Post by BAZanine on Oct 12, 2020 8:02:53 GMT
Lewis Allan Reed (2 March 1942 - 27 October 2013)
Associated Acts: The Velvet Underground (1964 - 1970, 1990, 1992 - 1993, 1996), Metal Machine Trio (2008 - 2013)
Vocal Range: B♭1 - B♭5
{Vocal Summary}Both as a member of the massively influential band the Velvet Underground and as a renowned solo artist, Lou Reed is among the largest names in experimental rock.
Reed, though not a proficient singer by any means, has a decently recognisable voice due in large part to his incessantly monotone delivery. This adds a sort of ironic charm to his often meaningful lyrics, as exemplified in songs such as "The Bed" and "Perfect Day". An aspect of Reed's songwriting that also tends to play into his delivery is his preference of lyrics over melody, which generally equates to Reed talk-singing in the mass majority of his songs. This of course makes Reed's voice something of an acquired taste, as does a general lack of proper vocal technique on his part. A rather unrefined baritone, Reed tends to get shaky early on within his upper range, though he does have instances throughout his career of successfully navigating it ("How Do You Speak to an Angel", "The Blue Mask"). He also has instances of utilising his falsetto ("Beginning to See the Light"), but it isn't something he ever made frequent use of. As such, it is rather weak and airy. Where Reed's voice shines, especially during his solo career, is his midrange and lower register; despite his talk-singing oftentimes impeding the melodic value it could have, Reed has a sort of crooning throughout many of his songs that is solely his own. With this, he often showcases much better control of his lower register than his upper register and has many instances of comfortable lower second octave notes, even entering the first octave a select few times.
Relative to how it started out, Reed's voice aged well. After leaving the Velvet Underground, he slowly started to refrain from using his upper range as frequently (especially his falsetto, which only makes a handful of appearances throughout his whole solo career). However, he still occasionally approached the apex of his belting range near the end of his career ("Edgar Allan Poe", "I Wanna Know"), the quality of each being comparable to the belts heard in his Velvet Underground recordings. Reed's lower range stayed more or less the same throughout his whole career as well, although he likely grew more comfortable with it in his later years, using it to its full extent much more frequently then.
Overall, though not a good singer by conventional standards, Lou Reed is at the very least memorable vocally whilst being an accomplished songwriter/musician who has gone on to influence many aspiring rock musicians.
Reed, though not a proficient singer by any means, has a decently recognisable voice due in large part to his incessantly monotone delivery. This adds a sort of ironic charm to his often meaningful lyrics, as exemplified in songs such as "The Bed" and "Perfect Day". An aspect of Reed's songwriting that also tends to play into his delivery is his preference of lyrics over melody, which generally equates to Reed talk-singing in the mass majority of his songs. This of course makes Reed's voice something of an acquired taste, as does a general lack of proper vocal technique on his part. A rather unrefined baritone, Reed tends to get shaky early on within his upper range, though he does have instances throughout his career of successfully navigating it ("How Do You Speak to an Angel", "The Blue Mask"). He also has instances of utilising his falsetto ("Beginning to See the Light"), but it isn't something he ever made frequent use of. As such, it is rather weak and airy. Where Reed's voice shines, especially during his solo career, is his midrange and lower register; despite his talk-singing oftentimes impeding the melodic value it could have, Reed has a sort of crooning throughout many of his songs that is solely his own. With this, he often showcases much better control of his lower register than his upper register and has many instances of comfortable lower second octave notes, even entering the first octave a select few times.
Relative to how it started out, Reed's voice aged well. After leaving the Velvet Underground, he slowly started to refrain from using his upper range as frequently (especially his falsetto, which only makes a handful of appearances throughout his whole solo career). However, he still occasionally approached the apex of his belting range near the end of his career ("Edgar Allan Poe", "I Wanna Know"), the quality of each being comparable to the belts heard in his Velvet Underground recordings. Reed's lower range stayed more or less the same throughout his whole career as well, although he likely grew more comfortable with it in his later years, using it to its full extent much more frequently then.
