2000 Great Songs #1379: All Tomorrow's Parties

Somewhat surprisingly, this is only our second visit to the Velvet Underground's remarkable 1967 debut, and our first song with Nico on vocals. Or maybe it's not that surprising--for all the record's well-earned fame as one of rock's most groundbreaking debuts, I tend to listen to it less than some of their other music, particularly 1969's Velvet Underground and my (home-made) "Great Lost Album" of unreleased tracks.

Still, what a song. Dark and moody and epic, with Cale's frenetic piano, Tucker's bass drum thud, and Lou Reed's vicious slashing guitars welling up behind Nico's spooky contralto, delivering the sort of somber anthem not previously heard in rock & roll. Six minutes of intensity yet still eminently listenable, a wonder even today.

1993 reunion tour with Cale on vocals:

Nico live 1982:

Lou Reed live 2003:

The Grip Weeds:

The Feelies, live 2018, Brenda Sauter vox:

Bryan Ferry:

Simple Minds:

Siouxsie & The Banshees:

Nick Cave:

See the entire Top 2000 to date in a sortable database!