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ALBUM REVIEW

LOU REED

TRANSFORMER

Released - 1972 on RCA Records. Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson

Lou Reed - Lead Vocals; Lead & Rhythm Guitars

with:

Mick Ronson - Lead & Rhythm Guitars; Piano; Recorder; Backing Vocals
David Bowie - Backing Vocals; Vocial Harmonies on "New York Telephone Conversation"
Herbie Flowers - Bass Guitar & String Bass; Tuba on "Goodnight Ladies"
Klaus Voormann - Bass
John Halsey - Drums
Barry DeSouza - Drums
Ritchie Dharma - Drums
Ronnie Ross - Saxophone on "Goodnight Ladies"
The Thunderthighs - Backing Vocals

All songs written by Lou Reed

REVIEW

Lou Reed's second solo album, Transformer, is on fire, in part thanks to producers David Bowie and Mick Ronson, who were able to steer Lou into the right direction. Glam Rock seemed to agree with Lou, although that isn't all of what this LP is about.

It seems no matter how big or how small an artist is, there is always one song that they will be remembered for, and "Walk On The Wild Side" is that song for Lou. Found on here, it is the best song on this album, which is full of so many great tunes. A song about transvestites and the rest of the New York City/Andy Warhol scene of the time, which Lou was a part of, this became his only real big hit; yet with so many other fantastic songs on this album alone, you have to wonder why. "Perfect Day" is one of those, one of the LP's best, it was the B side to "Walk On The Wild Side". Then the other single, "Vicious" (nice guitar riff by Ronson), paired with "Satellite of Love" (great in part thanks to Bowie's helping hand on backing vocals), are both a couple more of the best numbers found on Transformer, so why didn't these two songs sell well on their own? Or how can a great song like "Hangin' 'Round" , with it's frenzied piano played by Ronson, to go with Lou's cool guitar, not be well known? Gosh, the average rock fans who never heard this album before are missing out on some great stuff from here, that is all I can say!

Back when this one came out, Lou did seem a bit on the dangerous, wild, and very different side for sure. Some fans call this LP not only Glam, but a Gay-ish LP too, and it does have some lyrics on a few songs that point to that, true, but isn't that expected a bit in anything Glam? The album still has a hint of Punk too, but overall, this is just great rock 'n roll, and Lou Reed does know how to get down and dirty for sure. Not to mention what a truly great songwriter he always has been. Lou is one of those guys who's lyrics you can really feel, and on this LP it all feels frenzied, naughty and wonderful, just the kind of music Sunday preachers warn you to stay away from, but really, if you dig rock music, get as close to this sound as you can, as most can't make rock 'n roll too much better than Transformer!

- Keno, 2006

To listen to some soundclips from TRANSFORMER, or to purchase it click on: Transformer

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