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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

17. Street Hassle by Lou Reed 1978

After Berlin I thought most of the stuff Lou Reed did was not very good. I picked up the Street Hassle album at a Brashes sale because it was only 99 cents. And because I heard Bruce Springsteen guested on it which was interesting since he was going through that no recording stage of his career. So I wasn't prepared for how good this 11 minute song was. Despite the length it never gets boring and despite the repetitive riff it doesn't repeat itself. I was living in a small flat opposite the San Remo Ballroom in Fitzroy. I would turn off all the lights and just listen to the track. Something I wish I could now. Sometimes the car is the only place I can immerse myself in music nowadays. One night Johnny J came over and said "you must listen to this" in the dark...for 11 minutes. So 2 guys sat in the dark listening to Lou Reed. No talking. Magic. Luckily he got it too. It is just one beautiful, mesmerizing song. especially when Lou sings:
Love is gone away
Took the rings off my fingers
And there's nothing left to say
But, oh how, oh how I need him, baby
Come on, baby, I need you baby
Oh, please don't slip away
I need your loving so bad, babe
Please don't slip away
Sha la la la la. I never get sick of this song. It's like a favourite painting.

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