Lou Reed — Coney Island Baby
Another record I bought on the cheap for one song, Coney Island Baby is by no means a bad album, but it is rather uniform.
Lou Reed was a New York born musician born in 1942. He formed his first band in 1964: The Velvet Underground. After leaving the band in 1970, Reed took on a solo career which took off with the release of his second album Transformer. His sixth album Coney Island Baby, released in 1975. The album is notable for Reed’s allusions to his home borough of Brooklyn and for being inspired in large part by his muse: Rachel Humphreys. The album was received well by critics but failed to chart in the US.
Listen, I returned from vacation and learned I have covid… but I’m falling behind on these so bear with me. The standout track on Side A is “Charley’s Girl.” A percussive muted cowbell and chill wave guitar licks flank Reed’s standard vocals. The song tells the tale of a friend’s girlfriend who will snitch on you. Side B has “Ooohhh Baby” which is poppy and fun but not much more. The centerpiece of the album is the final track and also the title track. This drawn out ballad finds Reed reminiscing on his full circle return to embracing his hometown roots. The song alludes to his conversion therapy while also being an explicit ode to Humphreys. The tempo builds and the instrumentation becomes more full as Reed ends the song exalting the glory of love. He’s a Coney Island Baby now.
Must Listen To: Coney Island Baby
“I’d like to send this one out to Lou and Rachel
And all the kids and P.S. 192
Man, I’d swear, I’d give the whole thing up for you”
