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The Velvet Underground discography

{{Short description|None}}

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = The Velvet Underground

| Image = Velvet Underground WLWH publicity photo.jpg

| Caption =

| Studio = 5

| Live = 6

| Compilation = 14

| Option = 6

| Option name = Box sets

| Singles = 11

}}

The discography of the American rock band the Velvet Underground consists of five studio albums, six live albums, 14 compilation albums, six box sets and eleven singles.

The first line-up was formed in New York City consisting of Lou Reed on vocals and guitar, John Cale on several instruments (viola, keyboards and bass), Sterling Morrison on guitar and bass and Angus MacLise on percussion (replaced by Maureen Tucker in November 1965). On March 12, 1967 they released their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico featuring German singer Nico. The album charted in the United States and originally peaked at number 171 on the Billboard album charts and produced two singles, "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "Sunday Morning", which did not chart anywhere. The album, produced by artist Andy Warhol,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-velvet-underground-nico-r21111/review|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|author=Mark Deming|access-date=2011-05-05|title=The Velvet Underground & Nico—Allmusic.com}} recharted in 2013 peaking at number 129.

VU released their second studio album White Light/White Heat, which peaked at number 199 of the Billboard charts. The album was more experimental than their first album, featuring a loud and aggressive musical style. The album was produced without Warhol and Nico for the first time.{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/white-lightwhite-heat-r21110/review|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|author=Mark Deming|access-date=2011-05-05|title=White Light/White Heat—Allmusic.com}} In March 1969 they released the third studio album The Velvet Underground, their first project with Cale's replacement Doug Yule. It did not chart upon its original release. However, when reissued in 1985 it peaked at number 197 in the Billboard chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-velvet-underground-mn0000840402/awards|title = The Velvet Underground | Awards|website = AllMusic}} One year later, Loaded was released by Atlantic Records, the first time by a major label. Compared with VU first releases, Loaded was produced for the mainstream, without thematizing sex and drugs. Although the songs were successful and popular in several music radios, neither singles, nor the album itself peaked in any music chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/loaded-r21114/review|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|author=Mark Deming|access-date=2011-05-05|title=Loaded—Allmusic.com}} It was the last album featuring Lou Reed, the last remaining founder of VU. After his departure, Yule became the new frontman of the Velvet Underground and toured together with Willie Alexander (keyboard), Walter Powers (bass guitar), Maureen Tucker (drums) and other musicians. In 1973, he recorded their fifth and last regular studio album, Squeeze,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/squeeze-r51960/review|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|access-date=2011-05-05|title=Squeeze—Allmusic.com}} which for some time dropped out of the official discography.{{clarify|date=December 2024}} After their break-off, several compilation albums were released, some of which feature outtakes from their previous studio sessions, most notably VU, which peaked at number 85 on Billboard and 47 on the UK Albums Chart.

Albums

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:220px;"| Album details

! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2" style="width:220px;"| Certifications

style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| US
{{cite magazine

| url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-velvet-underground/chart-history/tlp/

| title=The Velvet Underground Chart History: Billboard 200

| magazine=Billboard

| access-date=2022-02-05}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| FRA
{{cite web

|url = https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Velvet+Underground

|title = Discographie The Velvet Underground

|language = fr

|website = lescharts.com

|access-date = June 2, 2022

}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| GER
{{cite web

|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/search.asp?search=The+Velvet+Underground&x=0&y=0&cat=a&country=de

| title=Artists Search: The Velvet Underground

| publisher=Media Control

| work=charts.de

| language=de

| access-date=2011-05-05}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| NLD
{{cite web

| url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Velvet+Underground

| title=Extended Search: The Velvet Underground

| language=nl

| publisher=Hung Medien

| work=dutchcharts.nl

| access-date=2011-05-05}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| NOR
{{cite web

| url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Velvet+Underground

| title=Extended Search: The Velvet Underground

| publisher=Hung Medien

| work=norwegiancharts.com

| access-date=2011-05-05}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK
{{cite web

| url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29742/velvet-underground/

| title=Velvet Underground {{!}} full Official Chart History

| publisher=Official Charts Company

| access-date=June 2, 2022}}

1967

|align="left"| The Velvet Underground & Nico

| 129{{Ref label|note_a|A

}

| 164

| 89

| 58

| 40

| 43{{Ref label|note_a|A|}}

|

  • BPI: Platinum{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=The Velvet Underground|access-date=22 November 2014|type=album}}

|-

| 1968

|align="left"| White Light/White Heat

  • Released: January 30, 1968
  • Label: Verve
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| 199

