Loaded (2-CD Fully Loaded Edition) [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [DELUXE EDITION]

This 2-CD set is, in this Velvets fan opinion, absolutely essential. Even if you own the box set, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. It contains a treasure trove of previously unreleased material that is uniformly excellent. I love how disc two features an alternate version of "Loaded" in the same running order as the original. If you are considering purchasing this album, by all means, skip the standard CD version and instead spring the little bit of extra money for the "Fully Loaded" edition. The sound and packaging are superior and you get about 80% more material. Its well worth it.

"Loaded" (available in the VU boxed set and in its original format as a single disk) with its occasional nods to pop culture and musical fads (something the Velvets specifically avoided on other releases) sounds a little dated, and the mix of the original album was admittedly weak (Reed has repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the mix in print), but the songs and performances are still remarkable.

Considering the "for fans only" quality of many of the outtakes and extras available on the VU boxed set, "Peel Slowly and See," I was absolutely thrilled to find such a strong collection of songs on the "Fully Loaded Edition." The extended versions of "Sweet Jane" (which includes the lost verse "heavenly wine and roses seem to whisper to her when she smiles"), "Rock and Roll," and "New Age" are all nice additions, but I really got off on some of the alternate or early versions of the songs. "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" sounds like an entirely new song with Lou doing a crazy Jagger-esque vocal over a rumbling piano. The early version of "Cool it Down" sounds sparse, but Lou is as playful as I have ever heard. The inclusion of other "lost" songs such as "Love Makes you Feel Ten Feet Tall," "I Love You," "Satellite of Love" (which later appeared on Lou Reed's solo albums) are also a nice touch.

"The Fully Loaded Edition" avoids the problems of most alternate mix collections by including the source album in its (nearly) original format. Buying the "Fully Loaded Edition" for the original "Loaded" is no sin, but a large number of the alternate tracks are strong enough to stand alongside the band's best work. This is one of the few alternate mix/outtake albums that would actually be of interest to only casual fans (the others: "The Basement Tapes" and "Another VU").

But I can't see blaming it all on Doug Yule. Yes, my loyalties lie with John Cale, but no one lambasts "The Velvet Underground" (3rd album, 1st with Yule) as being a flop.

Back on track, this is a good album, and it is filled with some catchy songs that are somewhat upbeat. The most notable Reed creations are "Sweet Jane" and "Rock 'N' Roll", which are presented on the album....Sweet Jane in it's full (and only satisfactory) form.

Those who have watched "High Fidelity" or listened to its soundtrack will recognize "Who Loves The Sun" and "Oh, Sweet Nuthin!", and both are good songs. "Who Loves The Sun" is a giddly little tune, but is surprisingly catchy. The latter is a good "sad" song (it was used as such in the film), and has a good solo on Sterling's part towards the end.

Some say the middle songs on the album are "filler", and at a first listen, they may seem so. But after listening more and more, you will, in a way that only Lou Reed's songs can, be drawn into them. "New Age" has grown on me, as well as "Lonesome Cowboy Bill".

But the most impressive "filler" track has to be "I've Found A Reason". Patterned after the old '50's rythym and blues songs, it is deceptively harmonic, soothing, yet rocking at the same time, and features great writing, both harmonically and lyrically, on Reed's part.

So, it doesn't deserve it's "crap" rating many give it. But, which version to buy?

To me, there's not a question. For a little more money (6 bucks at most), "Fully Loaded" gives you a ton of extra songs that are surprisingly substantiative to the album itself. To be fair, some of the tracks are demos, that either a. sound weird, or b. don't sound TOO much different, but there are some songs that never made it on the record at all. Many ended up becoming solo Reed tracks later on, but hearing them in their original song formats are great.

Notables: "Ocean" is presented in a few varying forms on this album, which, in my opinion, is a suspenseful song, and keeps its charm well in these outtakes. But the other highlight is "I'm Sticking With You", led on vocals by drummer Maureen Tucker (YES, she does appear, but ONLY on "Fully Loaded). This version, unlike the one released on one of the "lost MGM albums" ("Another View" or "VU"), has an excellent acoustic guitar backing that gives it almost a folk feel, which suits the song better than the other (and more known) lounge-style accompianment.

All in all:

1. "Loaded" was and is a viable album
2. Buy "Fully Loaded", if considering buying "Loaded" to begin with.

The "Fully Loaded" variant is filled out with the extra tracks, and also allows you to compile some demo tracks without having to buy the boxed set.

Reccomended.