2006 Berlin Live At St. Anns (Vinyl)

Truly remarkable. This recording (33 years in the making) takes Reed's classic "Berlin" and stages the entire original LP live.
Live recordings often leave a lot to be desired due to sound quality. Not this one ! This sound is stunning for a live recording. The mix is perfect , and Lou is in perfect "voice".

I played the disc 3 times straight through upon purchase (minus the "extra" non-Berlin tracks) (which I will get to sometime). The entire disc is nothing short of amazing , but "The Kids" and "Sad Song" are the standouts for this listener.......PUT IT IN YOUR BASKET!!!!!

Though Lou Reed has seemingly taken pleasure to twist the noses of the suits who operate the record industry - Metal-Machine Music comes to mind - his true creative energy was behind his third solo effort, the rock-opera, Berlin.

Exploring the reality of living in the anonymous shadows - with the landscape being the cracked sidewalks and dilapidated buildings of urban decay - Reed tackled the bleakness of drugs, depression and desperation of a doomed couple. A planned stage adaptation was abandoned in 1973 after mixed (mostly negative) reviews by critics and poor record sales.

But nearly 35 years later, Reed picked up the pieces of this shattered project by enlisting the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and a 30-piece band for a series of Berlin performances. Prior to the 2007 concert dates, Reed never played the rock-opera in its entirety and rarely utilized the music while on tour.

The power contained in the music has not diminished and Reed is in full flight artistically as the director and performer. A maligned masterpiece, this is street life as the slow storm rises to soon engulf those who believe they can win the game of roulette that's played with a shattered rotating disk .

By far the classiest jewel in Reed's crooked crown, Berlin was the height of decadence meets glam. Produced by an infinitely resourceful Bob Ezrin and boasting a host of class A session musicians, the music on this platter is an endless delight of detail, nuance, and attitude. And needless to say, great songs played consummately. So, my dismay at listening to this live run through is almost inevitable, I suppose.

Ezrin's stylish keyboard, choir, string, and brass arrangements may be unmatched by any other rock album. They're lush, intricate, regal, and mystical, dressing Reed's tunes in emperor's clothes. This stage version includes all the armory yet, with the exception of the brass section, the rest sound insignificant and bring little to the table. Listen to the one-dimensional arrangement of the vocals on "Sad Song" -- they simply follow the chord changes and leave out the original harmonies. Also, the choir melody lines in most songs are oversimplified to the point of banality. The keyboard (which starts off promisingly) and the strings are not only drowned out but also dumbed down to obvious phrases. Basically, half the beauty of the album is missing, that's what.

While it is a pleasure to hear Steve Hunter on guitar (no Dick Wagner, however), this is strictly a Lou show and not a Berlin one. As another review pointed out, a strange vibe permeates the performance, as if everyone is afraid to step on Lou's toes. I watched the dvd too, and the same feeling comes through (the director's adulatory intro is enough to get that ball rolling).

On another note, Lou still refuses to sing complete melodies and goes for the 'out-of-tune' effect whenever he can. A shame really, since Berlin is a deeply and enchantingly melodic record. To be fair, however, Lou seems to have trouble singing entire phrases and his voice has dropped at least half an octave, leaving it hoarse and rough. Chopping the phrases up is the alternative. The problem becomes glaring on the up-tempo songs, particulary "Caroline Says" where Lou is nowhere near the chorus parts. So, if you're looking for that mellifluous, world-weary, seductive, and wry enunciation wrapping itself around those stately tunes, go to the source.

If anything, this live version made me listen to the original again...and again.

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