Overall, though not a good singer by conventional standards, Lou Reed is at the very least memorable vocally whilst being an accomplished songwriter/musician who has gone on to influence many aspiring rock musicians.
Significant High Notes:
B♭5 ("The Ostrich")
F♯5 ("Rock & Roll")
F5 ("Beginning to See the Light")
E♭5 ("I Heard Her Call My Name", "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together" "1969" version)
D5 ("Cool It Down", "Sally Can't Dance", "Train Round the Bend")
C♯5 ("Foggy Notion", "Like a Possum", "Vicious", "White Light / White Heat")
C5 ("Ocean", "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" early version, "Rock & Roll")
B4 ("One of These Days")
A4 ("Coney Island Steeplechase", "Foggy Notion")
G♯4 ("How Do You Speak to an Angel", "Lisa Says" "1969" version)
G4 ("The Blue Mask", "Edgar Allan Poe", "Head Held High", "How Do You Speak to an Angel", "I Love You" session outtake, "I Wanna Know", "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" early version, "Rock & Roll" "1969" version, "Train Round the Bend")
F♯4 ("Blind Rage", "Change", "Cool It Down", "I Can't Stand It", "Love Makes You Feel Ten Feet Tall" demo, "My Name Is Mok", "One of These Days", "Satellite of Love" demo, "Strawman", "Sweet Jane", "Triumph", "Waves of Fear", "White Light / White Heat" live New York City 1973)
F4 ("Average Guy", "Baby Face", "Beginning to See the Light", "Guess I'm Falling in Love" live New York City 1967, "Head Held High", "I Believe in Love", "I Wanna Know", "Iced Honey", "Lady Day" live New York City 1973, "Like a Possum", "Lisa Says", "Looking for Love", "Melody Laughter" live Columbus 1966, "Miss Joanie Lee" The Factory rehearsal, "Mistrial", "Ocean", "The Ostrich", "Rock & Roll", "Rock and Roll Heart", "Run Run Run", "Sister Ray", "So Alone", "Some Kinda Love", "Temporary Thing", "Wagon Wheel", "Walk and Talk It", "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together" live, "With You")
E4 ("All Through the Night", "Big Sky", "Blind Rage", "Bottoming Out", "Claim to Fame", "Don't Talk to Me About Work", "Dragon", "Edgar Allan Poe", "Families", "Frustration", "Future Farmers of America", "Heavenly Arms", "Hey Mr. Rain", "I Found a Reason", "I Love You", "I Wanna Be Black", "Jesus", "Kicks", "Looking for Love", "Love Makes You Feel Ten Feet Tall" demo, "My Old Man", "Mystic Child", "New Age" live Philadelphia 1970, "Riptide", "Satellite of Love" demo, "Senselessly Cruel", "Set the Twilight Reeling", "She's My Best Friend" "1969" version, "Spit It Out", "Standing on Ceremony", "Train Round the Bend", "Waves of Fear", "White Prism", "Who Am I?", "With You")
E♭4 ("Brandenburg Gate", "Cheat on Me", "Coney Island Baby", "Egg Cream", "Foggy Notion", "Guess I'm Falling in Love" live New York City 1967, "Heroin" alternate version, "Home of the Brave", "How Do You Speak to an Angel", "I Believe in Love", "I Heard Her Call My Name", "Iced Honey", "I'm Set Free", "I'm So Free", "Leave Me Alone", "Like a Possum", "Lisa Says", "Men of Good Fortune", "Mistress Dread", "Rock & Roll", "Strawman", "Stupid Man", "The View")
