly obvious, what do these four tracks have in common? They all hail from the one album - Reed's now classic 1972 release, Transformer.

This DVD release takes us track by track through the album, naturally spending extra time on the more well renowned tracks. As well as a quick history of Reed's involvement with the more influential than actually listen-to-able Velvet Underground, and the whole Andy Warhol scene with which they became inextricably linked, we are treated to all manner of interviews with people involved in both the scene at the time, and the making of Transformer - plus one or two who have no relation whatsoever, other than taking away rather big chunks of influence from the release. Then of course there is the large amount of fascinating chat with Mr Reed himself…

"I never had kids screaming at me particularly… Me, they'd throw syringes and joints on stage."

Musicians who worked on the album get to have their say - including producers David Bowie and his guitar toting cohort Mick Ronson, there's some fascinating toying about with the original master tapes with engineer Ken Scott and remembrances of the sessions from drummer John Halsey and bass player Herbie Flowers. The latter even deconstructs *that* incredible Walk on the Wild Side bass line for us, which for those into the mechanics of the musical side of things is an utter treat.

Other interviewees include journos, photographer Mick Rock (who was responsible for the shots on the album cover), Warhol cohort Gerard Malanka, and even 'Little Joe" (actor Joe Dallesandro) and "Holly" (Woodlawn) from the classic "do-do-do-do-do do-do-do do-do-do-do-do do-do-do" laden hit make modern day appearances.

Added to all this are snippets of acoustic performances of many of the album's tracks from various sources, bits of video clips (including the British number one remake for charity of Perfect Day from a few years back that features the likes of Elton John and U2's Bono), archival footage of the whole Warhol "Factory" scene and even some classic scenes of Bowie in full Ziggy Stardust flight.

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Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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Classic Albums - Lou Reed: Transformer (2007)

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