Venus In Furs

Venus In Furs - The Velvet Underground (1967)

Okay, everyone, time to get a little dark.

Listen to the song here.

But first, some history.

Having got their start in all the local clubs around New York City in the early 60's, they started a regular gig at the Cafe Bizarre, and gained the attention of none other than Andy Warhol.  He became their manager and was able to get them a record deal and insisted they use German singer Nico on some of their tracks.  However, he and the band parted ways after just the first album.  This one, and the remaining 3 albums were released between 1967 and 1970.  An incredibly impressive output. 

The Velvet Underground is an incredibly influential band.  As Brian Eno once said, "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band."  All 4 of their albums were listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time with their debut album (which includes Venus in Furs) at number 13.  They were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Now for the song we're reviewing today.

Venus in Furs is a song influenced by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.  The book, in a very quick nutshell is about a man named Severin who meets and falls in love with a woman named Wanda.  But instead of a traditional love affair, he wants and convinces her, to take him as her slave, complete with emotional and physical abuse.  The relationship ends when Wanda finds a man that she would like to have treat her the same way.  It is because of this book that we have the word masochism.

To be honest, this song really doesn't do anything for me.  I find Lou Reed's vocals to be completely dull, the use of the viola grating, and the entire song to be uninspired.  However, this is NOT to undermine the band, or their influence.  There are several other songs to listen to even off their first album that are infinitely better than this one.  Especially Heroin and Run Run Run.  But please..feel free to skip any of the songs that Nico sings.

Mad About The Boy

Mad About The Boy - Dinah Washington (1961)

Ah sweet diversity, how I love thee.

Listen to the song here.

Originally written in 1932 by Noel Coward for the revue Words and Music, this song tells of a longing for the actor on the silver screen.  Bluesy, torchy, jazzy all rolled into one, this version of the song shows off Dinah's charisma.

While covered by numerous other people through the years including Marianne Faithfull, Lena Horne, Jessica Biel, and even Miss Piggy, Dinah's version has seemed to stand the test of time and gained in popularity from it's use in a popular Levi's commercial.  The song was re-released in 1992, and was able to crack the UK singles chart.

Dinah was born in 1924 as Ruth Lee Jones.  After winning a talent contest at 15 years old, she was able to grab the attentions of such musicians as Fats Waller and Lionel Hampton and quickly rose to popularity.  While not always appreciated by the critics, one can't deny her appeal with her fans.  In the span of 7 years she achieved 27 top 10 hits on the R & B chart with several crossovers into the Pop chart.  Impressive by any standard to be sure.

Unfortunately, she passed away from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at the age of just 39 in 1963.  She was honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

My feelings on the song:

In researching her, I listened to several of her other tracks, and while I like this song, I believe she's done better.  Her versions of What A Difference A Day Makes, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, and Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby are some of the best renditions I've heard.

So check this out, as well as her others.  I don't believe you'll be disappointed.