Vinyl Record
The Velvet Underground - Now Playing
The Velvet Underground - Now Playing on LP vinyl, in stock at Kilmorna in Listowel. Available from Kilmorna in Listowel.
LP · Rock · 2024
Available from Kilmorna Collection in Listowel.
Buyer notes: 2024 LP, currently available from the Kilmorna Collection Rock shelf. Pay for pickup in Listowel, ship within Ireland from EUR 5.95 per record or outside Ireland from EUR 12.00 per record.
Now Playing is a concise 10-track compilation that offers a focused tour through The Velvet Underground’s most approachable side, built around the songs that grew out of their classic early-1970s period. Drawing heavily from the era of the album Loaded, it opens with the full-length versions of “Sweet Jane” and “Rock & Roll,” then moves through the bittersweet shimmer of “Who Loves the Sun,” the slow-burn grandeur of “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’,” and the tender glow of “I Found a Reason.” These selections capture a band balancing streetwise rock with unexpected warmth and melody. The second half of the album shifts the spotlight to a different angle on the group’s legacy. Live recordings from their famed Max’s Kansas City shows bring “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Femme Fatale,” and “I’ll Be Your Mirror” into an intimate club setting, while “Ocean” and “I’m Sticking With You” introduce deep-cut studio material that resurfaced later in the band’s archival releases. The result is a compact listening experience that feels both like an introduction and a rewarding companion for long-time fans.
This compilation matters because it brings together two key faces of The Velvet Underground in one sitting: the hook-rich songwriting of their later work and the raw, immediate feel of their live sets and outtakes. For listeners curious about why this band is so frequently cited by later generations, Now Playing provides a streamlined way into their world without requiring a deep dive into the full discography. By pairing familiar anthems with more elusive tracks, the album underlines just how wide the group’s range really was, from soulful ballads to nervy street narratives and exploratory rock. It functions as both a gateway for new listeners and a curated snapshot that collectors can file alongside the core studio records.
For collectors, Now Playing slots neatly into the wave of recent archival and curated Velvet Underground releases, but with a tighter focus than multi-disc box sets or career-spanning anthologies. Its 10-track sequence is purpose-built for front-to-back play, offering an easy way to hear key Loaded-era cuts and associated material in one place without duplicating an entire studio album. Because the tracklist blends album versions, live performances, and session outtakes, this record can complement existing copies of Loaded, VU, and Live at Max’s Kansas City rather than simply repeating them. It is particularly appealing if you appreciate well-sequenced compilations that tell a story through selection and flow rather than sheer completeness.
Expect a warm, guitar-driven rock sound that moves between polished, song-forward studio recordings and more immediate, club-like live performances, all rooted in the Velvet Underground’s distinctive blend of melody and edge.
Recommended for: Listeners discovering The Velvet Underground and wanting a compact, approachable entry point; Collectors who already own Loaded but want a curated mix of related tracks, live cuts, and outtakes; Fans of 1970s rock seeking the bridge between classic songwriting and alternative guitar music; People who enjoy live recordings that sit comfortably alongside studio material on a single record; Curators building a focused vinyl shelf of influential rock titles without duplicating long box sets.
Is Now Playing a full studio album or a compilation? Now Playing is a compilation that gathers key studio tracks, live recordings, and session outtakes from different points in The Velvet Underground’s catalogue, rather than a single, originally released studio album. Which songs on this album come from the Loaded era? The studio recordings “Sweet Jane,” “Rock & Roll,” “Who Loves the Sun,” “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’,” and “I Found a Reason” are drawn from the same period as the band’s album Loaded, presented here in full-length, remastered form. Does this record include any live material? Yes, it includes live versions of “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Femme Fatale,” and “I’ll Be Your Mirror” recorded at Max’s Kansas City, alongside studio tracks like “Ocean” and “I’m Sticking With You” that highlight the band’s archival sessions.