First Official Anthology of Lou Reed's Work for Pickwick Records onOxblood & Gold Vinyl 2LP!

Featuring Rarities, Cult Classics & Previously Unreleased Material!
Remastered by John Baldwin & Pressed at Optimal!

Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the release ofWhy Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. The latest installment in LITA's critically acclaimed Lou Reed Archive Series is a compilation of pop songs penned by Reed during his mid-'60s stint as a staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records. The compilation follows on the heels of Lou Reed'sHudson River Wind Meditations(2023) andWords & Music, May 1965(2022).

One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed (1942-2013) first gained recognition as co-founder and frontman of the massively influential Velvet Underground. Over the course of his five-decade career, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his singular vision to an eclectic expanse of musical endeavors, including era-defining albums like 1972'sTransformerand wildly experimental works like the 1975 avant-garde noise classicMetal Machine Music. But before establishing himself as an enduringly iconic singer, songwriter, musician, and poet, Reed got his start as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist) for Pickwick Recordsa label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day. Encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry, Reed's output for Pickwick ultimately offers a fascinating early glimpse at his ever-evolving and truly limitless artistry.

The album has been restored and remastered by GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin. Both the 2xLP and CD editions feature in-depth booklets with unseen photos, liner notes by Richie Unterberger (renowned music journalist and author of such acclaimed titles asWhite Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-by-Day), and an essay by Lenny Kaye (the legendary guitarist, Patti Smith Group co-founder, writer, producer, and curator of seminal garage-rock anthologyNuggets).

The double-LP package is designed by multi-GRAMMY-winning artist Masaki Koike and pressed at world-renowned plant Optimal (Germany). A special color vinyl edition is pressed on "Oxblood" wax (A/B side) and "Gold" wax (C/D side). This release marks the first official anthology of Lou Reed's work for Pickwick Records and features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives' "The Ostrich"), and previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy").

Features

• Light in the Attic Lou Reed Archive Series
• Oxblood & Gold Color Vinyl ("Oxblood" A/B Side & "Gold" C/D Side)
• Double LP
• First Official Anthology of Lou Reed's Work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965
• Rarities, Cult Classics (The Primitives' "The Ostrich"), & Previously Unreleased Material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy")
• Produced in Partnership with Laurie Anderson & the Lou Reed Archive
• 20-Page LP Book with Unseen Photos & Essays by Lenny Kaye & Richie Unterberger
• Remastered by GRAMMY-Nominated Engineer John Baldwin
• Art Direction & Design by Masaki Koike at Phyx Design
• Pressed at Optimal

Selections

Record 1

Side A:

1. The Primitives The Ostrich
2. The Beachnuts Cycle Annie
3. The Hi-Lifes I'm Gonna Fight
4. The Hi-Lifes Soul City
5. Ronnie Dickerson Oh No Don't Do It
6. Ronnie Dickerson Love Can Make You Cry
7. The Hollywoods Teardrop In The Sand
8. The Roughnecks You're Driving Me Insane

Side B:

1. The Primitives Sneaky Pete
2. Terry Philips Wild One
3. Spongy And The Dolls Really - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really Love
4. The Foxes Soul City
5. The J Brothers Ya Running But I'll Getcha
6. Beverley Ann We Got Trouble
7. The All Night Workers Why Don't You Smile
8. Jeannie Larimore Johnny Won't Surf No More

Record 2

Side C:

1. Robertha Williams Tell Mamma Not To Cry
2. Robertha Williams Maybe Tomorrow
3. Terry Philips Flowers For The Lady
4. Terry Philips This Rose

Side D:

1. The Surfsiders Surfin'
2. The Surfsiders Little Deuce Coupe
3. The Beachnuts Sad Lonely Orphan Boy
4. The Beachnuts I've Got A Tiger In My Tank
5. Ronnie Dickerson What About Me