D4 ("Average Guy", "Baby Face", "The Bed", "Beginning to See the Light", "Berlin", "Betrayed", "Big Sky", "The Blue Mask", "Bottoming Out", "Busload of Faith", "Cheat on Me", "Claim to Fame", "Coney Island Baby", "Cool It Down", "Crazy Feeling", "Doin' the Things That We Want To", "Don't Talk to Me About Work", "Dragon", "Endlessly Jealous", "Families", "Finish Line", "Follow the Leader", "Frustration", "Guardian Angel", "Guilty", "Hangin' 'Round", "Heavenly Arms", "Heroin", "Hey Mr. Rain", "I Believe in Love", "I Can't Stand It", "I Found a Reason", "I Love You", "I Love You, Suzanne", "I Wanna Be Black", "I Wanna Know", "I'm Not a Young Man Anymore" live New York City 1967, "Images", "Keep Away", "Kicks", "Lady Day" live New York City 1973, "The Last Shot", "Mad", "Mama's Got a Lover", "Martial Law", "Melody Laughter" live Columbus 1966, "Miss Joanie Lee" The Factory rehearsal, "Mistress Dread", "Mistrial", "My House", "New York Telephone Conversation", "Ocean", "One of These Days", "Ooohhh Baby", "The Original Wrapper", "Pumping Blood", "Ride Into the Sun", "Riptide", "Run Run Run", "Sad Song" demo, "Sally Can't Dance", "She's My Best Friend", "Shooting Star", "Sister Ray", "Smiles", "Some Kinda Love", "Spit It Out", "Sweet Jane", "Temporary Thing", "There She Goes Again", "Turning Time Around", "Venus in Furs" alternate version, "Vicious", "Wagon Wheel", "Walk and Talk It", "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together" "1969" version, "What Goes On", "White Light / White Heat", "White Prism", "Who Am I?", "Wild Child", "You Wear It So Well")
C♯4 ("All Through the Night", "Banging on My Drum", "Betrayed", "Big Sky", "Change", "Edgar Allan Poe", "Future Farmers of America", "Gimmie Some Good Times", "Going Down", "The Great Defender (Down at the Arcade)", "Growing Up in Public", "Hang on to Your Emotions", "Hold On", "Home of the Brave", "I Believe", "Keep Away", "Leave Me Alone", "Mad", "Mama's Got a Lover", "Martial Law", "My Name Is Mok", "My Old Man", "My Red Joystick", "Mystic Child", "Over You" live, "Sex With Your Parents (Motherfucker) (Pt. II)" live, "A Sheltered Life", "Shooting Star", "Strawman", "Sunday Morning", "Tatters", "Trade In", "Triumph", "Underneath the Bottle", "Video Violence", "Wait", "Wagon Wheel", "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together", "Work")
C4 ("Andy's Chest", "Animal Language", "Banging on My Drum", "Baton Rouge", "Berlin", "Brandenburg Gate", "Burning Embers", "Caroline Says I", "Cheat on Me", "Dragon", "Egg Cream", "Follow the Leader", "Goodnight Ladies", "The Heroine", "Hold On", "I Love You, Suzanne", "I Want to Boogie With You", "Iced Honey", "I'm Set Free", "I'm So Free", "Junior Dad", "Ladies Pay", "The Last Shot", "Legendary Hearts", "Love Is Here to Stay", "Mistress Dread", "My Friend George", "My House", "Nobody's Business", "NYC Man", "Perfect Day", "Pumping Blood", "Rock and Roll Heart", "Sally Can't Dance", "Satellite of Love", "Smiles", "So Alone", "Standing on Ceremony", "Starlight", "Stephanie Says", "Stupid Man", "Tell It to Your Heart", "Temptation Inside Your Heart", "There She Goes Again", "The View", "What Becomes a Legend Most", "You Wear it So Well")
Significant Low Notes:
