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Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27th, the latest installment in LITA’s critically acclaimed Lou Reed Archive Series is a compilation of pop songs penned by Reed during his mid-60s stint as a staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records. The compilation follows on the heels of Lou Reed’s Hudson River Wind Meditations (2023) and Words & Music, May 1965 (2022).
One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed (1942-2013) first gained recognition as co-founder and frontman of the massively influential Velvet Underground. Over the course of his five-decade career, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his singular vision to an eclectic expanse of musical endeavors, including era-defining albums like 1972’s Transformer and wildly experimental works like the 1975 avant-garde noise classic Metal Machine Music. But before establishing himself as an enduringly iconic singer, songwriter, musician, and poet, Reed got his start as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist) for Pickwick Records—a label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day. Encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry, Reed’s output for Pickwick ultimately offers a fascinating early glimpse at his ever-evolving and truly limitless artistry.
The album has been restored and remastered by GRAMMY®-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin. Both the 2xLP & CD editions feature in-depth booklets with unseen photos, liner notes by Richie Unterberger (renowned music journalist and author of such acclaimed titles as White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day), and an essay by Lenny Kaye (the legendary guitarist, Patti Smith Group co-founder, writer, producer, and curator of seminal garage-rock anthology Nuggets). The double-LP package is designed by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike and pressed at world-renowned plant Optimal (Germany). A special color vinyl edition is pressed on “Oxblood” wax (A/B side) and “Gold” wax (C/D side). This release marks the first official anthology of Lou Reed’s work for Pickwick Records and features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives’ “The Ostrich”), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts’ “Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy”).
Tracklist
The Primitives - The Ostrich
The Beachnuts - Cycle Annie
The Hi-Lifes - I'm Gonna Fight
The Hi-Lifes - Soul City
Ronnie Dickerson - Oh No Don't Do It
Ronnie Dickerson - Love Can Make You Cry
The Hollywoods - Teardrop in the Sand
The Roughnecks - You're Driving Me Insane
The Primitives - Sneaky Pete
Terry Philips - Wild One
Spongy and the Dolls - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really Love
The Foxes - Soul City
The J Brothers - Ya Running but I'll Getcha
Beverley Ann - We Got Trouble
The All Night Workers - Why Don't You Smile
Jeannie Larimore - Johnny Won't Surf No More
Robertha Williams - Tell Mamma Not to Cry
Robertha Williams - Maybe Tomorrow
Terry Philips - Flowers for the Lady
Terry Philips - This Rose
The Surfsiders - Surfin'
The Surfsiders - Little Deuce Coupe
The Beachnuts - Sad Lonely Orphan Boy
The Beachnuts - I've Got a Tiger in My Tank
Ronnie Dickerson - What About Me