Steve Hunter - guitar
Dick Wagner - guitar
Ray Colcord - organ
Peter Walsh - bass
Prakash John - bass
Pentti Glan - drums
06.22 - 07.17 Morgan Studios, London "Berlin" album sessions.
08.27 - 31 Lenox MA Rehearsals
09.01 Music Inn, Lenox MA
09.09 Scheeßel Festival
09.13 Manticore Cinema, London rehearsal
09.15 Crystal Palace, London
09.17 L'Olympia, Paris Wife Bettye Kronstad walks out of their marriage.
09.19 Falkoner Teatret, København
09.20 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Support - Alquin
09.22 Marni Hall, Bruxelles Lou collapsed after 30 mins & the show is cancelled.
09.24 Apollo Theatre, Glasgow Support - Persuasions
09.25 Palace Theatre, Manchester Short set as Lou is unfit Support - Persuasions
09.26 Gaumont Theatre, Southampton Support - Persuasions
09.27 De Montfort Hall, Leicester Support - Persuasions
09.28 Empire Theatre, Liverpool Support - Persuasions
09.29 Oval Hall, Sheffield Support - Persuasions
09.30 City Hall, Newcastle Support - Persuasions
10.03 Odeon, Birmingham Support - Persuasions
10.05 Rainbow Theatre, London Support - Golden Earring
10.06 Rainbow Theatre, London Support - Golden Earring
11.26 N.Y. Rehearsal
11.27 N.Y. Rehearsal
11.29 Massey Hall, Toronto (28th also?) Support - Genesis
12.00 In New York Bettye Kronstad sues for divorce
12.01 Civic Theatre Akron OH
12.06 Springfield MA
12.07 Tower Theatre, Philadelphia PA
12.08 Century Theatre, Buffalo NY
12.14 Palace Concert Theatre, Providence RI
12.16 Kennedy Center, Washington DC
12.19 Music Hall, Boston MA
12.21 Academy Of Music, New York NY 2 shows
Professionally recorded. Released as Rock n Roll Animal & Lou Reed Live.
Intro / Sweet Jane
How Do You Think It Feels
Caroline Says 1
I'm Waiting For The Man
Lady Day
Heroin
Vicious
Satellite Of Love
Walk On The Wild Side
Oh, Jim
Sad Song
White Light / White Heat
Encore: Rock And Roll
12.22 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago IL
12.24 Arrested at a Riverhead RI pharmacy trying to dispense a forged prescription.
12.26 Richards, Atlanta, GA Acrobat
12.27 Richards, Atlanta, GA Acrobat
12.28 Richards, Atlanta, GA Acrobat
12.29 Richards, Atlanta, GA Acrobat
After the poppy “Transformer,” Lou wanted to create a grittier rockier album so RCA suggested that producer Bob Ezrin see Lou at the Massey Hall, Toronto on 1973.04.09. Soon after the show Reed fired his backing band, the Tots. Bob had previously produced Mitch Ryder and Detroit's version of “Rock and Roll,” which was Lou's favourite cover of the song. Lou met Bob and ended up sitting on the floor at Bob's house on Summerhill Avenue in Toronto with an acoustic guitar. Bob told Lou that it was an amazing facility to tell a life in two minutes and 30 seconds. But every once in a while, Lou told a story that Bob wished he knew the ending of. Bob said as an example, "You wrote this song “Berlin” (on 1972 solo debut) about this couple … and what happened to those people?" Bob asked Lou to use the same concept but to tell the whole story. Lou loved the idea and accepted the challenge.
Bettye and Lou had heard that Bettye's mother from whom Bettye was estranged because Bettye had been taken away from her when Bettye was a young child had recently died in NYC. During 1950's Bettye's mother was an 18 years old single mom with only a high school education and a little girl she couldn't really take care of alone. She had left her husband because he was abusive, as a result of the wounds he had received in WWII, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and won two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. Bettye's mother was accused of not taking care of her daughter, among other things, and lost custody because she didn't have the money to hire an attorney to fight the charges. It wasn't true, of course.