C3 ("The Black Angel's Death Song", "Brandenburg Gate", "Busload of Faith", "Caroline Says I", "Caroline Says II", "Coney Island Steeplechase", "Here She Comes Now", "I Can't Stand It", "I Found a Reason", "Iced Honey", "Ladies Pay", "Lisa Says", "Love Makes You Feel Ten Feet Tall" demo, "Mistress Dread", "My House", "New Age" live Philadelphia 1970, "NYC Man", "Pale Blue Eyes", "Power and Glory Part II (Magic Transformation)", "Ride Sally Ride", "Rock & Roll", "Rock and Roll Heart", "Satellite of Love", "Standing on Ceremony", "Stephanie Says", "Sword of Damocles (Externally)", "Temptation Inside Your Heart", "There She Goes Again" The Factory rehearsal, "Walk on the Wild Side", "You Wear It So Well")
B2 ("Adventurer", "Average Guy", "Bottoming Out", "Dirt", "Endlessly Jealous", "Fly Into the Sun", "Gassed and Stoned (Loss)", "Going Down", "Good Evening Mr. Waldheim", "The Great Defender (Down at the Arcade)", "Guilty", "Here She Comes Now", "Home of the Brave", "I Believe in Love", "I Remember You", "I'm So Free", "I'm Waiting for the Man", "Jesus", "Keep Away", "Love Makes You Feel", "Mad", "My Old Man", "My Red Joystick", "New York Telephone Conversation", "One of These Days", "The Original Wrapper", "Paranoia Key of E", "Ride Into the Sun", "Science of the Mind", "Sex With Your Parents (Motherfucker) (Pt. II)" live, "Street Hassle", "Tranquilize", "Triumph", "Turn Out the Light", "Turn to Me", "Underneath the Bottle", "Venus in Furs", "Wait", "Warrior King (Revenge)", "What's Good (The Thesis)", "Work")
B♭2 ("Andy's Chest", "Beginning of a Great Adventure", "Billy", "Heavenly Arms", "The Heroine", "How Do You Speak to an Angel", "I Love You, Suzanne", "I Want to Boogie With You", "Mama's Got a Lover", "Men of Good Fortune", "Perfect Day", "Street Hassle", "What Becomes a Legend Most", "White Light / White Heat")
A2 ("Baby Face", "The Bed", "The Bells", "Berlin", "Betrayed", "Big Sky", "Brandenburg Gate", "Burning Embers", "Charley's Girl", "Cheat on Me", "Cremation (Ashes to Ashes)", "Doin' the Things That We Want To", "Ecstasy", "Finish Line", "Fly Into the Sun", "Frustration", "Going Down", "A Gift", "The Gun", "Halloween Parade", "Hang on to Your Emotions", "The Heroine", "High in the City", "Hold On", "Hookywooky", "How Do You Think It Feels", "I Love You", "I Love You, Suzanne", "I'm Sticking With You", "Lady Day", "The Last Shot", "Lisa Says", "Martial Law", "Mistress Dread", "Modern Dance", "The Murder Mystery", "New York Telephone Conversation", "No Chance (Regret)", "Nobody but You", "Nobody's Business", "N.Y. Stars", "Oh Jim", "Power and Glory Part II (Magic Transformation)", "The Power of Positive Drinking", "Romeo Had Juliette", "Sad Song", "Sally Can't Dance", "Set the Twilight Reeling", "A Sheltered Life", "Sick of You", "So Alone", "Some Kinda Love", "Starlight", "Sweet Jane" live, "Tell It to Your Heart", "Trade In", "Tranquilize", "Who Am I?", "Wild Child", "Xmas in February")
G♯2 ("Gimmie Some Good Times", "Heroin", "Home of the Brave", "Magic and Loss (Summation)", "My Name Is Mok", "Perfect Day", "Rock Minuet", "Teach the Gifted Children", "Warrior King (Revenge)")
G2 ("Andy's Chest", "Baton Rouge", "The Bed", "Berlin", "Betrayed", "Billy", "Call on Me", "Caroline Says II", "Coney Island Baby", "Crazy Feeling", "The Day John Kennedy Died", "Dime Store Mystery", "Don't Hurt a Woman", "Dreamin' (Escape)", "Endless Cycle", "Ennui", "Ferryboat Bill", "Gassed and Stoned (Loss)", "Goodnight Ladies", "Guardian Angel", "Halloween Parade", "Hangin' 'Round", "I Believe", "I Believe in Love", "I Found a Reason", "I Love You" demo, "I Want to Boogie With You", "I'm Sticking With You", "Junior