Live MCMXCIII [Live]

Velvet Underground | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 1993)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 1993
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Sire / London/Rhino
• ASIN: B000002MNS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,579 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together

2. Venus in Furs

3. Guess I'm Falling in Love

4. After Hours

5. All Tomorrow's Parties

6. Some Kinda Love

7. I'll Be Your Mirror

8. Beginning to See the Light

9. Gift

10. I Heard Her Call My Name

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Sweet Jane

2. Velvet Nursery Rhyme

3. White Light/White Heat

4. I Am Sticking With You

5. The Black Angel's Death Song

6. Rock & Roll

7. I Can't Stand It

8. I'm Waiting for My Man

9. Heroin

10. Coyote

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Japanese limited edition reissue of 1974 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TERRIBLY UNDERRATED, February 28, 2002

By 

Joseph A. Kengor (Somewhereville, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live MCMXCIII (Audio CD)

I cannot understand the reason for any negative reviews of this
release... All previous recordings of this wonderful, creative,
original, exciting band's great material were shoddy,; mostly due
to the lack of technology in that time period; it is simply a
BLESSING to be able to HEAR these four musicians playing together
and being recorded using modern equipment. This recording is certainly much better on the ears than anything available
previously. Why carp and nitpick about little things. AMG's
2 star rating is preposterous! At last I can hear what everyone's
playing! And the tunes sung by John Cale are refreshing, especially "the Gift". We VU fans have very few recordings to enjoy - I appreciate all their discs and this is also a very important one. Buy it before it goes out of print.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Valuable as a HISTORICAL document...NOT a musical one., May 3, 2005

By 

MJG (Burke, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live MCMXCIII (Audio CD)

Yes, I am a VU nut. I have a hard time giving any of their output anything less than 5 stars. This, however, is the exception to the rule.

Lou's maniacal control of the band during their reunion shows make the songs sound forced and fake. Listen to "Some Kinda Love" and you'll hear Lou trying to play his guitar so hard that he forgets the words to the damn song! The control issues reached into the mixing booth as well, where Lou's loyal sideman, Mike Rathke, put Lou WAY in front of the mix, leaving the oft-Stellar Sterling in the background somewhat. The Velvet Underground could make some very touching and emotional songs, but here, when played in front of a stadium-sized crowd, you just get the impression that everyone was just going through the motions.

Yes, there are some rarities here, like "Mr. Rain," which can be found on the Peel Slowly and See box set, and "Coyote."

What I am most gratified about regarding this CD is that Sterl and Moe finally started to collect some royalties.

If you are a longtime VU fan, I would urge you to get this if only to listen to the VU's last document. Yes, there will be DVD's and remasters and further commercially available bootlegs, but this was the whole band interacting together for the last time (well, not THE last time, but you get it). If you are new to the VU, DO NOT get this. It is not a good introduction to the band at all. If you were looking to purchase your first Rolling Stones album, would you pick Steel Wheels over Sticky Fingers? NO!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wish it hadn't happened...an unfortunate footnote, May 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Live MCMXCIII (Audio CD)

I was thrilled about the prospect of a VU reunion back when it happened, and very excited about the release of this CD since the band had split up again before bringing the tour to the U.S. And I'm a shameless VU/Lou Reed fan, forgiving an awful lot of things that other people wouldn't. But after playing this again recently (inspired by the "Quine Tapes" release), I have to say this isn't very good. It hardly ruins the VU legend, but I wish it hadn't happened. It would be a shame if anybody bought this thinking it is a real representation of the Velvet Underground.

The biggest problem is that by '93, Lou simply could not sing these songs anymore. His croaking vocals and bizarre phrasing ruin most of the songs here, especially "Venus in Furs" and "Beginning to See the Light." The playing is often a reasonable facsimile of 1968, and it's nice to finally get a well-recorded live document of the Velvets (although Sterling Morrison's guitar is mixed down to the point of inaudibility much of the time...undoubtedly Lou's decision), but it's hard to listen to anything here without wanting to turn it off and go back to the originals.

You can tell Reed was the least enthused of the four about the reunion--besides the poor singing and forgotten lyrics, his guitar work is slovenly at times. His work with his own bands in the '90s was far superior (I'd much rather listen to "Perfect Night Live in London" than this). Morrison, John Cale, and Moe Tucker were clearly giving it their all, though. Two of three stars I've given this are for their playing. And if nothing else, the reunion put some well-deserved money in their pockets. Sadly, Sterling wasn't around much longer to enjoy it.

So, blame Lou, save your money, and buy the "VU & Nico" or the "Quine Tapes" instead to appreciate these legends properly.