Obscure-ish Velvet Underground question.
 

Well, not that obscure. Hoping any of the more commited VU fans might be able to help me out. I was wondering if, in any of the demos/outtakes of VU stuff released, there are any instrumental versions of The Gift? I was listening to it the other day and I think it could be the ultimate VU song if Cale would just shut up (I don't mind the story as such, it just ruins and awesome instrumental). I know his vocals are all in the left channel and I could just kill that channel (already done it) but that's not ideal really.

Thanks.

Bizzarely this thing was asked by another person on one of their forums.That i know of there isn't an instrumental version as such on a bootleg but i could be wrong.I can extract the audio for you by separating the channels and copying the music onto a couple of new ones if you want me to.

This is a good forum where to ask:
http://www.thevelvetforum.tk/

Thanks for the offer...but it's ok. I'm not that desperate yet, don't go to the trouble.

Thanks for the forum link as well. I did some digging and it seems there is a track on the Peel Slowly and See boxset called Booker T which Cale has said evolved into the instrumental of The Gift. However, there is a big argument on that forum about whether that's the case or not (I'll have to download Booker T and listen I think)...

I listened to Booker T. (Live), Countess From Hong Kong (Demo), and the immeasurably great It Was A Pleasure Then (Live) just today.

Ah...so, do they bear any relation to the instrumental from The Gift?

I personally think that it might have come from Booker T but it is totally irrelevant as they had a habit of jamming it forever.Check out 'Melody
Laughter' as it's some of their sickest and less known stuff unless you are a Velvet Underground obsessive.

The Velvet Underground - If It's Too Loud, Move Back! Live Valleydale Ballroom 1966

Enjoy.

http://www.badongo.com/file/2793159

John Cale vocals can tend to be annoying to say the least..