Dad", "The Kids", "Kill Your Sons", "Lady Day", "Legendary Hearts", "Lisa Says" "1969" version, "Little Dog", "Magician (Internally)", "Make Up", "Make Up My Mind", "Men of Good Fortune", "My Friend George", "My House", "New Sensations", "N.Y. Stars", "NYC Man", "Oh Jim", "Paranoia Key of E", "Pow Wow", "Power and Glory (The Situation)", "The Proposition", "Rooftop Garden", "Satellite of Love", "Senselessly Cruel", "She's My Best Friend", "Slip Away (A Warning)", "Smiles", "Some Kind of Nature", "Tell It to Your Heart", "Think It Over", "Turn Out the Light", "Wait", "Walk on the Wild Side", "What Becomes a Legend Most", "What's Good (The Thesis)", "White Prism", "Women")
F♯2 ("Animal Language", "Berlin", "Coney Island Baby", "Dirty Blvd.", "Frustration", "Hang on to Your Emotions", "Hello It's Me", "How Do You Think It Feels", "Kicks", "Legendary Hearts", "Open House", "Martial Law", "My Name Is Mok", "The Power of Positive Drinking", "Romeo Had Juliette", "Rooftop Garden", "Sad Song", "Smalltown", "Tatters", "There Is No Time", "Who Am I?")
F2 ("The Day John Kennedy Died", "Don't Hurt a Woman", "Ennui", "Frustration", "Goodby Mass (In a Chapel Bodily Termination)", "Goodnight Ladies", "Growing Up in Public", "The Gun", "Halloween Parade", "It Wasn't Me", "Kill Your Sons", "Make Up", "Men of Good Fortune", "Power and Glory (The Situation)", "Smiles", "Some Kind of Nature", "Some Kinda Love")
E2 ("Baby Face", "The Bed" The Raven version, "Burning Embers", "Dreamin' (Escape)", "The Gun", "Junior Dad", "Little Dog", "Magic and Loss (Summation)", "Modern Dance", "No Chance (Regret)", "The Proposition", "Rock Minuet", "Set the Twilight Reeling", "Tatters", "Teach the Gifted Children", "This Is Your Land", "Turning Time Around", "White Prism")
E♭2 ("Beginning of a Great Adventure", "Disco Mystic", "Goodby Mass (In a Chapel Bodily Termination)", "It Wasn't Me", "Little Dog", "Slip Away (A Warning)", "Women")
D2 ("Beginning of a Great Adventure", "Dime Store Mystery", "Dirty Blvd.", "Guardian Angel", "Harry's Circumcision (Reverie Gone Astray)", "Hello It's Me", "Junior Dad", "Magician (Internally)", "New Sensations", "Open House", "Pow Wow", "The Proposition", "Sad Song", "Science of the Mind", "Sex With Your Parents (Motherfucker) (Pt. II)" live, "Turning Time Around", "Vicious Circle")
C♯2 ("City Lights", "It Wasn't Me", "Vanishing Act")
C2 ("Disco Mystic", "Last Great American Whale", "Nobody but You", "Think It Over")
B1 ("Vanishing Act")
B♭1 ("City Lights")
…………………………………………………………………….
*Blue marks clear falsetto notes.
*Italics mark non-melodic notes.
*Boldface marks notes that are considered impressive in relation to this person's vocal capabilities.
*Underlines mark notes obscured in the mix of the song.
Best Vocal Performances:
1. Berlin
2. Perfect Day
3. Strawman
4. The Bed
5. Home of the Brave
6. Pale Blue Eyes
7. Waves of Fear
8. The Blue Mask
9. Hello It's Me
10. Heroin
{Questionable Notes}C♯6 ("The Ostrich"[1a])
A5 ("Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" early version[1b], "Train Round the Bend"[1b])
G♯5 ("Wild Child"[1a])
F♯5 ("Miss Joanie Lee" The Factory Rehearsal[1a])
F5 ("Cool It Down" early version[1b])
E♭5 ("Foggy Notion"[1b], "My Name Is Mok"[1b])
D2 ("A Gift"[1c])
C♯2 ("White Prism"[1c])
.......................................................