At 8:30 one morning Bettye found Lou in their living room next to a mostly consumed bottle of Johnnie Walker Red whisky. Lou told Bettye he had written “the” album over night. Lou gave Bettye his notebook and told her to read the lyrics. Bettye was shocked at what she read. The story was about a couple who were tearing each other apart and the woman was sleeping with everyone and her children had been taken away from her and then she killed herself and the man calmly assessed the situation and didn't really care anyway. “Oh, Jim(Oh Gin),” "Men of Good Fortune," "Caroline Says II(Stephanie Says)" and "Sad Song" had already been written during the Velvet Underground era but Lou's revision made the songs synonymous with a woeful bleakness. The album "Berlin" seemed to be written around the dissolution of Bettye Kronstad's parents relationship. Lou had never been to Berlin but used that once-divided city as a metaphor for the division of star-crossed lovers.
Around the beginning of June '73 Lou returned to Ezrin's Toronto home with the songs that would form the album "Berlin." Ezrin was amazed by the work, the story of a violent drug addict and his prostitute girlfriend. Lou had a way of taking the reality of the street and making it beautiful. If the Swedish film director Ernst Ingmar Bergman had been a rock musician he would have created something akin to "Berlin." They decamped to the Morgan Studios, London and began sessions on 1973.06.22. Lou and Bob had already discussed how they were going to do the album so Lou really didn't need to be in the studio. He would drop by to see how things were going whilst the basic tracks were recorded. 1973.07.17 the London sessions were concluded. "Berlin" was presented to RCA as a double album. The record company were horrified. They were assuming "Transformer" MkII but instead were awarded wretchedness, jealousy, violence and suicide. At first RCA threatened not to release it. To realise the project Reed struck a deal with his record company, that if he could do Berlin then he’d deliver a live album and something more akin to Transformer after that. But still RCA insisted on "Berlin" as a single album. The tapes were remixed at the Record Plant Studios, New York. 14 minutes of solos, endings and digressions were edited out. Reed and his producer, Bob Ezrin, had had such high hopes for Berlin. They talked of it in terms of being a "movie for the mind" or a "film for the ear", and were toying with a stage version even then. "More than toying," he said. "Actually planning: what the hotel looked like, what the club looked like, how many floors, things like that. But they didn't like it. There was no way to get backing, no way to do it. That was that. You win some, you lose some, like a football game." A few years later, Reed told his biographer Victor Bockris that Berlin was the big disappointment of his life. "I pulled the blinds shut at that point. And they've remained closed."
The home front was proving difficult for Bettye. She promised Lou's managers she would see him through the recording of “Berlin”. They said he wouldn't be able to finish it if she left. Manager Dennis Katz brought in his brother Steve, previously of the Blues Project and Blood Sweat & Tears, to help consolidate Lou's new touring band. Rehearsals were held in Lenox MA beginning 1973.08.27 ending on the 31st. The first show was performed at the Music Inn in the same town on 1973.09.01. The tour resumed in Europe and progressed to Paris 1973.09.17 where Bettye couldn't take it any more and told Lou's management she wanted a ticket to fly home. As Lou was performing at L'Olympia Bettye wandered around the city in the rain crying until a Parisian policeman stopped her under l'Arc de Triomphe and told her to go back to her hotel and get some sleep. Bettye flew back to New York the next day. Lou's response was a nihilistic consumption of drugs. The backing band kept the show together as Lou's performance deviated from bad to worst. Berlin is released in October just as the European tour ended. In December Bettye filed for divorce.
1973.11.26 New York rehearsals with new recruit Prakash John (George Clinton / Parliament / Funkadelic) on rumbling funky bass for two days. Plans are provisionally in place to professionally record a show using the Record Plant Remote Recording Truck less than a month later. The day that everyone had been working towards arrived and the two shows on 1973.12.21 at Howard Stein's Academy of Music, New York were both recorded. The Sound engineer Dinky Dawson brought the entire Dawson Sound crew and the full Acoustic Suspension System with vocal PA to the gig. The results in the hall were fantastic but there were management issues. Dinky held up the second show until Howard Stein, the promoter at the Academy, paid Dawson Sound for their services. Stein thought he was bluffing and tried to open the curtains. The band played, but there was no amplification. As Lou came up to the mic, it became evident there was no sound. He was not pleased. The required cash was accepted. The mics were turned on and all was well. Most of the audience assumed it was just equipment malfunction. The gig was subsequently released as Rock n Roll Animal & Lou Reed Live.
