Lou Reed - Lou Reed's Berlin
by Anthony Strutt
published: 24 / 5 / 2008

intro
Anthony Strutt previews 'Lou Reed's Berlin', an 85 minutes-in-length concert film of his 1973 third solo album, 'Berlin', which directed by Julian Schnabel will be released in cinemas in late July
'Lou Reed's Berlin' is directed by Julian Schnabel and is an 85 minutes-in-length concert film of his third solo album, Berlin', which was released originally back in 1973. At the time, after the success of his second solo album, the previous year's 'Transformer' which drew him into the spotlight, it didn't live up to expectations of him, but since has gone on to be seen as a masterpiece. Reed spent much of the final part of 2006 and much of last year touring America, Australia and Europe with 'Berlin', and will be doing so again this summer. The album consists of ten songs and is a concept album telling the story of Caroline, a bad mother who at the end has her kids taken away. Of these ten songs, half of the album consists of old songs. 'Berlin' first appeared on his eponymous 1972 'Lou Reed' album, his first after leaving the Velvet Underground who carried on without him and produced one more album, 'Squeeze'. 'Men of Good Fortune' is an old Velvets tracks which the band never recorded but that was played as early as 1966. 'Oh, Jim', was again a Velvets track formerly known as 'Oh, Gin' and appears as an extra track on 1997's remaster of the Velvets' 1970 album,'Loaded' as does 'Sad Song'. Both appear there as demos and are also on the Velvet Underground 1995 box Set, 'Peel Back Slowly and See'. 'Caroline Says II' is another Velvet Underground track as it is basically a rewrite of 'Stephanie Says', which finally emerged on the 80's rarities collection, 'V.U.'. The album and live setting of this follows Caroline through birthdays and parties to hanging out with guys, having sex, having children, taking drugs, and then not being able to cope, so having the children taken away. 'The Kids', which comes two thirds of the way through the album and in which her children are finally removed from her, is especially harrowing as no one was writing about subject matter like this at that time. The film was shot at one of a series of New York warm up shows which took place over five nights at the St Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn in December 2006. It was commissioned to be an exclusive for the Sydney Festival in 2007, but it went down so well he toured Europe with it in July of last year and is doing so again this summer as well. The film features Reed on electric guitar, whereas on the original album, he only played acoustic. It is very well directed by Schnabel, showing the 30 piece ensemble including his band, a string and horn section, and a children's choir, who have toured 'Berlin' with Reed, and has also additional clips of a film of Caroline, played by French actress Emmanuelle Seigner, to help the story along. The film also features Antony of the Antony and the Johnsons fame as a backing vocalist. He has been a friend of Reed's for a number of year and toured with him on his 2003 tour for 'The Raven' album, but didn't tour with him in Europe last July. The film features almost exactly the same set as he toured Europe with last summer, the only difference coming in the encores. The encores for the film consists of 'Candy Says' from 1969's 'The Velvet Underground', sung firstly by Antony then Lou, followed by 'Rock Minuet' from 200o's 'Ecstasy' and finally as the credits roll up, 'Sweet Jane' which goes down a storm with the audience as as it is lightweight comparision to the heavy material the audience have just had to witness. At the London shows last year the audience in contrast was given as encores ' Sweet Jane', which comes from 'Loaded', and 'Satellite of Love' and 'Walk on the Wild Side', both of which are tracks from 'Transformer'. This is an excellent film, and a much cheap way of experiencing the album as tickets for forthcoming shows in London, Nottingham and Edinburgh this summer are between £30 and £85. It is very much worth seeing, but definitely for Reed hardcore fans only. 'Lou Reed's Berlin' opens at selected cinemas across the United Kingdom on the 25th July 2008.
Picture Gallery:-

profiles |
1942 - 2013 (2013) |
![]() |
Denzil Watson looks back on the career and life of Velvet underground front man and solo artist Lou Reed, who died at the age of 71 in October |
A Personal Tribute (2013) |
The Journalists and the Media (2013) |
Lou Reed's Berlin (2008) |
live reviews |
Hammersmith Apollo, London, 1/7/2007 |
![]() |
Lou Reed has recently been touring Europe with his bleak early 1970's masterpiece, 'Berlin', and both a choir and brass and strings section. John Clarkson finds that it has lost none of and impact almost 35 years on from its original release and the New York rocker on fantastic form |
Barbican, London, 28/5/2003 |
favourite album |
Rock 'n' Roll Animal (2010) |
![]() |
Jeff Thiessen examines Lou Reed's classic 1974 live album, 'Rock 'n' Roll Animal' |
Metal Machine Music (2010) |
The Blue Mask (2002) |
features |
Lou Reed (2013) |
![]() |
John Clarkson writes of ten of his favourite songs in the solo career of the late Lou Reed |
The Raven (2003) |
reviews |
Berlin : Live at St Ann's Warehouse (2008) |
![]() |
Live reworking of Lou Reed's infamously controversial 'Berlin' album, which shows that Reed still has the power to enthral and shock |
NYC Man The Ultimate Collection (2003) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025John Philip Shenale - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Vapors - Interview
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
Waeve - Club Academy, Manchester, 18/3/2025
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPKen Loach - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Retro Spankees - Interview
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Au Pairs - Interview
Moriarty - Interview with Dr Haze
Paul Weller - Stanley Road
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Leon Bridges - Leon
Mystery Fix - Life to Life
Permafrost - The Light Coming Through
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart