DVD review: LOU REED – Transformer (Classic Albums)/Live at Montreux 2000

Eagle Vision (BluRay)

One of the most influential artists of his era, Lou Reed enjoyed a long and successful career that spanned six decades. Eagle Vision’s newly released “Transformer (Classic Albums)/Live at Montreux 2000” Bluray/DVD follows his death in October last year and finds both features with enhanced sound and pictures.

Reed released “Transformer”, his second solo album, in December of 1972. A true classic album in every sense, the acclaimed album was produced by David Bowie and Spiders from Mars cohort Mick Ronson and, this being the height of the glam rock era, the album could have taken a much different sonic route.

Including the likes of “Walk On The Wild Side”, “Perfect Day”, “Satellite Of Love” and “Vicious”- timeless songs that have inspired countless musicians ever since, the album regularly appears on 100 Greatest Albums lists.

“Transformer (Classic Albums)” is an expanded version of the originally broadcast and includes a host of bonus interviews and unseen footage and nicely covers the story of Reed’s time in The Velvet Underground as well as recreating the story of “Transformer” via interviews with Bowie, Ronson, Dave Stewart, album engineer Ken Scott, session musician Herbie Flowers and Reed himself.

Amongst the highlights on “Transformer (Classic Albums)” are Reed’s acoustic versions of “Walk On The Wild Side”, “Perfect Day” and “Satellite Of Love”.

“Live at Montreux 2000”, as the title would suggest, was recorded at the 2000 festival and features a set list that heavily promotes his recent “Ecstasy” album. With a great backing band behind him, you get the feeling that this is Lou Reed at his best as he performs the likes of “Paranoia Key of E”, the Velvets like “Ecstasy”, a fairly laid back version of “Perfect Day”, “Future Farmers of America”, “Riptide” and “Dime Store Mystery”.

With his lasting legacy already safeguarded for eternity “Transformer (Classic Albums)/Live at Montreux 2000” is a nice reminder of just some of the highlights of Lou Reed’s career. ****

Review by Nikk Gunns

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)