It would take more than thirty years before Lou and Bob's Berlin concepts to be fully realised. But that's another essay entirely.
Berlin Uncut
Morgan Studios
London
1973.06.22 - 07.17
https://mega.nz/#!qxAzWZpY!Q2vx9i770Rjx40LBAItWeWYVn7VblImO7_nxuAjgO-M
Berlin Acetate
Morgan Studios
London
1973.06.22 - 07.17
https://mega.nz/#!v8oCGSbQ!KEo6VAdkfku8aw4auVYV6U2Xap5yiAdK2bQIZZhKRQo
https://mega.nz/#!usxkjJCB!DlNn4gRVF5SZfvE_ByRlmS4JSNoPUzjRuhgHeW8rnNA
https://mega.nz/#!7xp22BoL!E14_zHgsRVzyfhVGe_AkDWRX8W1ZRv2r1sWxnW_9FPs
09.01 Music Inn, Lenox MA
BERLIN TO LENOX
https://mega.nz/#!ehZRFBLJ!Bmws5BumKdmRwuDrxj8IZUWp0_kuFcFXqMtGQP6Zk5k
https://mega.nz/#!vtBU1Rbb!W3sUlAAdZVHgrhu9P1GlBlHnMsRkym285OnS8EJWF-ghttps://mega.nz/#!y4A1WARR!LrFxYAYjK63Roh4DeAa34mlCHQN9plh67BE9TH44DlI
https://mega.nz/#!Lx53jBQJ!PFqlNEC4vOjfkfEY0VReXkFqdyYUoCcM2K7jMZX4WIk
09.01 Music Inn,
Lenox MA
ROCK n ROLL MAMMAL
https://mega.nz/#!PkITAYxK!BUz-AW_eOWg8qdchK116eisgr8IQZcGJKQ6-4HnXqyE
https://mega.nz/#!XpAAGDQT!cts3MCP2vyB0UJvd2bSuNECYaTVKIUClWCVXvs5uGWQ
09.09 Eichenring, Scheessel
BERLIN TO SCHEESSEL
https://mega.nz/#!LgI13CTa!em-k_Gqru5P3xPDZsL05akCX1dFkw_LBuI7W1KK-cdA
https://mega.nz/#!y5JHhaQY!d8HpkhO9ZnlaQLbvgP03D1r53MYbiSwlcD900bqDYOU
1973.09.17 Paris
Berlin To Paris
https://mega.nz/#!r5ojFKSS!OF82FBwlHfZ-SYU4U5jTMDA01wxgqU56Sq6i9UAIosY
09.17 L'Olympia, Paris
ENCHANTÉ VTS
https://mega.nz/#!HkxDxZJb!aflJFRVC_oQ0ex-hEkU5KhzoEDMCDS5iehBt3VApe58
https://mega.nz/#!614iXZKD!d5lnGguy2eP5qcOn8CrC0wjcsRlsDfq3m-VphqenRXY
09.19 Falkoner Teatret, Kobenhavn
BERLIN TO KOBENHAVN
https://mega.nz/#!blwXERKR!No2HKVkyhJRy88YM5pRQqBWuCLcUA1ULaTxsHssZ2qY
https://mega.nz/#!344CWbxZ!aOmuFDm0OHVdw1O18vJ7AUoI6VYtyW3aAZT8fuPn72E
09.19 Falkoner Teatret, Kobenhavn
PHANTOM ANIMAL
https://mega.nz/#!zk5RVTCB!GA585WzSw3f2Z_OrfrL9tSHMdSJTrQlz3roADmmoyxE
https://mega.nz/#!WpxBEAjL!NDd8Hg-upmSanOGi1_RMPkMM7qUI_27o_rpyraOnosU
09.19 Falkoner Teatret, Kobenhavn
CHRISTANIA
https://mega.nz/#!q54ylRYT!EL0_xxH8uXjZHVW9wzdODWIF4CcUy80CgDtUedaa8T0
