
Why Donât You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65
First official anthology of Lou Reedâs work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965
Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Donât You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27th, the latest installment in LITAâs 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 Reedâs 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 1972âs 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 Recordsâa 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, Reedâs 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 GRAMMYÂŽ-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).
⢠Features rarities, cult classics (The Primitivesâ âThe Ostrichâ), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnutsâ âSad, Lonely Orphan Boyâ)
⢠Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive
⢠Remastered by GRAMMYŽ-nominated engineer John Baldwin
⢠Art Direction & Design by multi-GRAMMYŽ-winning artist Masaki Koike at Phyx Design
⢠CD layout by Darryl Norsen at D.Norsen Design
First official anthology of Lou Reedâs work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965
Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Donât You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27th, the latest installment in LITAâs 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 Reedâs 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 1972âs 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 Recordsâa 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, Reedâs 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 GRAMMYÂŽ-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).
⢠Features rarities, cult classics (The Primitivesâ âThe Ostrichâ), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnutsâ âSad, Lonely Orphan Boyâ)
⢠Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive
⢠Remastered by GRAMMYŽ-nominated engineer John Baldwin
⢠Art Direction & Design by multi-GRAMMYŽ-winning artist Masaki Koike at Phyx Design
⢠CD layout by Darryl Norsen at D.Norsen Design
Description
First official anthology of Lou Reedâs work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965
Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Donât You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27th, the latest installment in LITAâs 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 Reedâs 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 1972âs 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 Recordsâa 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, Reedâs 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 GRAMMYÂŽ-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).
⢠Features rarities, cult classics (The Primitivesâ âThe Ostrichâ), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnutsâ âSad, Lonely Orphan Boyâ)
⢠Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive
⢠Remastered by GRAMMYŽ-nominated engineer John Baldwin
⢠Art Direction & Design by multi-GRAMMYŽ-winning artist Masaki Koike at Phyx Design
⢠CD layout by Darryl Norsen at D.Norsen Design
















