Transformer

Description

Transformer Lou Reed (voc, g, arr), Mick Ronson (voc, g, p, arr); David Bowie (voc, arr); Ronnie Ross (sax); Klaus Voorman (b), Herbie Flowers (tu, b); John Halzey, Barry Desouza; Ritchie Dharma (dr); a.o.

It is well known that comparisons seldom get to the root of the matter, but in the case of Lou Reed, for example, they certainly reveal the unassuredness of those people who made them. Is he or isnt he the Chuck Berry or Sergeant Pepper of the Seventies, or is he deliberately building up an image of himself as an ultra-sensitive Frankenstein, who lived out his neuroses and drug trips in horrific sound? »Some records are so unbelievably repulsive,« raged the magazine Rolling Stone, »that one would best like to take physical revenge on the artists who commit such offences.«
The album Transformer, however, can by no means be classified as a case of acoustic bodily harm. It appeared just a few months after the somewhat unsuccessful appearance of Lou Reeds fairly underground first release and rocketed straight into the charts. This production had two British guardian angels to help it on its way, namely David Bowie and Mick Ronson, both of whom obviously knew how to steer Reeds songwriting qualities into safe waters, without watering down his biting sarcasm and humorous provocation.
And thats why grating guitar rock (Vicious) is found alongside a bittersweet, tender ballad (Perfect Day) and even an old-time jazz parody (Goodnight Ladies) which is sung with a tongue a heavy as lead. Why then compare this highly original music mix with others, when its so much easier to hear this record for what it is a truly cult album?

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. More information under .. All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.

Recording: 1972 by Arun Chakranerty
Production: David Bowie and Mick Ronson