https://mega.nz/#!C5BSxRJJ!BbB1O1KA1djm3PpWxbQzcl0ArNErAsmkuaxLF_iFfBY
09.20 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
BERLIN TO AMSTERDAM
https://mega.nz/#!L5QwnDLD!d6nc6Wwd839ik1eNnxmiJxmkIipH9j4KGqMyNI3vwZw
09.20 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
ROCK N ROLL ANIMAL
https://mega.nz/#!flAj0bTQ!JgmY1iYNdf2Cyk2GuF5KyQBhoepOAMJ93FMGCLRAc6M
https://mega.nz/#!T0JWyCDS!eFXxajvroW1Zmv1h2ujRcSqgVnMyPf1eZobG3ugKj1g
09.20 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
ROSSO
https://mega.nz/#!atoi1bCI!CZoB4lsIvwmCax7rfM0w0Fxt0RQJK54ljhp7bnQBWzw
https://mega.nz/#!H8RlCRSK!GtPmeGjECGB8S4AKZ0vvuXb_dV1qyCF3NKfRJ1fhhjg
09.24 Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
BERLIN TO GLASGOW
https://mega.nz/#!zkxGiThb!DSNdJl3PcrYk1jHflRwinnMScY1PkRUnTxdcy-TFFhw
https://mega.nz/#!n1plhJSB!XsEoOyJWpZBB5tfuBWRPO1elX-1xOcRHV-gIt26v9DU
09.24 Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
LOU DOES ELVIS
https://mega.nz/#!itoHybiI!ImYQuDgLtoSeCaR4_pXrfSGLNGAhDtBC2RNda5GR-Eg
https://mega.nz/#!X5B30TqZ!P5aj9TjqfazYCq3DsulX73rP-YBy_0jht-VjsP0k0H4
09.26 Gaumont Theatre, Southampton
BERLIN TO SOUTHAMPTON
https://mega.nz/#!ex5SUJRZ!FjkwhTmEkjgQRNe1bJaR5X5BPT5fsesZH-DqbSI0z4U
https://mega.nz/#!foRknRSZ!fWR5EwL1gLxOBHUrTPcjPxZleSRDZRRxB42A4jDv_g0
09.26 Gaumont Theatre, Southampton
SINNERS
https://mega.nz/#!HoBHmL7b!WjIC13L7bEppPRzWTmFLd2GGfst6MNO3LUR3BAzTyUI
https://mega.nz/#!ChoSySJZ!GBuaexkmyjyENdxriH7fWD1atyBjUpdUqOWw7pN7GSA
09.27 De Montforte Hall, Leicester
BERLIN TO LEICESTER
https://mega.nz/#!OxRlSBqC!BCe450v4v0oLT6s_4kZNyl7B4P08X25MdvN1ZarQ920
https://mega.nz/#!7lZFwIIb!RbBMDkZbtmGmnIEC4se3DwU1LvhvW3v8tnnU29gyUvI
09.27 De Montforte Hall, Leicester
LUV U
https://mega.nz/#!K5QGzIBS!BI1MeXzksXLzNMD21ju54wk3k1FFTA6amW0s4MnPnsw
https://mega.nz/#!qtBBSIoJ!NM16By7zC4zZ7FJl-uQZfX8SWlsiFJy5iC-615ZvdV0
09.28 Empire Theatre, Liverpool
BERLIN TO LIVERPOOL
https://mega.nz/#!P8RyRCwa!VFmX5BFFHORLumM0U1fVazSp2U0j4-MpcPC4ogibV8g
https://mega.nz/#!jto0VSIA!INIhEjuqfNnTm3NeRwVQ8yLh1SEYJ354zyXrVQq9ECg
