Rare Velvet Underground bootlegs sold despite questions

A rare bootleg recording of a 1967 Velvet Underground performance at New York City’s Gymnasium has resurfaced after 40 years, and the owner is selling a limited number of copies online.

A seller on eBay listed 100 green vinyl copies of the album for sale last week (the online bidding has since ended.) According to LicoricePizza.com, the album contains a number of gems including a 19-minute version of “Sister Ray” and the previously unreleased “I’m Not A Young Man Anymore.” The album is also said to be the last recording from John Cale’s time in the band.

The Gymnasium bootleg is reminiscent of The Velvet Underground & Nico acetate that inspired an online bidding frenzy in 2006. Found by collector Warren Hill in 2002 as he flipped through some fire-damaged LPs in Chelsea, New York, the acetate contained songs from the famous album of the same name, easily recognizable by the peelable banana by iconic artist Andy Warhol on the cover. That album was released in 1967, but the acetate is thought to contain earlier recordings. According to RealityStudio.org, the acetate contains previously unheard versions of the songs recorded in April of 1966 at Scepter Studios.

The Velvet Underground & Nico acetate eventually sold for $155,401 on eBay, shattering the previously held record for the most expensive LP to be sold on the site. Many fans hoped the album’s discovery and sale might mean they could eventually buy a copy of the album themselves, but legal disputes concerning ownership of the material have so far prevented this from happening.

Some doubts have been raised by fans and critics concerning the newly discovered recording’s rarity and authenticity. Pitchfork reports that the song “I’m Not A Young Man Anywhere” was in fact performed on April 30, 1967, which could be the version heard on the album. Furthermore, many fans insist the album sounds more like the work of a top-notch cover band than the actual Velvets itself.

Those interested in hearing the recording for themselves can listen to MP3s of each of the album’s tracks on LicoricePizza.com. Full track listing below.

Gymnasium tracklist:
“I’m Not A Young Man Anymore”
“Guess I’m Falling in Love”
“I’m Waiting for the Man”
“Run Run Run”
“Sister Ray”

Related links:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – The Velvet Underground
Paste: Buy Rare Velvet Underground & Nico Record!
Paste: Playback: The Velvet Underground Live at Max’s Kansas City

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