Lou Reed: An album with songs written before the Velvet Underground

Light in the Attic, in collaboration with Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed Archive, has announced the release of the collection “Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65” on September 27.

As the title suggests, the album—which follows 2022’s Words & Music, May 1965 and 2023’s Hudson River Wind Meditations—will include a number of songs written by the late musician during his time as a songwriter for Pickwick Records.

As a first preview of the collection, with tracks remastered by John Baldwin, “The Ostrich” performed by The Primitives has been made available.

Here is the cover and tracklist with the respective performers:

The Primitives – The Ostrich
The Beachnuts – Cycle Annie
The Hi-Lifes – I’m Gonna Fight
The Hi-Lifes – Soul City
Ronnie Dickerson – Oh No Don’t Do It
Ronnie Dickerson – Love Can Make You Cry
The Hollywoods – Teardrop In The Sand
The Roughnecks – You’re Driving Me Insane

The Primitives – Sneaky Pete
Terry Philips – Wild One
Spongy And The Dolls – Really – Really – Really – Really – Really – Really Love
The Foxes – Soul City
The J Brothers – Ya Running But I’ll Getcha
Beverley Ann – We Got Trouble
The All Night Workers – Why Don’t You Smile
Jeannie Larimore – Johnny Won’t Surf No More
Robertha Williams – Tell Mommy Not To Cry
Robertha Williams – Maybe Tomorrow
Terry Philips – Flowers For The Lady
Terry Philips – This Rose
The Surfsiders – Surfin’
The Surfsiders – Little Deuce Coupe
The Beachnuts – Sad Lonely Orphan Boy
The Beachnuts – I’ve Got A Tiger In My Tank
Ronnie Dickerson – What About Me