09.28 Empire Theatre, Liverpool
WHACK
https://mega.nz/#!ypATTR6C!H2fAJxZzxfvgn3fieWL0cWc6k3MHgJJTp-bBfTUh2HA
https://mega.nz/#!ah4i0ZzZ!XqNN0wLmu45cNEcn146BnVbsJm8RglRWcXUMxady05A
09.29 Oval Hall, Sheffield
BERLIN TO SHEFFIELD
https://mega.nz/#!L8Iw2BqB!F2LgZkWTQ_jtoA5x6cbAYnXGmWZeBJCPr01HXLrYQ6c
https://mega.nz/#!D8hiwC5b!DNoLgQ6-8XHIfbB-EcB3-FnTV8B5z3C7w2IarHrmC1c
09.29 Oval Hall, Sheffield
OFFBEAT
https://mega.nz/#!apgg3JLD!NO1AVwVrQuKDD-4CWtz9bG53W9tqq382-wAKh30EE6M
https://mega.nz/#!T4IznSLJ!QOv3C2jIc_xEy60MImj_j2kjLw95qzHsVifcHjrFPbs
09.30 City Hall, Newcastle
BERLIN TO NEWCASTLE
https://mega.nz/#!T4JQXQ5K!Kjw1bRwk52PQr69s4KtTAk1QYbRVgH0soruOKqPpKzs
https://mega.nz/#!7x5jBTqC!Qd6b4RwsB55UeuoHNYdmDjomfi9ytac_Vagsa3EkFKQ
09.30 City Hall, Newcastle
BLACK TAR
https://mega.nz/#!rlBWQA6A!HYmKd1qfGm5xC-n9PxCt2zhjUBMSf9otDw7ShHDxfoI
https://mega.nz/#!agxQnbjJ!XwL3wF1XqkDGtgvHu74G-FCpyUdaqIybtuTPI_0At-A
10.03 Odeon Theatre, Birmingham
BRUMMIE ROLL
https://mega.nz/#!v5RgWZxT!F7VSQxBwRAnd8fZSDVzfDitM0QsvrFKWlbxIs2AN9iM
https://mega.nz/#!X0oRTYoR!O_q5n3_kp1bFu1mLuiIAEQYlRqtKBzvCmxEbOZayfsA
10.05 Rainbow Theatre
London
https://mega.nz/#!rlgFhIQB!X5oWhnwG3mUsUL-HA2JN-2vxHkhr7-SLU3vrqBAv5lY
https://mega.nz/#!WsgkWJqT!CxfP0QDF8mlfIikHSzu2NHq5dWMffpyIEBcd02OmoKc
10.05 Rainbow Theatre
London
bass version
https://mega.nz/#!Hh40XQLK!fIJg6S_UDjGZinrtljkxpmMmanBA7ncOjJ_I0OTlbFc
https://mega.nz/#!eggAlSJC!Qo8VxH4dzLjEVDmidc2hI3oxZNY-Q-_t7hjGR2G9QgM
12.08 Century Theatre
Buffalo, NY
https://mega.nz/#!btZUCLbS!bUXILAdXObiGKqMkg_S3zRqujLcwgS-SpVt1w_VjIA0
12.14 Palace Concert Theatre
Providence, RI
BASS Version
https://mega.nz/#!eoIEkQJI!C0KvF0TebAm3VC1luq33EXo5dQcQr9LCgXINUdX7KdI
BUZZ
12.14 Palace Concert Theatre
Providence, RI
https://mega.nz/#!L04hDLLa!NvEtTZpkO-vOlOLso4Uf2KUG3Dz2LTxVP8jf1XkiLZc
8:00 PM
Howard Stein's Academy Of Music
New York, N.Y.
1973-12-21
https://mega.nz/#!vpY3CAJY!f1ikT3a_EvsWU7Jvo2BjO1cg1zcy70CUVRNrTe4aouI
https://mega.nz/#!ekxTRCyQ!GXzWuQSMx0-bnPbpC0fh-yVhBIlzbeG4j7_Ym3cXskc
ROCK n ROLL ANIMALS
Intro
