Songs, page 2

'Dopey Joe' The VU tries funk-rock, and it works. This is a fine example of the 'stoner' rock that was hip in the early '70's, like Ringo Starr's 'No No Song', the Doors 'I'm Horny I'm Stoned', the Grateful Dead, etc. The track starts out with a chugging bass, then a jarring slice of guitar feedback before the drums and bass roll into a very agreeable funk rhythm. Yule's reggae-fried vocals and jazz oriented guitar playing are accompanied by the female vocalists who are spot-on, and this track has to feature some of Paice's bluesiest drumming aside from the later Purple album "Come Taste The Band". It is fascinating to hear the Velvets enter this kind of musical territory, and the fact that they do it so well is incredible.

'Wordless' The jazz influences bear fruit on 'Wordless'. A very well-written and performed smooth excursion into the same territory that Steely Dan was just beginning to define that same year. Not only has Doug established himself as a great songwriter and singer, but his guitar work is also quite impressive throughout "Squeeze", and certainly interesting on 'Wordless'.

'She'll Make You Cry' This is the re-recorded version of one of two Yule songs the Yule-Morrison-Powers-Tucker lineup recorded late in 1970 and went unissued. It's good, reminiscent of 'Who Loves The Sun', but 'She'll Make You Cry' is still the weakest track on "Squeeze".

'Friends' The second re-recording of the two 1970 unreleased Yule songs, 'Friends' is easily the superior of the two. 'Friends' is, in fact, one of the most hauntingly beautiful VU tracks ever, along with 'Sunday Morning', 'Pale Blue Eyes' and 'Stephanie Says'. It's in that league. It's difficult to understand why Atlantic didn't issue the two original recordings of 'Friends' and "She'll Make You Cry' back in late '70. Or why Polydor didn't release these versions as a single. It would have easily been the most successful VU single ever as these tracks are very accessible.

'Send No Letter' A return to the good-time rock of 'Little Jack', but with a more nuanced dark side. A friend once thought this was Creedence Clearwater Revival with Tom Fogerty singing lead. Swampy to a degree, raw and bluesy at the end...there is everything to like about this track.

'Jack And Jane' This is Doug Yule's prophetic repudiation to all who would second-guess his decision to keep the Velvet Underground going. Yule's writing is particularly brilliant on this, possibly the greatest track on "Squeeze", and one of the greatest VU tracks ever. It is extremely pointed, and is every bit as relevant now as it was in 1973 when 'Jack And Jane' was released. A monstrous slab of jazz-metal improvisation, with a very obvious and very well executed message: if you don't like Yule, too bad, he has never left the Velvets so that's what he thinks of your opinion. And more. By calling this song 'Jack And Jane' and mentioning the pair early, Doug is ostensibly making this a sequel to 'Sweet Jane', the Lou Reed classic off of "Loaded". But it gets off to a scathing start and maintains it's justified anger to great effect throughout. 'Jack and Jane, well they were quite insane, but did you think that I'd really care' it starts. And it goes on to say much more.

'Louise' 'Louise' ends "Squeeze" on a Beatlesque note, a catchy but melancholy track that sounds like it could be a "Wild Life" outtake from Paul McCartney, reason enough to hold 'Louise' in very high regard. Musically, the minimalist approach takes you back to the early VU, but melodically the Velvets are pop; Yule gives his very best vocal performance on this song as well. 'Louise' begins as a wry barroom shuffle and ends with a bittersweet musical passage that has all the hallmarks of a farewell. The final studio creation that the Velvet Underground in all likelihood will ever release, 'Louise' ends the band's career with a sense of closure. I believe that Doug Yule knew this was it, that this is where the Velvet Underground's studio legacy was going to end. The Velvet Underground would continue beyond these sessions, for live work only.

Doug Yule Please continue on to the next page.

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