Video

Rip It Up, Issue 86, 1 September 1984, Page 34

Video

A Night With Lou Reed (RCA, stereo) First time through this seemed a bit bland, a trifle boring, with the main points of interest being Reed's Elliot-Gould-on-

speed facial tics and Robert Quine's bald-businessman-playing vaguely-deviant-guitar-on-his-lunchbreak persbna. The music, spanning the 16 years between V.U.I and Legendary Hearts wasn't exceptional, merely adequate. I was expecting something different maybe, like the wonderfully creative harangue against the rock press that constituted the version of 'Walk On the Wild Side' on Take No Prisoners. Spontenaity seemed lacking. Second time, with expectations far lower (down to a realistic level), and volume higher, the quality came through. It's an uncommonly honest record of a gig from a typically oily and revolting MC intro though 13 songs and off-

stage to the dressing room. No frills, but you can hear and see most of what's going on, at least half of which is really good. 'Waves Of Fear’, 'Turn Out the Lights' and ’Kill Your Sons’ are the strongest tracks, MJmostly by virtue and a modest disregard of ’normal’ guitar method and no song (thank Christ) is cluttered with the absurd guitar wank that totally destroyed Rock 'n' Roll Animal. . Post gig; backstage, Reed rabbits on about how nifty it was that such a good gig was videotaped and I guess I’ve gotta agree with him. Note for other . rockstars this was taped at the Bottom . Line, a smallish New York club. Much better than a stadium any day. CK