The 25 Best Songs by The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground is one of the most influential rock bands in the history of the genre, kickstarting the punk movement and inspiring iconic musicians such as David Bowie, Brian Eno and many more. The group’s unique sound was defined by it’s two central figures: Lou Reed, the iconoclastic frontman and lead songwriter with a unique guitar technique and a background in writing cheap pop tunes; John Cale, a classically trained musician with close ties to post-modern pioneers like John Cage & La Monte Young.

Despite their acclaim today, The Velvet Underground were not very popular in their time and only recorded 4 studio albums and, along with a handful of live albums, their body of work is relatively small. Their music is a raw mix of powerful melodies, avant-garde styles and entrancing repetition, with each album taking a different voice. Given this, it can be hard for a new listener to get a good appreciation for the band’s sound and range. The following list selects their 25 greatest tracks, including several different versions of the same songs, showcasing the band’s variety and power.

25. Venus in Furs (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

An exotic, seductive song with a dark an unsettling music to match the sado-masochist themed lyrics. It’s controversial nature made it one of the band’s most famous songs. Listen to it here.

24. The Gift (White Light/White Heat)

This unique song is really just a short story read over background music. The darkly comic narration, almost drowned out by the grungy guitars, is a completely original idea for a rock song and fits in perfectly with the other groundbreaking aspects of the album. Listen to it here.

23. Jesus (The Velvet Underground)

The most tender and sincere that the band ever wrote, with beautiful harmonies and acoustic sound. Listen to it here.

22. The Black Angel’s Death Song (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

A shrieking, out of tune viola fills this trance-like nightmare. It’s not the catchiest song, but the atmosphere it creates is one of a kind. Listen to it here.

21. Here She Comes Now (White Light/White Heat)

The most “normal” song on the second album, this track lacks avant-garde techniques, but is a refreshing reprieve in the midst of all the cacophony of the other pieces. Listen to it here.

20. Some Kinda Love (Live at Max’s Kansas City)

The studio version on the third album is often forgotten, sandwiched between memorable classics. This live version, found on the remastering of the famous live album recorded at Max’s Kansas City, breathes new life into the song, including extended improvisational sections. Listen to it here.

19. Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Opening their first album with this darkly comic song was an inspired move. Paranoid lyrics overlain on celesta and an innocent melody eased the listeners into the revolutionary album. Listen to it here.

18. What Goes On (1969: The Velvet Underground Live)

The studio version on the third album is also a great recording, but I like the energy brought in this live version better. Listen to it here.

17. Ocean (VU)

It’s shorter than the recording on the 1969: Live album but it also more focused and features a powerful drum solo bringing a new feel to the song’s conclusion. Listen to it here.

16. European Son (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

The final song of the band’s first album is a foreshadowing for their more experimental second. It starts out normally enough, but after you hear a chair dragged across the floor and smash glass, it descends into a mess of chaotic feedback and improvisation. Listen to it here.

15. New Age (Loaded)

A strange little song with a bittersweet feel that builds into a rousing climax. Many of Reed’s later solo songs are reminiscent of this style. Listen to it here.

14. Candy Says (The Velvet Underground)

A rare case where Reed doesn’t take the lead vocals, this gorgeous song is a perfect example of the power of simplicity and restraint in songwriting. Listen to it here.

13. White Light/White Heat (White Light/White Heat)

The title track from the second album is a pounding, succinct jam with a hazy wall of sound that unravels into a distorted frenzy. Listen to it here.

12. All Tomorrow’s Parties (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

A dark, psychedelic trip centered around minimalist piano tone clusters and Nico’s haunting voice. It’s one of the most unique songs in their entire discography, and it wasn’t until Joy Division came along that anyone made anything similar. Listen to it here.

11. Rock and Roll (Loaded)

The band’s last studio album was a transition further into the mainstream sound, which can be seen as a disappointment in some ways, but it also gave us some great tracks that foreshadow the music of Reed’s solo career. Rock and Roll is a fun, soulful rocker, and also one of the only VU hits you’ll ever hear on the radio. Listen to it here.

10. Beginning to See the Light (The Velvet Underground)

A tight and refreshing gentle rocker, this is one of the band’s most recognizable tunes. It’s pretty conventional, but still shows some ingenuity, like in the jarring shift from the chorus to bridge. Listen to it here.

9. Lady Godiva’s Operation (White Light / White Heat)

Even without taking into account the lyrics, this is a horrifying song; a simple riff repeated ad nauseam, backed with dissonant viola and laced with bizarre balances and mixing. It may not be as titanic as Sister Ray, but it remains one of the bands most creative achievements. Listen to it here.

8. I’m Waiting for the Man (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Drug fueled paranoia oozes from this proto-punk classic. The driving beat and heavy feedback and controversial lyrics may not sound that original today, but that’s because all the punk bands copied it. Listen to it here.

7. I’m Set Free (The Velvet Underground)

In my opinion, this is the band’s most overlooked song. With a great chorus, an exciting, building structure and a unique guitar solo, I’m Set Free should be regarded as a classic. Listen to it here.

6. Sweet Jane (Loaded)

An earworm loaded with style and heart. This accessible hit from their last album is also their most covered song. A timeless rock anthem from start to finish, complete with weird eccentricities riddled throughout and an enigmatic introduction. Listen to it here.

5. Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground)

After the departure of John Cale, the band’s third album embraced a much calmer, more lyrical style. Pale Blue Eyes is a beautiful ballad with subtler instrumentation at the heart of the album, exemplifying their shift in tone. Listen to it here.

4. Ocean (1969: The Velvet Underground Live)

The band’s best live album has some really great renditions of their classics as well as many other tracks that they never studio recorded. Ocean is the greatest of these, an impressionist epic, flooded in the sound of crashing waves. Listen to it here.

3. Femme Fatale (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Nico’s smooth, deep voice gliding over the easy going beat makes for one of the band’s most perfect tunes. It’s brief dreamy track with an edge and one of Lou Reed’s best melodies. Listen to it here.

2. Heroin (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Heroin is one of the band’s most well known songs, and for good reason. This musical recreation of a drug trip is both exhilarating and disturbingly soothing. Even though it is one of their most accessible songs, it is quite experimental, featuring heavy feedback and a droning viola. Listen to it here.

1. Sister Ray (White Light / White Heat)

The Velvet Underground’s masterpiece is a bewildering behemoth. At nearly 20 minutes, this grungy, hypnotic rock odyssey is as revolutionary as they come. Words cant do the experience justice, just turn the lights off and let it sink in. Listen to it here.

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