Walk on the Wild Side ( Lou Reed song ) - wikipedia Walk on the Wild Side ( Lou Reed song ) `` Walk on the Wild Side '' Single by Lou Reed from the album Transformer A-side `` Perfect Day '' Released November 8, 1972 ( 1972 - 11 - 08 ) Format 7 - inch single Recorded August 1972, Trident Studios, London Length 4 : 12 Label RCA Records Songwriter ( s ) Lou Reed Producer ( s ) David Bowie Mick Ronson Lou Reed singles chronology `` Walk and Talk It '' ( 1972 ) `` Walk on the Wild Side '' ( 1972 ) `` Satellite Of Love '' ( 1973 ) `` Walk on the Wild Side '' is a song by Lou Reed from his second solo album, Transformer ( 1972 ). It was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, and released as a double A-side with `` Perfect Day ''. The song received wide radio coverage, despite its touching on taboo topics such as transgender people, drugs, male prostitution, and oral sex. In the United States, RCA released the single using an edited version of the song without the reference to oral sex. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 223 in its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The lyrics, describing a series of individuals and their journeys to New York City, refer to several of the regular `` superstars '' at Andy Warhol 's New York studio, the Factory, namely Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, Jackie Curtis and Joe Campbell ( referred to in the song by his nickname Sugar Plum Fairy ). Candy Darling was also the subject of Reed 's earlier song for The Velvet Underground, `` Candy Says ''. Two decades after the song 's release, Reed told interviewer David Fricke, `` I know my obituary has already been written. And it starts out, `` Doot, di - doot, di - doot... '' '' Contents 1 Musicians 2 Musical elements 3 Inspiration 4 Reception 5 Personnel 6 Charts and certifications 6.1 Weekly charts 6.2 Year - end charts 6.3 Certifications 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links Musicians The baritone saxophone solo played over the fadeout of the song is performed by Ronnie Ross, who had taught David Bowie to play the saxophone during Bowie 's childhood. The backing vocals are sung by Thunderthighs, a vocal group that included Dari Lalou, Karen Friedman, and Casey Synge. The upright bass and bass guitar are both played by Herbie Flowers who was paid a £ 17 flat fee ( equivalent to £ 200 in 2016 ). Musical elements Like many of Reed 's songs, `` Walk on the Wild Side '' is based on a plagal cadence, alternating from C to F. The F is played as a sixth chord. The pre-chorus introduces the major second, D Major, although in some live performances this was changed to D minor, resulting in a completely diatonic song. The song is also noted for its twin interlocking bass lines played by Herbie Flowers on double bass and overdubbed on a stacked knob 1960 fretless Fender Jazz Bass. In an interview on BBC Radio 4 ( Playing Second Fiddle, aired July 2005 ), Flowers claimed that the reason he came up with the twin bass line was that as a session musician he would be paid double for playing two instruments on the same track, thus likely totalling his pay to £ 34 ( equivalent to £ 400 in 2016 ). Inspiration In the 2001 documentary Classic Albums : Lou Reed : Transformer, Reed says that it was Nelson Algren 's 1956 novel, A Walk on the Wild Side ( itself titled after the 1952 song `` The Wild Side of Life '' ), that was the launching point for the song, even though, as it grew, the song became inhabited by characters from his own life. As with several other Reed songs from the 1970s, the title may also be an allusion to an earlier song, in this case Mack David and Elmer Bernstein 's song of the same name, the Academy Award - nominated title song of the 1962 film based on Algren 's novel. During his performance of the song on his 1978 Live : Take No Prisoners album, Reed humorously explains the song 's development from a request that he write the music for the never - completed musical version of Algren 's novel. Each verse refers to one of the `` superstars '' at Andy Warhol 's New York studio, The Factory. `` Holly '' is based on Holly Woodlawn, a transgender actress who lived in Miami Beach, Florida as a child. In 1962, after being bullied by homophobes, the fifteen - year - old ran away from home ; and, as in the lyrics, learned how to pluck her eyebrows while hitchhiking to New York. `` Candy '' is based on Candy Darling, a transgender actress and the subject of an earlier song by Lou Reed, `` Candy Says ''. She grew up on Long Island ( `` the island '' ) and was a regular at `` the back room '' of Max 's Kansas City. `` Little Joe '' was the nickname of Joe Dallesandro, an actor who starred in Flesh, a 1968 film about a teenage hustler. Dallesandro said in 2014 that he had never met Reed when the song was written, and that the lyrics were based on the film character, not himself personally. `` Sugar Plum Fairy '' was a reference to actor Joe Campbell, who played a character by that name in Warhol 's 1965 film, My Hustler. The term was a euphemism for `` drug dealer ''. `` Jackie '' is based on Jackie Curtis, another Warhol actor. `` Speeding '' and `` crashing '' are drug references. Curtis at one time hoped to play the role of James Dean in a movie ; Dean was killed in a car crash. Reception The lyrics were groundbreaking and risqué for their time, telling stories not usually told in rock songs up to then, and containing references to prostitution, transsexuals, and oral sex. `` I always thought it would be kinda fun to introduce people to characters they maybe had n't met before, or had n't wanted to meet, '' Reed said. The original release was a worldwide hit. