Having played guitar and sung in doo-wop groups in high school, Reed studied poetry at Syracuse University under Delmore Schwartz, and had served as a radio DJ, hosting a late-night avant garde music program while at college. After graduating from Syracuse, he went to work for Pickwick Records in New York City, a low-budget record company that specialized in sound-alike recordings, as a songwriter and session musician. A fellow session player at Pickwick was John Cale; together with Sterling Morrison and Angus MacLise, they would form the Velvet Underground in 1965. After building a reputation on the avant garde music scene, they gained the attention of Andy Warhol, who became the band's manager; they in turn became something of a fixture at The Factory, Warhol's art studio, and served as his "house band" for various projects. The band released their first album, now with drummer Moe Tucker and featuring German singer Nico, in 1967, and parted ways with Warhol shortly thereafter. Following several lineup changes and three more little-heard albums, Reed quit the band in 1970.
After leaving the band, Reed would go on to a much more commercially successful solo career, releasing twenty solo studio albums. His second, Transformer (1972), was produced by David Bowie and arranged by Mick Ronson, and brought him mainstream recognition. The album is considered an influential landmark of the glam rock genre, anchored by Reed's most successful single, "Walk on the Wild Side". After Transformer, the less commercial but critically acclaimed Berlin peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. Rock 'n' Roll Animal (a live album released in 1974) sold strongly, and Sally Can't Dance (1974) peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200; but for a long period after, Reed's work did not translate into sales, leading him deeper into drug addiction and alcoholism. Reed cleaned up in the early 1980s, and gradually returned to prominence with The Blue Mask (1982) and New Sensations (1984), reaching a critical and commercial career peak with his 1989 album New York.
Reed participated in the re-formation of the Velvet Underground in the 1990s, and made several more albums, including a collaboration album with John Cale titled Songs for Drella which was a tribute to their former mentor Andy Warhol. Magic and Loss (1992) would become Reed's highest-charting album on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 6.
He contributed music to two theatrical interpretations of 19th century writers, one of which he developed into an album titled The Raven. He married his third wife Laurie Anderson in 2008, and recorded the collaboration album Lulu with Metallica. He died in 2013 of liver disease. Reed has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; as a member of the Velvet Underground in 1996 and as a solo act in 2015.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Reed
Studio albums
Lou Reed (1972)
Transformer (1972)
Berlin (1973)
Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974)
Sally Can't Dance (1974)
Metal Machine Music (1975)
Coney Island Baby (1975)
Rock and Roll Heart (1976)
Street Hassle (1978)
The Bells (1979)
Growing Up in Public (1980)
The Blue Mask (1982)
Legendary Hearts (1983)
New Sensations (1984)
Mistrial (1986)
New York (1989)
Magic and Loss (1992)
Set the Twilight Reeling (1996)
Ecstasy (2000)
The Raven (2003)
Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007)
Rock'n'roll
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know there's nothin' happening at all
Every time she put on the radio
There was nothin' goin' down at all
Not at all
One fine mornin', she puts on a new york station
And she couldn't believe what she heard at all
Ooohhh, her life was saved by rock 'n' roll
Hey baby, rock 'n' roll
Despite all the amputation
You could dance to a rock 'n' roll station
And it was all right
It was all right
Hey babe
Jenny said, when she was just five years old
You know there's nothin' happening at all
Two tv sets, two cadillac cars
Ahhh, hey, ain't help me nothin' at all
Not at all
One fine morning, she heard on a new york station
She couldn't believe what she heard at all
Not at all
Despite the amputation
You could dance to a rock 'n' roll station
It was all right
It was all right
Oh, now here she comes now-now
Jenny said, when she was just five years old
You know there's nothin' happening at all
Yeah, every time she put on the radio
There was nothin' goin' down at all
Not at all
Then one fine morning, she put on a new york station
And she couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started dancing to that fine-fine music
Ahh, her life was saved by rock 'n' roll
Rock 'n' roll
Despite all the amputation
You could dance to the rock 'n' roll station
It's all right, all right
All right, all right
All right, it's all right
All right, all right
Baby, baby
Baby, baby, ooohhh
Lou Reed's song "Rock 'n' Roll" tells the story of a young girl named Jenny who is feeling uninspired and unfulfilled by the world around her. She discovers the power of rock 'n' roll when she turns on a New York radio station and hears music that moves her to dance and feel alive. The song speaks to the transformative power of music and how it can bring joy and meaning to even the darkest of moments.
