One of the most unorthodox, dazzling and wild albums in the history of pop music turns half a century old
The music of Lou Reed continues to be played around the world. Not long ago it was 50 years since the release of one of the most unorthodox, dazzling and wild records in the history of pop music, the “Transformers”. The album was released in 1972 and launched Lou Reed into rock and roll stardom – not thanks to music critics, but because of the love of the world.
‘Transformer’ marked the beginning of a career unlike any other rock musician. It was something completely different. His success was a miracle. It was the first time the classic song was recorded “Walk on the Wild Side”. The success of the song is due to David Bowie. It was played on the radio, but few knew that the characters in the song were real. They were the people who frequented Andy Warhol’s Factory, where the artistic avant-garde explored its sexuality. This is ‘Transformer: A hymn to sexual promiscuity and freedom.
This record created Lou Reed’s voice. His voice was never heard live the way it is on this 1972 vinyl. In that sense, the record was also conceptual art: his sound could only be heard on a record player.
Another of the great songs on the album is “Perfect Day”, a melancholic hymn to the tranquility of a walk in Central Park. We never found out if he was talking about love for a human being or love for heroine or maybe both. It doesn’t matter, because the song is excellent.
This album is literary. The title alone reminds of Franz Kafka’s novel. It is pure beauty, free sound. It is the creation of a voice, which claims its right to exist for itself, for its mystery, for its vocal purity, for its simplicity. The song ‘Andy’s Chest’, dedicated to Warhol, is an almost dreamlike poem inspired by the attempted assassination of the painter by actress Valerie Solanas.
In “Transformer,” Lou Reed elevated rock to literary form. Is there more poetry on this record than in a thousand books combined? It is a miracle of modernity. The album expresses the enduring essence of New York, combining rock with ancient forms of literature and poetry.
The message still stands. And it continues to be revolutionary, provocative and anti-capitalist at the same time.
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I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
