Lou Reed

A compilation of pop songs co-written by Reed during his mid-60s stint as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist) for Pickwick Records—a label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day. Lou would have to write songs encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry. Liner notes by Richie Unterberger and an essay by Lenny Kaye. https://lightintheattic.net/collections/lou-reed/products/why-dont-you-smile-now-lou-reed-at-pickwick-records-1964-65

The Art of the Straight Line captures the energy of Lou Reed’s worlds of Tai Chi, music, and meditation. It was edited by his wife, the artist Laurie Anderson, with Stephan Berwick, Bob Currie, and Scott Richman. Reed was an accomplished martial artist whose practice began in the 1980s. He studied with Chen Tai Chi pioneer Master Ren GuangYi. This book is a comprehensive collection of Reed’s writings on Tai Chi. It includes conversations with Reed’s fellow musicians, artists, friends, and Tai Chi practitioners, including Julian Schnabel, A. M. Homes, Hal Willner, Mingyur Rinpoche, Eddie Stern, Tony Visconti, and Iggy Pop. https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/artofthestraightline

Twenty-six unreleased studio and live recordings from the Lou Reed Archive were used in the New York Deluxe release. https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/lou-reed/new-york-deluxe-3cddvd2lp-cassette-bundle/081227906252.html

Inaugural release in Light in the Attic’s Lou Reed Archive Series. Features the earliest-known recordings of “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Pale Blue Eyes” and “Heroin” and seven previously unheard Lou Reed compositions. https://lightintheattic.net/collections/lou-reed/products/words-music-may-1965-deluxe-edition

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts presented Lou Reed: Caught Between the Twisted Stars, the first large-scale exhibition from Reed’s archive. June 9, 2022–March 4, 2023 https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/lou-reed

This book of Lou Reed’s poetry, the first to be produced by the Lou Reed Archive, gathers poems, photographs from the era—by Mick Rock, Moe Tucker, and others— as well as images from rare poetry zines. Featuring a new foreword by Anne Waldman, archival notes by Don Fleming, and an afterword by Laurie Anderson, Do Angels Need Haircuts? provides a window to a little-known chapter in the life of one of the most singular and uncompromising voices in American popular culture. https://shop.mexicansummer.com/merch/197484-lou-reed-do-angels-need-haircuts

Legacy Records releases 17-Disc Deluxe Box Set Anthology. Compiles 16 albums from 1972 to 1986. Remastered under Lou Reed’s personal supervision. Includes images from the Lou Reed Archive. Released October 7, 2016. https://www.legacyrecordings.com/2016/09/07/legacy-recordings-set-to-release-lou-reed-the-rca-arista-album-collection/

Lou Reed’s papers date from 1958 to 2015, and chronicle his career through audio and video recordings, office files, photographs, artwork, and press clippings. The collection details Reed’s musical output, as well as the administrative and business dealings involved in producing records and touring worldwide. https://archives.nypl.org/mus/24078