Lou Reed is the debut solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in May 1972 by RCA Records,^[1] two years after he left the Velvet Underground. It was produced by Richard Robinson and Reed and features London session musicians as Reed's backing band, two of whom, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe, were from the British progressive rock band Yes. Wakeman recalled that during the recording sessions, "the lights had to be out so nobody could see."^[2] The album was recorded at Morgan Studios in London, between December 1971 and January 1972.

With increasing interest in the Velvet Underground, Reed's debut album was highly anticipated, but was a commercial and critical disappointment, reaching only No. 189 on the Billboard 200. It comprises eight new recordings of then-unreleased Velvet Underground songs, and two new songs, "Going Down" and "Berlin" (the latter was re-recorded by Reed as the title track for his 1973 album Berlin).

In 1976, when asked what he thought of the album in retrospect, Reed stated, "It's got some of the best songs I ever wrote, but the production sucks."^[3]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Chicago Tribune	[5]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[8]

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The Commercial Appeal wrote that the album "contains some of the frenzy for which his former band was noted, but most of the music is toned down into a more standard rock mold."^[9] The Buffalo News determined that Reed's "blunt, almost over-simplified lyrics and the pre-Clapton guitar sound melt into a peculiarly satisfying experience."^[10]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide noted the "genteel art-rock treatment" of the songs written during Reed's Velvet Underground years.^[8]

Eight tracks from Lou Reed were, at one point, originally performed by the Velvet Underground. These recordings have been released on various compilations and live albums, which have been catalogued below.

On the album's tour, which lasted two legs between June 9^[12] and November 2, 1972,^[13][14] Reed was backed by the Tots. The Tots featured no shared personnel with the album and consisted of Vinny Laporta and Eddie Reynolds on guitar, Bobby Resigno on bass guitar, and Scottie Clark on drums. This backing group would also play on the Transformer tour^[15] and perform on the live album American Poet (2001).

Credits are adapted from the Lou Reed liner notes.^[16]

Musicians

• Lou Reed – vocals; guitar
• Caleb Quaye – electric and acoustic guitars; piano
• Steve Howe – electric guitar
• Paul Keogh – electric and acoustic guitars
• Rick Wakeman – piano
• Les Hurdle – bass guitar
• Brian Odgers – bass guitar
• Clem Cattini – percussion
• Kay Garner – harmony vocals
• Helene Francois – harmony vocals

Production and artwork

• Richard Robinson – producer
• Lou Reed – producer
• Mike Bobak – engineer
• Tom Adams – cover art
• Ronn Campisi – photography