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

  • BPI: Silver

|-

| 1969

|align="left"| The Velvet Underground

  • Released: March 1969
  • Label: Verve
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| 197{{Ref label|note_b|B|}}

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

  • BPI: Gold

|-

| 1970

|align="left"| Loaded

  • Released: November 1970
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| —{{Ref label|note_c|C|}}

| 188

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

|-

| 1973

|align="left"| Squeeze

  • Released: February 1973
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: LP

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

|-

|align="center" colspan="17" style="font-size: 85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

|}

Notes

  • A{{Note|note_a}} Upon its release in 1967 the album peaked in the US at 171. Shortly after the death of Lou Reed in 2013 it recharted for one week and peaked at 129.
    Likewise in the UK, where the album did not chart until 1994 when it reached 59, it recharted at 43 shortly after Reed's death in 2013.
  • B{{Note|note_b}} The album did not chart in its original release in 1969, but did chart on its reissue in 1985 when it peaked at 197.
  • C{{Note|note_c}} The album appeared at number two on Billboard{{'}}s Bubbling Under the Top LPs chart for the week of January 30, 1971.

=Live albums=

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:220px;"| Album details

! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions

style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| US

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| NZ
{{cite web

| url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Velvet+Underground

| title=Extended Search: The Velvet Underground

| publisher=Hung Medien

| work=charts.nz

| access-date=2011-05-05}}

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK

1972

|align="left"| Live at Max's Kansas City

  • Released: May 30, 1972
  • Label: Cotillion
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| —

| —

| —

1974

|align="left"| 1969: The Velvet Underground Live

  • Released: September 1974
  • Label: Mercury
  • Format: CD, LP

| —

| 31

| —

1993

|align="left"| Live MCMXCIII

  • Released: October 26, 1993
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, CS

| 180

| —

| 70

rowspan="2"|2001

|align="left"| Final V.U. 1971–1973

| —

| —

| —

align="left"| The Quine Tapes

  • Released: October 16, 2001
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

2015

|align="left"| The Complete Matrix Tapes

  • Released: November 20, 2015
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

align="center" colspan="17" style="font-size: 85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

=Compilations=

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:220px;"| Album details

! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2" style="width:220px;"| Certifications

style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| US

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| NZ

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| NOR

!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK

1970

|align="left"| Velvet Underground

  • Released: 1970
  • Label: MGM GAS-131{{Cite web|url=http://olivier.landemaine.free.fr/vu/discog/lps/usa/lpsusa.html|title=The Velvet Underground - USA LPS}}
  • Format: LP

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

1971

|align="left"| Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground featuring Nico

  • Released: 1971
  • Label: MGM
  • Format: LP

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

1985

|align="left"| VU

  • Released: February 1985
  • Label: Verve
  • Format: CD, LP

| 85

| 16

| —

| 47

|

1986

|align="left"| Another View

  • Released: September 1986
  • Label: Verve
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

1989

|align="left"| The Best of The Velvet Underground: Words and Music of Lou Reed

  • Released: October 1989
  • Label: Verve
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

  • BPI: Silver
1991

|align="left"| Chronicles

  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Mercury
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

1995

|align="left"| The Best of Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground

  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Global Rad
  • Format: CD, CS, LP

| —

| —

| —

| 56

|

  • BPI: Gold
1997

|align="left"| Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition)

  • Released: February 18, 1997
  • Label: Rhino
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

2000

|align="left"| 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Velvet Underground

  • Released: October 2000
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

2001

|align="left"| Rock and Roll: An Introduction to The Velvet Underground

  • Released: July 2, 2001
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

2002

|align="left"| The Velvet Underground & Nico (Deluxe Edition)

  • Released: June 25, 2002
  • Label: Verve
  • Format: CD, LP

| —

| —

| 40{{Ref label|note_d|D

}

| 59{{Ref label|note_d|D|}}

|

|-

| 2003

|align="left"| The Very Best of the Velvet Underground

  • Released: March 31, 2003
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

  • BPI: Silver

|-

| 2005

|align="left"| Gold

  • Released: June 14, 2005
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

|-

| 2008

|align="left"| Playlist Plus

  • Released: April 29, 2008
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

|-

|align="center" colspan="17" style="font-size: 85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

|}

Notes

  • D{{Note|note_d}} 2002 reissue

=Box sets=

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
style="width:33px;"| Year

! style="width:220px;"| Album details

1993

|align="left"| What Goes On

  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Raven
  • Format: CD
1995

|align="left"| Peel Slowly and See

  • Released: September 26, 1995
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
2001

|align="left"| Final V.U.