[1] Questionable representativeness.
a. Brief exclamations.
b. Brief woos.
c. Brief anacrusis.
d. Speaking.
A5 ("Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" early version[1b], "Train Round the Bend"[1b])
G♯5 ("Wild Child"[1a])
F♯5 ("Miss Joanie Lee" The Factory Rehearsal[1a])
F5 ("Cool It Down" early version[1b])
E♭5 ("Foggy Notion"[1b], "My Name Is Mok"[1b])
D2 ("A Gift"[1c])
C♯2 ("White Prism"[1c])
.......................................................
[1] Questionable representativeness.
a. Brief exclamations.
b. Brief woos.
c. Brief anacrusis.
d. Speaking.
{Album Ranges}With the Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) (G♯2 - F4)
White Light / White Heat (1968) (B♭2 - F4 - E♭5)
The Velvet Underground (1969) (F2 - F4 - F5)
Loaded (1970) (G2 - C3 - D5 - F♯5)
Solo
Lou Reed (1972) (F♯2 - G2 - F♯4 - C5)
Transformer (1972) (F2 - C♯5)
Berlin (1973) (D2 - E♭4)
Sally Can't Dance (1974) (E2 - D4 - F4 - D5)
Metal Machine Music (1975)[N/A]
Coney Island Baby (1976) (F♯2 - E4)
Rock and Roll Heart (1976) (D2 - F4)
Street Hassle (1978) (G2 - G♯2 - E4)
The Bells (1979) (B♭1 - F4)
Growing Up in Public (1980) (C2 - G♯4)
The Blue Mask (1982) (E♭2 - F2 - G4)
Legendary Hearts (1983) (D2 - E4)
New Sensations (1984) (D2 - D4)
Mistrial (1986) (F2 - F4)
New York (1989) (C2 - D2 - F♯4)
Magic and Loss (1992) (D2 - B3)
Set the Twilight Reeling (1996) (D2 - E4)
Ecstasy (2000) (D2 - F4 - C♯5)
The Raven (2003) (B1 - G4)
Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007)[N/A]
Collaborations
Songs for Drella (1990) (with John Cale) (C2 - D4)
Lulu (2011) (with Metallica) (D2 - F4)
[N/A] Indicates albums without vocals.
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) (G♯2 - F4)
White Light / White Heat (1968) (B♭2 - F4 - E♭5)
The Velvet Underground (1969) (F2 - F4 - F5)
Loaded (1970) (G2 - C3 - D5 - F♯5)
Solo
Lou Reed (1972) (F♯2 - G2 - F♯4 - C5)
Transformer (1972) (F2 - C♯5)
Berlin (1973) (D2 - E♭4)
Sally Can't Dance (1974) (E2 - D4 - F4 - D5)
Metal Machine Music (1975)[N/A]
Coney Island Baby (1976) (F♯2 - E4)
Rock and Roll Heart (1976) (D2 - F4)
Street Hassle (1978) (G2 - G♯2 - E4)
The Bells (1979) (B♭1 - F4)
Growing Up in Public (1980) (C2 - G♯4)
The Blue Mask (1982) (E♭2 - F2 - G4)
Legendary Hearts (1983) (D2 - E4)
New Sensations (1984) (D2 - D4)
Mistrial (1986) (F2 - F4)
New York (1989) (C2 - D2 - F♯4)
Magic and Loss (1992) (D2 - B3)
Set the Twilight Reeling (1996) (D2 - E4)
Ecstasy (2000) (D2 - F4 - C♯5)
The Raven (2003) (B1 - G4)
Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007)[N/A]
Collaborations
Songs for Drella (1990) (with John Cale) (C2 - D4)
Lulu (2011) (with Metallica) (D2 - F4)
[N/A] Indicates albums without vocals.