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the 223rd greatest song of all time. In the United States, RCA released the single using an edited version of the song without the reference to oral sex. In the UK, the reference has sometimes slipped past the censors, who were apparently unfamiliar with the term `` giving head ''. The term `` colored girls '' was also an issue in the US ; RCA provided radio stations with a version in which it was edited out. The single peaked at # 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in early 1973. After the announcement of Reed 's death in October 2013, both the song and the Transformer album re-charted via iTunes. Personnel Lou Reed -- lead vocals, acoustic guitar Thunderthighs -- backing vocals David Bowie -- acoustic guitar Mick Ronson -- electric guitar, string arrangement Herbie Flowers -- electric bass, double bass Ronnie Ross -- baritone saxophone John Halsey -- drums Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1972 -- 73 ) Peak position Australia KMR 100 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 57 Canada RPM 18 France ( SNEP ) 13 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 67 Ireland ( IRMA ) 13 Japan ( Japan Hot 100 ) 29 Italy ( FIMI ) 17 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 15 Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) 21 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 39 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 10 US Billboard Hot 100 16 US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 14 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 17 Year - end charts Chart ( 1973 ) Rank Canada 95 U.S. ( Joel Whitburn 's Pop Annual ) 125 Certifications Region Certification Italy ( FIMI ) Gold United Kingdom ( BPI ) Silver References Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/lou-reed-walk-on-the-wild-side-20110527 Jump up ^ Fricke, David, Mojo Magazine, November 2016, pg. 75 ^ Jump up to : Dave Simpson ( 21 October 2014 ). `` The little - known musicians behind some of music 's most famous moments ''. The Guardian. Jump up ^ Barton, Laura ( 12 May 2011 ). `` Hail, Hail, Rock'n'Roll ''. The Guardian. Jump up ^ `` Thunderthighs ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 6 April 2015. ^ Jump up to : UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory ( 2017 ). `` The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present ( New Series ) ''. MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side ( ver 3 ) Chords ''. Bigchords.com. Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 16. Jump up ^ Richard Flanagan, `` Prophet of the neon wilderness '', The Sunday Telegraph, January 29, 2006 ( reprinted as `` Introduction '', dated `` October 2005 '', in the novel 's digital edition, Canongate Books, 2009, ISBN 978 - 1 - 84767 - 649 - 8 ) : ' As Algren admitted, the book `` was n't written until long after it had been walked... I found my way to the streets on the other side of the Southern Pacific station, where the big jukes were singing something called ' Walking the Wild Side of Life. ' I 've stayed pretty much on that side of the curb ever since. '' ' Jump up ^ Reed, Lou ( 1991 ). Between Thought and Expression : Selected Lyrics of Lou Reed. Hyperion. p. 42. ISBN 1 - 56282 - 923 - 8. They were going to make a musical out of Nelson Algren 's A Walk on the Wild Side. When they dropped the project I took my song and changed the book 's characters into people I knew from Warhol 's Factory. Jump up ^ Simpson, Dave ( 12 December 2008 ). `` Bet you think this song is about you ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2015. Jump up ^ Moynihan, Colin ( 24 February 2009 ). `` From the Archives, a Portrait of a Pop - Art Muse ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ `` Joe Dallesandro : The Warhol - Era Sex Symbol Talks ''. LA Weekly. 17 January 2014. Jump up ^ Klemm, Michael D. `` Warhol On The Beach ''. CinemaQueer.