Track Listing

1. Vicious
2. Andy's Chest
3. Perfect Day
4. Hangin' 'Round
5. Walk On The Wild Side
6. Make Up
7. Satellite Of Love
8. Wagon Wheel
9. New York Telephone Conversation
10. I'm So Free
11. Goodnight ladies

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55002 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .16 pounds

CD Description
'Transformer' was Lou Reed's second solo album, and is rightly regarded as a classic amongst music critics and fans alike. Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, the album is a melodic yet dark trip through the life of one of rock music's most enigmantic characters. Includes the tracks 'Walk On The Wild Side', 'Perfect Day' and 'Satellite Of Love'.

Customer Reviews

Evocative musical theatre
On this legendary album, Reed celebrates Andy Warhol and his 15-minutes of fame stars in a glamrock style, influenced by David Bowie. This new edition includes two extra tracks, acoustic versions of Hanging Round and Perfect Day. The informative insert includes illustrations and an essay on the history of Reed and the significance of this album.

Transformer is a type of decadent cabaret comparable to Bowie's Alladin Sane, but it is less bleak and much more colourful and engaging. Reed proved himself to be a master of many styles, from the compelling rock of Walk On The Wild Side through the tender and tuneful pop of Satellite Of Love to the oneiric Perfect Day, a haunting poetic excursion.

Other highlights include the edgy rocker Vicious with its hypnotic melody and sarcastic/ironic lyrics (an attitude that would soon infuse punk and new wave), the quirky New York Telephone Conversation, the energetic Hanging Round and the stately Goodnight Ladies. The songs are highly descriptive of a time, a place and a mindset, and the music is powerful in places and very elegant.

The stylistic variety renders Transformer compelling throughout while not detracting from the cohesion, making it a great piece of musical theatre. Devoted followers would agree that it does not reveal the complete Reed, as he has been so prolific and his oeuvre encompasses a much larger spectrum. But as a document of the middle seventies, it remains superb, an essential album for all serious rock fans.

A Great Album
I saw Lou Reed live at the Glasgow Apollo in 1973, the year after the release of 'Transformer'. He had to be carried on to the stage so overcome with emotion he was -or something like that. I remember he spent the whole of the concert lying on his back clutching the microphone to his mouth as if his life depended on it. At some point I came to the firm conclusion that the songs he was trying to sing were not the same songs his band was trying to play. He had to be carried off at the end of the short concert -memorable moments in rock history!

Anyhow back to 'Transformer'. This is one of the really good albums from the early seventies and still highly listenable today. His muse is still with him here and his great talent for melody is unhindered, as it was later on in the decade, with any roughness in his singing voice. This is a fine introduction to Reed's solo work and should be door opener to his earlier classic period with the Velvet Underground. Highly recommended.

Remember: There's A Lot More To Lou Reed Than Transformer !
Transformer is often regarded as the pinnacle of Lou Reed's solo career and while it is overall a good solid effort there are at least half a dozen albums Lou has recorded which are at least as good if not better that are generally ignored/underrated.
The David Bowie connection is perhaps the reason for its popularity coming at a time when David (and glam rock) was at his height.
There are a number of Lou's great and most well known songs also ('Vicious', 'Satellite Of Love', 'Perfect Day', 'Walk On The Wild Side' etc.) but the brittle sound of the album does begin to wear rather thin after repeated listens.
Transformer is certainly an album to be enjoyed but there are better albums from Lou to be found. It's best to regard Transformer as just another (rather good) Lou Reed album rather than his crowning glory.

Keep investigating and you won't be disappointed!