This album features the first professional line up of the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen “Moe” Tucker, plus Nico singing on three tracks (“Femme Fatale”, “All Tomorrow’s Parties” and “I’ll Be Your Mirror”). Most of the songs were recorded in April 1966 in a run-down recording studio before the band even had a contract. They were turned down by big-name labels such as Columbia, Atlantic Records and Elektra. Since Verve had just decided to include alternative music to their label, they picked up the group’s recordings, put polish on some of the tunes and added “Sunday Morning”, which was the prospective single for radio play.

The contents of the “Banana” album were very controversial in it’s day, including references to drugs, transvestites and prostitution.

The Velvet Underground was little known during its lifetime; now, more than thirty years after the band collapsed, it has a world-wide following. This album, which is covered with the Andy Warhol banana artwork, is a must-have for fans of Velvet Underground.

• Heavyweight 180 Gram Vinyl
• All Original Packaging – featuring Peel-and-Stick Banana!
• Gatefold Jacket