Lou Reed's THE RAVEN is based on and inspired by the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name. This single CD features highlights from the complete 2-CD set also titled THE RAVEN.
Personnel includes: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar, bass, electronics); Laurie Anderson, Antony, David Bowie, Steve Buscemi, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Kate & Anna McGarrigle (vocals); Elizabeth Ashley, Willem Dafoe, Amanda Plummer, (spoken vocals); Mike Rathke (guitar); Friedrich Paravinci (cello, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Paul Shapiro (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone); Doug Wiselman (tenor & baritone saxophones); Steve Bernstein (trumpet); Fernando Saunders (bass, background vocals); Tony Smith (drums, background vocals).
Recorded at Sear Sound Studio, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Lou Reed.
Lou Reed's THE RAVEN is based on and inspired by the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name.
Personnel includes: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar, bass, electronics); Laurie Anderson, Antony, David Bowie, Steve Buscemi, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Kate & Anna McGarrigle (vocals); Elizabeth Ashley, Willem Dafoe, Amanda Plummer, Kate Valk, Fisher Stevens (spoken vocals); Mike Rathke (guitar); Friedrich Paravinci (cello, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Paul Shapiro (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone); Doug Wiselman (tenor & baritone saxophones); Steve Bernstein (trumpet); Fernando Saunders (bass, background vocals); Tony Smith (drums, background vocals).
Recorded at Sear Sound Studio, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Lou Reed.
Personnel: Lou Reed (vocals, guitar, electronics); Kate McGarrigle, Anna McGarrigle (vocals, background vocals); David Bowie, Steve Buscemi, The Blind Boys of Alabama (vocals); Russ Desalvo (guitar, keyboards); Mike Rathke (guitar); Frank Wulff (hurdy-gurdy); Marti Sweet, Antoine Silverman (violin); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Paul Shapiro (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone); Steven Bernstein (trumpet, slide trumpet, flugelhorn); Art Baron (trombone); Tony Smith (drums, background vocals); Patrick Carroll (drum programming); Shelley Woodworth (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Aaron Franz; Hal Willner; Lou Reed; Thomas R. Yezzi; Tim Latham.
Liner Note Author: Lou Reed.
Recording information: Clinton Recording, NY; Cove City Sound Studios, Long Island, NY; Roof Recording, NY; Sear Sound Studio, NY; The Looking Glass Studio, NY.
Photographer: Julian Schnabel.
Unknown Contributor Role: Amanda Plummer.
Arrangers: Lou Reed; Rick Wake; Russ Desalvo.
Edgar Allan Poe was a man who usually looked on the dark side of life, had more than a few less-than-healthy romantic and sexual obsessions, was known to dabble in dangerous drugs, and was fascinated with the possibilities of the English language, so it's no wonder why Lou Reed regards Poe as a kindred spirit. In his liner notes to the album The Raven, Reed touches on the parallels between their work when he writes, "I have reread and rewritten Poe to ask the same questions again. Who am I? Why am I drawn to do what I should not?...Why do we love what we cannot have? Why do we have a passion for exactly the wrong thing?" Reed's obsession with Poe's work found a creative outlet when visionary theatrical director Robert Wilson commissioned Reed to adapt Poe's works to music for a production called POE-Try, and The Raven collects the material Reed wrote for this project, as well as a number of dramatic interpretations of Poe's work, featuring performances by Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Ashley, Amanda Plummer, and others. The limited-edition two-disc version of The Raven gives a nearly equal balance to words and music; while the single-disc edition is dominated by Reed's songs, the double-disc set features a much greater number of spoken-word pieces, most of which have been filtered throuRolling Stone (2/6/03, p.62) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...The reality here is that Reed has once again stretched the boundaries of popular music and, in doing so, has honored Edgar Allan Poe's illustrious legacy, along with his own..."
The Wire (1/03, p.60) - "...His songs, interspersed with dramatic dialogues and poetic recitations over hollowly atmospheric effects, are more a phantasmagorical patchwork of Poe and Reed, an act of violent reanimation....THE RAVEN is a rewarding and self-consciously motley fest..."
The Wire (1/03, p.60) - "...His songs, interspersed with dramatic dialogues and poetic recitations over hollowly atmospheric effects, are more a phantasmagorical patchwork of Poe and Reed, an act of violent reanimation....THE RAVEN is a rewarding and self-consciously motley fest..."
