The Classic Years

  1. I'm Not Sayin (2:48)
  2. The Last Mile (2:27)
  3. I'll Be Your Mirror (2:14)
  4. Femme Fatale (2:38)
  5. All Tomorrow's Parties (2:48)
  6. The Fairest of the Seasons (4:07)
  7. These Days (3:30)
  8. Little Sister (4:23)
  9. Chelsea Girls (7:23)
  10. No One Is There (3:37)
  11. Ari's Song (3:21)
  12. Frozen Warnings (4:02)
  13. Nibelungen (2:43)
  14. Janitor of Lunacy (4:00)
  15. Abschied (3:02)
    • Translation
  16. Afraid (3:27)
  17. Secret Side (4:03)
  18. You Forget to Answer (5:06)
  19. The End (9:29)

03 No fade out
05 Single voice edited stereo version



I'll Be Your Mirror

I'll Be Your Mirror
(Lou Reed)

I'll be your mirror,
Reflect what you are
In case you don't know.
I'll be the wind,
The rain and the sunset,
The light on your door
To show that you're home.

When you think the night has seen your mind,
That inside you're twisted and unkind,
Let me stand to show that you are blind.
Please put down your hands 'cause I see you.

I find it hard
To believe you don't know
The beauty you are,
But if you don't
Let me be your eyes,
A hand to your darkness
So you won't be afraid.

When you think the night has seen your mind,
That inside you're twisted and unkind,
Let me stand to show that you are blind.
Please put down your hands 'cause I see you.

I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are

The Classic Years US CD Chronicles 314 565 185-2
US CD Chronicles 314 565 185-2
1998-09-15

01-02 Immediate single IM 003 (1965)
03-05 from The Velvet Underground And Nico (1967)
06-09 from Chelsea Girl (1967)
10-13 from the marble index (1968)
14-16 from Desertshore (1970)
17-19 from The End ... (1974)

The lady was inspirational in her presence and directness, had the power of a living oscar statue, and more than hang around with the boys she was one, and as such her agenda never scared you,, it propelled you. At the time I knew her she had that gift that advances any work you do with talent, she was with you in the minute, you just thought, she got it before you spoke, you didn't have to translate, edit or change, which led to a truth only encounter. I had the same thing with Keith Richards, still do, and Steve Marriott, would do and that should give you some idea on Nico. We served each other well for those few minutes in '65 when she lent her talent to the launch of Immediate, for in addition to her pop recording for my label, in which she allowed us to unsuccessfully emulate the advanced copy of Elusive Butterfly we had some of the stellar Jackie de Shannon demos we loved; for one of Immediate's heroes was Liberty records and its pubbery arm, Metric Music; Nico also joined us on the launch of Immediate as we promoted thru the factories all over the north of England and Europe allowing me to play irving Thalberg to Nico's award winning Norma Shearer. She accepted the part and played it well, in that The McCoys with Hang On Sloopy went to No. 1 for us but were unavailable and ugly. The Lady understood the rhythm of life, did the movie and moved on to the next part.

Andrew Loog Oldham

Compilation produced by Bill Levenson
Mastered by Suha Gur at PolyGram Studios
Introduction by Andrew Loog Oldham
Essay by Clinton Heylin
Art Direction and Photo Research by Geoff Gans
Photos by Nat Finkelstein, Paul Morrisssey, Guy Webster and Michael Ochs Archives
Project Direction: Terru Tierney
Project Coordination: Catherine Ladis
Special Thanks: Beebe Jennings and Michelle Sangenito at PolyMedia, Steve Poltorak at Warner Special Products, Phil Yarnall at Smay Vision, and Christopher Whent.

© 1998-2011
Serge Mironneau