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Following the recording of "Squeeze", the duo of
Yule and Paice parted ways, with Yule heading back home to Boston. "Squeeze" was slated for an October 1972 UK release, and there was a tour that had already been scheduled to begin in that country. Doug assembled a new lineup and duly the VU showed up, but Sesnick had abandoned the group, and it became a sorry mess. But not musically--the new Velvets were ferocious. And not critically--the reviews were all positive. It was well received by fans as well, despite it's total lack of planning, structure and support of management. Yule became the band's manager by necessity during this tour. Although it was dubbed the "Squeeze Tour", it largely failed to promote the record as intended. There was reportedly a problem with Lou Reed, who attempted to halt the release of "Squeeze" on the Loaded Records imprint, at least this story has circulated for years but I do not know for certain if it is true, and "Squeeze" was delayed. Another, more official, reason has surfaced on bootlegs of the tour. While this excuse is even less plausible, this must be accepted as the truth as it came from Yule's mouth during one of the VU's UK shows: the master tapes were lost for a while. WHAT??!!?? You can't be serious! If this sounds precariously close to the whole plot of Paul McCartney's 1984 film "Give My Regards To Broad Street", well, maybe this is where Paul derived his idea. I doubt it. Perhaps incompetence was just as raging then as now. Who knows. There were no copies of the album to sell at the gigs as expected. "Squeeze" was finally issued in February 1973 (on Loaded Records), after the tour had long ended. "Squeeze" received mixed reviews and zero airplay; Polydor never even issued a single. It sold a few copies, but not many, and Polydor quickly deleted the album. Although of course there are countless pirated versions and an original copy can be bought every so often, this is by far the rarest and least-heard VU album. A few import copies trickled into the US, where I think it had an impact with a lot of musicians of the time if not the general public. On April 27th 1973 the Velvet Underground played what is considered by many based upon the surviving bootleg one of their greatest performances ever at the club Oliver's in Cambridge, MA. This new lineup was probably the finest one since Alexander's departure (he did not appear at the "Squeeze Tour" either), showing a chemistry that really could have gone someplace. Or maybe it was just a great show because Doug knew it was the last one and gave it his all and the rest of the band got caught up in the enthusiasm. We'll never know. This lineup never played together again; sometime in June of 1973 Doug Yule disbanded the Velvet Underground. After just eight years and five studio albums, the VU were no more. The end of the group received zero press attention; not a word in Rolling Stone, for instance. Over the years, the Velvet Underground became more appreciated; while disbanded, the VU became downright popular among nearly all rock devotees. Two compilations of unissued tracks, many coming from the Reed-Yule era, were issued successfully in the '80's. In 1992 the Velvet Underground resurfaced, but without Doug Yule. Reed, Cale, Morrison and Tucker toured Europe, with hopes high for a new album. The tour was successful if not exactly adventurous, and then the inevitable Reed-Cale dispute came up, and the VU were once again no more. Sterling Morrison died of lymphoma on August 30th 1995. The VU has reformed only one time since. When inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, Reed, Cale and Tucker performed a good song dedicated to Morrison, 'Last Night I Said Goodbye To A Friend', which was not recorded in the studio and remains unreleased. 'Louise' seems destined to be the final VU recording, as there is little chance of Reed and Cale reconciling and the Velvets returning. As for Doug Yule, he went on to various sideman gigs in the '70's and eventually turned up in the great late '70's band American Flyer; but after two exceptional albums AF disbanded and Yule drifted out of the music business. However, now Yule is back, with several well-received gigs and new recordings ---with more on the way. More details on this exciting development as I get them... |
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Despite a brief reissue in France (198?)
"Squeeze" has existed almost since the beginning in the underground. Tape copies have circulated among fans for years; it has never been difficult to obtain a cheap copy of "Squeeze". The only thing that differs is sound quality. Noone has yet been able to make a copy straight from the masters, and noone has ever come up with any bonus tracks if any exist. Some copies of "Squeeze" have included live material from the Yule-led era, but no unheard studio material. Doug Yule does not receive a cent from the circulation of what has been from the very beginning a constant mover. The typical ebay and record collector auction of an original "Squeeze" closes at $70. A legitimate reissue is sorely needed. If "Squeeze" sees the light of day again in record stores, I predict that it will outsell it's initial pressing in short order. There is a good-sized cult of listeners worldwide who love this album, and VU fans will buy it to complete their collections. Nearly everyone who has bought or traded pirated copies over the years would pay $15 for a mint, official reissue from the master tapes. One problem is that Lou Reed opposes a reissue of "Squeeze". Another, more legally relevant issue blocking an official reissue is that noone seems able to determine who owns the rights to the master recordings. Anyone know?? It has been suggested that it be reissued credited to "Doug Yule's Velvet Underground" to placate Reed in particular, but Yule himself considers "Squeeze" a solo album and this would be a nice way to reissue the album as well. Sadly enough it appears that the pirated copies of "Squeeze" will continue to be the way this album will be distributed, at least for a while. |
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Special thanks to the following who helped make this
page possible: the Velvet Underground Appreciation Society, Eugene Smith , Jason Benes and Tracy Hoffman; Sal Mercuri, who provided several helpful comments and insights into this classic album; and of course Doug Yule, for recording great, enduring rock music. |
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