Mojo (Publisher) (2/03, p.86) - "...Craftily switching between bare piano, strings and dirty guitars, Reed hauls music and drama together as a reflection from middle age....A formidable and ambitious endeavour achieved with wit and passion..."
Lou Reed - Raven Songs
| 1 | Overture Album Version | 1:06 | $0.99 | |
| 2 | Edgar Allan Album Version | 3:21 | $0.99 | |
| 3 | Call On Me Album Version | 2:08 | $0.99 | |
| 4 | Valley of Unrest Album Version | 2:27 | $0.99 | |
| 5 | Thousand Departed Friends Album Version | 4:58 | $0.99 | |
| 6 | Change Album Version | 2:19 | $0.99 | |
| 7 | Bed Album Version | 3:32 | $0.99 | |
| 8 | Perfect Day Album Version
Antony | 3:28 | $0.99 | |
| 9 | Raven Album Version | 6:30 | $0.99 | |
| 10 | Balloon Album Version | 1:01 | $0.99 | |
| 11 | Broadway Song Album Version | 3:13 | $0.99 | |
| 12 | Blind Rage Album Version | 3:27 | $0.99 | |
| 13 | Burning Embers Album Version | 3:22 | $0.99 | |
| 14 | Vanishing Act Album Version | 5:23 | $0.99 | |
| 15 | Guilty Album Version | 4:55 | $0.99 | |
| 16 | I Wanna Know (the Pit and the Pendulum) Album Version | 6:59 | $0.99 | |
| 17 | Science of the Mind Album Version | 1:36 | $0.99 | |
| 18 | Hop Frog Album Version
David Bowie | 1:47 | $0.99 | |
| 19 | Tripitena's Speech Album Version | 2:19 | $0.99 | |
| 20 | Who Am I? (Tripitena's Song) Album Version | 4:31 | $0.99 | |
| 21 | Guardian Angel Album Version | 6:52 | $0.99 | |
Raven Music Review
Average Rating: (3.6 out of 5 stars)    List All 8 Reviews Adventerous, but not really fun
I own nearly every lou reed album ever made, and I love laurie anderson, but this particular album is a bit more like Nico's solo career - very interesting yet a bit difficult to listen to. The odd remake of "perfect day" says it all. I love it as musical art, yet, I don't honestly enjoy listening to it as much as his other albums. In terms of lou's more recent releases.. Raven doesn't seem to have the heart of "magic and loss" or the grit of "ecstasy" or the NYC man attitude of "new york" or "set the twilight reeling" - however, it adds an entirely new dimension to his work. It's very theatrical, and if that excites you, you should get it.
Submitted by Dave (Olney, MD, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 boring
unbearably boring
Submitted by RW (LA, CA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 An Aural Epiphany
How did lou reed get this good? Laurie Anderson's influence is part of the story, Willem Defoe's edginess helps, too, but the classical influence brought by Friedrich Paravacini and Jane Scarpantoni makes the raven a transcendental masterpiece. This is the one CD to take to a desert island, and I should know because I'm a lighthouse keeper and this is the one CD I listen to.
Submitted by hedley44 (Nootka, British Columbia, Canada)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
This review is for a different format.
The Master Hits Again
I purchased Lou Reed's Limited Edition Double CD "The Raven"! If you haven't heard it yet, you're missing out on a really unique work of art!! I think it's GREAT!!!
Submitted by a reviewer (Connell,Wa) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
This review is for a different format.  Quoth: The Raven 'Never More'
Or never again, or whatever. This is a horrible Lou Reed recording and it's the last time I buy into one of Lou's 'artsy' projects, before I get someone else's opinion on the actual music. There are some moving spoken word performances by some celebrities here and there and some moody atmoshperic sounds and music, but where's the Rock? even on the few numbers where Lou Reed actually sings and tries to conjure up a good 'Rock' song, this album falls flat. If you are a Lou Reed completist (like I am) maybe you should consider buying the single disc version of this album if you must. If you're just a casual Lou Reed fan, then stay away. Go buy New York, The Blue Mask, or Coney Island Baby. They'll leave you more satisfied. The Raven will leave you cold.
Submitted by a reviewer (Queens, NY)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
This review is for a different format.
List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
|
Share this Product