White Light/White Heat (song)

Song infobox
Name = White Light/White Heat


Type = Single
Artist = The Velvet Underground
Album = White Light/White Heat
Released = January 30, 1968
track_no = 1
Recorded = September 1967, Scepter Studios, New York City, New York
Genre = Rock and roll, experimental rock, noise rock
Length = 2:47
Writer = Lou Reed
Composer = Lou Reed
Label = Verve Records
Producer = Tom Wilson
Tracks =
#"White Light/White Heat"
#"The Gift"
#"Lady Godiva's Operation"
#"Here She Comes Now"
#"I Heard Her Call My Name"
#"Sister Ray"
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = The Velvet Underground
Type = singles
Last single = "Sunday Morning" / "Femme Fatale"
(1966)
This single = "White Light/White Heat" / "Here She Comes Now"
(1968)
Next single = "What Goes On" / "Jesus"
(1969)

"White Light/White Heat" is a song by American avant-garde rock band The Velvet Underground, the title track on their second album, released in 1968. It is a fast, relatively aggressive start to the album, similar to the punk rock genre it would ultimately influence.

The songs vocals are performed primarily by Lou Reed, with John Cale and Sterling Morrison performing backing vocals. The song, much like "I'm Waiting for the Man", features pounding rock-and-roll Barrelhouse-style piano.

"White Light/White Heat" was released in 1968 as a single with the B-side "Here She Comes Now".

Reed also recorded a live version of the song in 1974, which is featured on his "Rock 'n' Roll Animal" and "Greatest Hits" albums.

Influence and cover versions

"White Light/White Heat" is often cited as a major influence on punk bands, as well as more varied rock and roll artists. The song has been covered by David Bowie (see below), Mick Ronson and Slaughter & The Dogs, among others. A live recording by Gary Numan appears on his concert album, "Living Ornaments '78".

German industrial rock band Die Krupps released a single in 1997 called "Black Beauty White Heat".

Lou Reed played a portion of the song with alternative rock band The Raconteurs during the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.

The song "Bang Bang Rock & Roll" by British band Art Brut makes reference to this song in its chorus.

The song is heard in promotional spots for "The Starter Wife".

The 1996 album White Light, White Heat, White Trash by Social Distortion was named after the song.

Personnel

1967 studio version

* Lou Reed - vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
* Sterling Morrison - lead guitar, backing vocal
* John Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
* Maureen Tucker - percussion

1969 live versions

* Lou Reed - vocals, rhythm guitar
* Sterling Morrison - lead guitar, backing vocal
* Doug Yule - bass guitar, backing vocal
* Maureen Tucker - percussion

1993 live version

* Lou Reed - vocals, rhythm guitar
* Sterling Morrison - lead guitar, backing vocal
* John Cale - bass guitar, backing vocal
* Maureen Tucker - percussion

David Bowie cover

Single infobox
Name = White Light/White Heat

|200px
Artist = David Bowie
from Album = Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture
B-side = "Cracked Actor"
Released = November 1983
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Hammersmith Odeon, London 3 July 1973
Genre = Glam rock
Length = 4:06
Label = RCA Records
372
Producer = David Bowie, Tony Visconti
Chart position =

• #46 (UK)
  Reviews =
  Last single = "Without You"
  (1983)
  This single = "White Light/White Heat"
  (1983)
  Next single = "Blue Jean"
  (1984) | "White Light/White Heat" is regularly performed live by David Bowie. A version he recorded in 1973 was released as a single in 1983 to promote the album "Ziggy Stardust – The Motion Picture".

  Bowie, a long-time Velvets fan, had been performing “White Light/White Heat" since 1971. It had featured throughout the Ziggy Stardust tour (including a performance with Lou Reed on 8 July 1972), been recorded by Bowie for two BBC sessions, and been slated for inclusion on "Pin Ups" (the backing track from this session was later recorded as a solo version by Mick Ronson in 1975). Despite this, the "Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture" project would be the first time the song had been issued on a Bowie record, and as such it was released as a single.

  With Bowie at the peak of his global stardom thanks to "Let's Dance", "White Light/White Heat" was considered an unusual turn for the pop audience he had attracted, and reached only #46 in the UK. The song has continued to feature in Bowie’s live repertoire.

  Track listing

  # "White Light/White Heat" (Lou Reed) – 4:06
  # " Cracked Actor" (David Bowie) – 2:51

  Production credits

  * Producers:
  ** David Bowie
  ** Tony Visconti

  * Musicians:
  ** David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar
  ** Mick Ronson: Guitar
  ** Trevor Bolder: Bass
  ** Mick Woodmansey: Drums
  ** Mike Garson: Keyboards

  References

  Pegg, Nicholas, "The Complete David Bowie", Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5