Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-1965 - Various Artists (CD)

First official anthology of Lou Reed’s work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965.
Features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives’ “The Ostrich” (the track credited with bringing The Velvet Underground together), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts' "Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy").
Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive.
20-page LP book/40-page CD book featuring unseen photos and essays by Lenny Kaye & Richie Unterberger.
Remastered by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer John Baldwin.
Art Direction & Design by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike at Phyx Design.
CD layout by Darryl Norsen at D.Norsen Design.
Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65.
The latest installment in LITA’s critically acclaimed Lou Reed Archive Series is a compilation of pop songs penned by Reed during his mid-60s stint as a staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records.
The compilation follows on the heels of Lou Reed’s Hudson River Wind Meditations (2023) and Words & Music, May 1965 (2022).
One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed (1942-2013) first gained recognition as co-founder and frontman of the massively influential Velvet Underground.
Over the course of his five-decade career, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his singular vision to an eclectic expanse of musical endeavors, including era-defining albums like 1972’s Transformer and wildly experimental works like the 1975 avant-garde noise classic Metal Machine Music. But before establishing himself as an enduringly iconic singer, songwriter, musician, and poet, Reed got his start as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist) for Pickwick Records—a label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day.
Encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry, Reed’s output for Pickwick ultimately offers a fascinating early glimpse at his ever-evolving and truly limitless artistry.
In-depth booklets with unseen photos, liner notes by Richie Unterberger (renowned music journalist and author of such acclaimed titles as White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day), and an essay by Lenny Kaye (the legendary guitarist, Patti Smith Group co-founder, writer, producer, and curator of seminal garage-rock anthology Nuggets).

Tracklist:

1. The Primitives - The Ostrich
2. The Beachnuts - Cycle Annie
3. The Hi-Lifes - I'm Gonna Fight
4. The Hi-Lifes - Soul City
5. Ronnie Dickerson - Oh No Don't Do It
6. Ronnie Dickerson - Love Can Make You Cry
7. The Hollywoods - Teardrop in the Sand
8. The Roughnecks - You're Driving Me Insane
9. The Primitives - Sneaky Pete
10. Terry Philips - Wild One
11. Spongy and the Dolls - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really Love
12. The Foxes - Soul City
13. The J Brothers - Ya Running but I'll Getcha
14. Beverley Ann - We Got Trouble
15. The All Night Workers - Why Don't You Smile
16. Jeannie Larimore - Johnny Won't Surf No More
17. Robertha Williams - Tell Mamma Not to Cry
18. Robertha Williams - Maybe Tomorrow
19. Terry Philips - Flowers for the Lady
20. Terry Philips - This Rose
21. The Surfsiders - Surfin'
22. The Surfsiders - Little Deuce Coupe
23. The Beachnuts - Sad Lonely Orphan Boy
24. The Beachnuts - I've Got a Tiger in My Tank
25. Ronnie Dickerson - What About Me