Sunday Morning: The Velvet Underground Masterpiece
The Track
Recording
By the end of 1966, "Sunday Morning" had become the last track recorded for The Velvet Underground & Nico's debut album. Producer Tom Wilson requested this song, feeling the album needed an additional successful single. Penned by Lou Reed and John Cale, the recording took place in New York in November. At the last moment, it was decided that Lou Reed would be the lead vocalist instead of Nico, as initially planned.
Subject
Beneath the apparent tranquility of a Sunday morning and the quiet awakening after a night of revelry lies a profound sense of paranoia and anxiety that pervades the song's narrator. Reed and Cale composed the track on an early Sunday morning after a studio session. It was Andy Warhol who suggested Reed incorporate the theme of paranoia into the song. 🎶
Lineup
- Lou Reed: vocals, guitar
- John Cale: celesta, viola, piano
- Sterling Morrison: bass
- Maureen Tucker: percussion
- Nico: backing vocals
Covers
"Sunday Morning" has been the subject of numerous covers over the years. Artists such as Bettie Serveert, Chris Coco & Nick Cave, Nina Hagen, James, Oh-OK, Elizabeth Cook, NY Loose, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Queers, and Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs have interpreted it. The song has also been performed by Belle and Sebastian and Beck at various concerts. In 2004, Lou Reed performed a duet with Vanessa Quinones (Vanessa St. James) for a cover, while in 2021, Michael Stipe, former frontman of R.E.M., did his own version. 🎤
Notes
- Victor Bockris, "Transformer: The Lou Reed Story", Simon & Schuster, 1994.
- Joe Harvard, "The Velvet Underground & Nico", [No Reply], 2008 [2004].
- Daniele Federici, "Le canzoni di Lou Reed", Editori Riuniti, 2004.
3 Q&A
1. What is the meaning behind The Velvet Underground's "Sunday Morning"?
"Sunday Morning" conceals a sense of paranoia and anxiety beneath the apparent tranquility of a Sunday morning, reflecting the tensions and inner uncertainties of the song's narrator.
2. Which members of The Velvet Underground were involved in recording this track?
Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Maureen Tucker, and Nico participated in the recording of "Sunday Morning."
3. Which artists have covered The Velvet Underground's "Sunday Morning" over the years?
Several artists have interpreted "Sunday Morning," including Bettie Serveert, Nick Cave, Nina Hagen, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Beck, and Michael Stipe.
Meta Description
Discover the details and impact of The Velvet Underground's song "Sunday Morning": its meaning, recording, and the numerous covers created over the years. Provide 3 hashtags: #SundayMorning #VelvetUnderground #CoverSongs 🎶