The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico [Stereo] (Vinylphyle Series Edition)

(AAA) — Lacquers cut from the original analog master tapes by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling Sound.

Originally released in March 1967 by Verve Records. Recorded in 1966 during Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, The Velvet Underground & Nico would gain attention for its experimental performance sensibilities, as well as the focus on controversial subject matter expressed in many of its songs including drug abuse, prostitution, sadism and masochism and sexual deviancy.

Years later, musician Brian Eno famously stated that while The Velvet Underground & Nico initially only sold 30,000 copies, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." Though it was a commercial failure upon release and was almost completely ignored by critics at the time, the record has since become one of the most influential and critically acclaimed rock albums in history, appearing at number thirteen on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time as well as being added to the 2006 National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

"I have now owned at least five copies of the first Velvet Underground album... I think the Vinylphyle [pressing] sounds better than any of them." - Billboard Magazine

For this Vinylphyle pressing of the album, Joe-Nino Hernes at Sterling Sound cut the album, while Anthony Fantano has put together a new essay for the liner notes.

Each Vinylphyle release features all analog mastering from original sources by an elite group of today’s top vinyl cutting engineers (unless sequenced analog masters don’t exist). The LPs are pressed at the world-class audiophile vinyl record pressing plant RTI, on 180-gram black vinyl. The production and packaging seek to honor the stature of these recordings and include tip-on wrapped gatefold jackets in satin matte finish, printed on clay-coated board, with archival poly sleeves and a four-panel insert featuring new liner notes. Backed by RTI’s craftsmanship, these releases are produced at the highest levels and include extensive quality controls at every step of the process, from mastering to plating to pressing and printing, ensuring a superb final product.

SOURCE: AAA. 1966 Production Masters – Joe Nino-Hernes.

(Above description from uDiscoverMusic.com)