Lou Reed (album)
Lou Reed is the debut solo studio album by American musician Lou Reed, released in April 1972 by RCA Records, 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." The album was recorded in Morgan Studios, 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"). Cross-reference. 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. Tour. On the album's tour, which  lasted two legs between June 9th and November 2nd 1972, 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, and Scottie Clark on drums. This backing group would also play on the Transformer tour and perform on the "American Poet" album. Personnel. Credits are adapted from the "Lou Reed" liner notes. Production