Pickwick 1964-1965

Before co-founding the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed was a staff songwriter for other artists at Pickwick Records. Now, his mid 1960's songs, performed by assorted artists on the label, with occasional Reed contributions, have been compiled on an album.

Out September 27th, 2024, "Why Don’t You Smile Now : Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-1965" is the product of a partnership between Light In The Attic Records, Laurie Anderson, and the Lou Reed Archive, following their reissues of the late solo album "Hudson River Wind Meditations" and the Velvets demos set "Words & Music, May 1965". The opening track, the Primitives’ “The Ostrich”, features Reed on vocals, is online now.

The Primitives song, co-written by Reed and performed with Pickwick honcho Terry Phillips, sowed the seeds for the Velvet Underground when John Cale joined the outfit on an early tour. Another song on the record, the All Night Workers’ “Why Don’t You Smile”, was Cale’s first credit as a commercial songwriter, but soon after its release, he and Reed broke off from Pickwick to form the Velvet Underground.

John Baldwin restored and remastered the new record, which comes with liner notes by Richie Unterberger, an essay by Lenny Kaye, and much more. Masaki Koike designed the 2 LP package.