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015. Jump up ^ McCourt, James. `` Warhol 's Brainy Goddess ''. Gay City News. Retrieved 6 April 2015. Jump up ^ Trebay, Guy ( 1 November 2013 ). `` The Real - Life Stories Told in ' Walk on the Wild Side ' ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ Bockris, Victor ( 1994 ). Transformer : The Lou Reed Story. Simon & Schuster. p. 207. ISBN 0 - 684 - 80366 - 6. The impact of Transformer 's sexual content has been forgotten. It is hard to conjure up the shock resulting from David Bowie 's confession of bisexuality ( in 1972 ). Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/lou-reed-walk-on-the-wild-side-20110527 Jump up ^ `` Ten things you never knew about Lou Reed ''. Clash. Retrieved 6 April 2015. Jump up ^ Santoso, Alex ( 17 September 2012 ). `` The Story Behind Lou Reed 's `` Walk on the Wild Side '' ``. Neatorama. Retrieved 6 April 2015. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits : Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 523. Jump up ^ `` NME News Lou Reed to have posthumous hit with ' Walk On The Wild Side ' ? - NME.COM ''. NME.COM. 28 October 2013. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada ''. Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Walk on the Wild Side ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 3, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Lou Reed Chart History ( Japan Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Archivio - Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 44 ( dal 28 - 10 - 2013 al 03 - 11 - 2013 ) '' ( in Italian ). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Spanishcharts.com -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side '' Canciones Top 50. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Lou Reed Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Lou Reed Chart History ( Hot Rock Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1999 ). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin : Record Research Inc. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 142 - X. Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Lou Reed -- Walk on the Wild Side ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 5, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Enter Walk on the Wild Side in the search field and then press Enter. Further reading Jones, Josh ( December 7, 2017 ). `` Meet the Characters Immortalized in Lou Reed 's ' Walk on the Wild Side ' : The Stars and Gay Rights Icons from Andy Warhol 's Factory Scene ''. Open Culture. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Lou Reed Discography Studio albums Lou Reed Transformer Berlin Sally Ca n't Dance Metal Machine Music Coney Island Baby Rock and Roll Heart Street Hassle The Bells Growing Up in Public The Blue Mask Legendary Hearts New Sensations Mistrial New York Magic and Loss Set the Twilight Reeling Ecstasy The Raven Hudson River Wind Meditations Collaborations Le Bataclan ' 72 ( with John Cale and Nico ) Songs for Drella ( with John Cale ) The Stone : Issue Three ( with John Zorn and Laurie Anderson ) Lulu ( with Metallica ) Live albums Rock ' n ' Roll Animal Lou Reed Live Live : Take No Prisoners Live in Italy Live in Concert Perfect Night : Live in London American Poet Animal Serenade Berlin : Live At St. Ann 's Warehouse The Creation of the Universe Compilations Walk on the Wild Side : The Best of Lou Reed Rock and Roll Diary : 1967 -- 1980 City Lights Walk on the Wild Side & Other Hits Different Times : Lou Reed in the ' 70s The Best of Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground A Retrospective Perfect Day Retro The Definitive Collection The Very Best of Lou Reed Legendary Lou Reed NYC Man ( The Ultimate Collection 1967 -- 2003 ) The Essential Lou Reed Singles `` Walk on the Wild Side '' `` Satellite of Love '' `` Vicious '' `` Sweet Jane '' `` Street Hassle '' `` September Song '' `` The Original Wrapper '' `` No Money Down '' `` Dirty Blvd. '' Box sets Between Thought and Expression : The Lou Reed Anthology Related articles The Velvet Underground John Cale Nico Metal Machine Trio Live at Montreux 2000 Loureedia Rock and Rule Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walk_on_the_Wild_Side_(Lou_Reed_song)&oldid=853153282 '' Categories : 1972 songs Lou Reed songs Songs about New York City LGBT - related songs Songs written by Lou Reed Songs about drugs Songs based on actual events Song recordings produced by David Bowie 1973 singles Transgender and transsexual - related media Songs about prostitutes RCA Records singles Hidden categories : CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2013 All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from December 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2015 Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for Billboardjapanhot100 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardrocksongs Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Polski Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 19 : 36 ( UTC ). 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Question: who played bass on walk on the wild side
Answer: Herbie Flowers