The repeated line of "despite all the amputation, you could dance to a rock 'n' roll station" is a metaphor for the hardships and difficulties that people face in life. The idea is that even when life has taken away so much from you, music can still be a source of joy and hope.
The song is generally interpreted as a tribute to the power of rock 'n' roll music and its ability to connect people on a deep emotional level. It was released in 1976 on Reed's album "Coney Island Baby" and has since become one of his most iconic songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny said, when she was just five years old
"Jenny" (the character in the song) complained at the age of five that there was nothing exciting happening in her life.
You know there's nothin' happening at all
Jenny felt like there was a lack of excitement in her life.
Every time she put on the radio
Jenny hoped to find something to alleviate her boredom by tuning to the radio.
There was nothin' goin' down at all
Jenny failed to find any exciting music on the radio, which made her feel even more disillusioned.
Not at all
Jenny truly felt that everything around her was boring and uninspiring.
One fine mornin', she puts on a new york station
One morning, Jenny finally discovered a new station in New York.
And she couldn't believe what she heard at all
The music she found on this station was so good that Jenny could hardly believe it.
She started dancin' to that fine-fine-fine-fine music
Jenny was so taken by the music that she couldn't help but dance along.
Ooohhh, her life was saved by rock 'n' roll
The discovery of rock 'n' roll music changed Jenny's life and gave her a newfound sense of excitement and purpose.
Hey baby, rock 'n' roll
Rock 'n' roll music is being personified as a salvatory figure that can turn people's lives around.
Despite all the amputation
Despite all the things in life that can take away one's passion, rock 'n' roll music can still make people dance.
You could dance to a rock 'n' roll station
The energy and excitement of rock 'n' roll music can make people want to dance.
And it was all right
Despite the mixed emotions and struggles in life, rock 'n' roll music can bring a sense of comfort and positivity.
Hey babe
The singer (possibly Lou Reed) addressed the listener in a friendly and encouraging tone.
Two tv sets, two cadillac cars
Jenny, growing up, was privileged enough to have two TVs and two Cadillac cars.
Ahhh, hey, ain't help me nothin' at all
Despite the material wealth, Jenny still found herself unhappy and unfulfilled.
Oh, now here she comes now-now
The artist indicates that Jenny has arrived, possibly in a more positive state due to discovering rock 'n' roll music.
Yeah, every time she put on the radio
The song repeats itself to emphasize how much Jenny had initially struggled to find something exciting on the radio.
Rock 'n' roll
Rock 'n' roll music is a catalyst that helped change Jenny's life.
It's all right, all right
The song repeats itself to emphasize that despite life's challenges, things will be okay with the help of rock 'n' roll music.
Baby, baby
The song ends on a friendly, encouraging tone, repeating the earlier sentiment towards the listener as the artist bids goodbye.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED, STEPHANIE DANCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ls1959
This is one of those albums that remained somewhat in obscurity but those who owned it always prized it. One of the greatest live albums ever.
@mireilledischer3380
Just rerererediscovered this gem. The album is enduringly one of the most glorious collaborations. Life-enhancing.
Lou live lives on...
@hendrickschipper6239
In 76/77 got a lot of flack, associated with serious contraband,friend of mine had dairy factory weights on his reenforced horizontal door when was introduced in a crazy realm for 2 years ,but in retro got way too sophisticated
@keviniron3686
So true
@HealedBySpirit
Truth!!!!!!
@craigkosters716
But the real deal was seeing them live, you just couldn’t believe it!
@triplejudy
This has to be the most underrated “live”guitar album of all time!
The lead work is incredible!
@richardmulkeen4167
It still angers me that the guitarists on this album were not recognized for their capability. Their guitar work was truly, as you say, incredible.
@hbeekers
Yeah, Steve Hunter!
@precisionbrown6829
No it was an excellent album. Rolling Stone magazine honored it and Lou Reed is widely recognized