  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Captain Trip Records
  • Format: CD
2012

|align="left"| The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary

  • Released: October 1, 2012
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
2013

|align="left"| White Light/White Heat 45th Anniversary

  • Released: December 3, 2013
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
2014

|align="left"| The Velvet Underground 45th Anniversary

  • Released: November 24, 2014
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD
2015

|align="left"| Loaded 45th Anniversary

  • Released: October 30, 2015
  • Label: Rhino/Atlantic
  • Format: CD

Singles

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="1"| Year

!rowspan="1"| Song
(A-side and B-side)

!rowspan="1"| Album

!rowspan="1"| Ref(s)

rowspan="2"| 1966

| style="text-align:left"|"All Tomorrow's Parties" (edit) b/w "I'll Be Your Mirror"

| align="left" rowspan="2" | The Velvet Underground & Nico

|{{cite web|url=http://olivier.landemaine.free.fr/vu/discog/singles/singles.html|publisher=The Velvet Underground Web Page|title=The Velvet Underground|access-date=2011-05-05}}

style="text-align:left"|"Sunday Morning" b/w "Femme Fatale" (FRA #174)

|

rowspan="2"| 1968

| style="text-align:left"|"White Light/White Heat" b/w "Here She Comes Now"

| align="left" rowspan="2" | White Light/White Heat

|

style="text-align:left"|"I Heard Her Call My Name" b/w "Here She Comes Now"

|

rowspan="2"|1969

| style="text-align:left"|"What Goes On" (edit) b/w "Jesus" (radio-only single - mono versions){{Cite web|url=http://olivier.landemaine.free.fr/vu/discog/singles/singles.html|title = The Velvet Underground - Singles & EPs}}

| align="left" rowspan="1" rowspan="2" | The Velvet Underground

|

style="text-align:left"|"The Velvet Underground" (radio ad distributed to radio stations with excerpts from The Velvet Underground)

|

rowspan="3"|1971

| style="text-align:left"|"Who Loves the Sun" b/w "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'"

| align="left" rowspan="1" rowspan="6"| Loaded

|

style="text-align:left"|"Who Loves the Sun (mono)" b/w "Who Loves the Sun (stereo)"

|

style="text-align:left"|"Who Loves the Sun" b/w "Sweet Jane" (UK-only release)

|

rowspan="3"|1973

| style="text-align:left"|"Sweet Jane" b/w "Rock and Roll" (FRA #96)

|

style="text-align:left"|"I'm Waiting for the Man" b/w "Run Run Run" b/w "Candy Says" (UK-only release)

|

style="text-align:left"|"I'm Waiting for the Man" b/w "Candy Says" b/w "White Light/White Heat" (NLD-only release)

|

1985

| style="text-align:left"|"Foggy Notion" (edit) b/w "I Can't Stand It" (promo)

| align="left"| VU

|

rowspan="2"|1988

| style="text-align:left"|"I'm Waiting for the Man" b/w "Heroin" (UK-only release)

| align="left" rowspan="3"| Non-album singles

|

style="text-align:left"|"Venus in Furs" b/w "All Tomorrow Parties" (UK-only release)

|

rowspan="2"|1993

| style="text-align:left"|"I'm Waiting for the Man" b/w "Pale Blue Eyes" b/w "White Light/White Heat" b/w "Sweet Jane" (UK-only release, promo)

|

style="text-align:left"|"Venus in Furs" b/w "I'm Waiting for the Man" (FRA-only release)

| align="left"| Live MCMXCIII

|

1994

| style="text-align:left"|"Venus in Furs" (live edit) b/w "Sweet Jane" (Live), "Heroin" (Live), "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Live) (UK #71)

| align="left" rowspan="2"| Non-album singles

|

2009

| style="text-align:left"|"We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together" b/w "If You Close the Door (After Hours)"

|

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{The Velvet Underground}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velvet Underground}}

Discography

Category:Discographies of American artists

Category:Discographies of British artists

Category:Rock music group discographies