Metal Machine Music Remaster Available

Officially streeting in conjunction with the Metal Machine Tour in the UK...

By Blurt Staff

As the photo above - taken from the March '75 issue of Creem, which featured one of the classic all-time Lou Reed-Lester Bangs dust-ups - ever-so-subtly suggests, Uncle Lou will always have a lot to answer for. Not the least of which is his 1975 double LP, Metal Machine Music. If you don't know the story behind that magnum horribulus, give yourself 40 lashes and go listen to your Archies records.

At any rate, a month or so ago we brought you the news that Reed would be touring the UK and Europe with his Metal Machine Trio in April, and to coincide with the tour he was planning on releasing a remastered version of MMM. Now we have a date for it: April 19 is technically the street release, although as fans probably already know, Reed has been taking orders for it at his site since early January.

For $18 you can nab the audio DVD, while $23 will get you either the Blu-Ray edition or the 180-gram double LP vinyl version. There are also bundles for the Vinyl + Blu-Ray $43) and the vinyl + audio DVD ($39). The only thing missing is audio commentary by Lester Bangs himself!

Reed did the digital re-mastering from the original multi-tracks with the help of mastering specialist Scott Hull. This is a new and improved re-mastered version, and is different from all previous releases on the RCA, Buddha and Sony affiliated labels.

Says Reed, "The out of print "Quad" release has been replicated for all formats, including a perfect vinyl version playable on your stereo turntable with the original rear sections moved to the center of the front left/right speakers. It's worth getting a turntable to hear this. We worked from digital transfers (95k 24bit) made from the original analogue masters. The original label supplied us with these files and photo copies of the analog reels including copies of Bob Ludwig's mastering notes."

Incidentally, if you go to that link, above, to Reed's site a music player automatically starts warbling some of the signature MMM oscillating tones ‘n' drones. WWLD!?!