Get ready for the forthcoming book; "Pass Through Fire," the collected lyrics of Lou Reed. Due out in February on Hyperion Press, this fascinating collection takes Reed's songwriting prose and allows his controversial words to stand or fall without any sounds to prop them up. Beginning with the words from "The Velvet Underground And Nico" (when was that, 1967?) and proceeding through every album released by the Velvets and all of Lou's subsequent solo albums, and even some actual poetry, we can see the artist transcend, mature and revisit a number of hard-fought themes. From his early ideas about illicit and homosexual sex to drug addiction and having one's life saved by rock and roll, Reed does plenty of growing up in public and examines not only the glory of love but the magic and loss of close friends and their passing. The book reminds us of the wasted glory in oldies written for the ill-fated rock opera/tragedy "Berlin," which has a particularly large number of extemely sordid themes. Some of the more sentimental lyrics included here are from 1976's "Coney Island Baby" and "Songs For Drella," Reed's collaborative tribute with fellow ex-VU member John Cale to the late Andy Warhol. There's even Reed compositions written for the Velvet Underground's chanteuse, Nico, that appeared on her forgotten solo album, "Chelsea Girl." Lyrics from albums like "New York" translate quite well onto the page, as does Reed's recent collaboration with Robert Wilson on the play "Time Rocker." Spanning almost thirty-five years of poetic discourse, Lou Reed's written work is quite a profound experience even without his music.
by Mitch Myers
copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc.