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| alt =
| alt =
| released = October 1967
| released = October 1967
| recorded = April - May 1967
| recorded = April–May 1967
⚫
| studio = [[Atlantic Studios#Technical Engineers|Mayfair Recording]], Manhattan
| venue =
| genre =
⚫
| studio = [[Atlantic Studios#Technical Engineers|Mayfair Recording Studios]],<br/> [[Manhattan]]
| genre = [[Folk rock|Folk pop]], [[chamber folk]], [[baroque pop]]
* [[Folk rock|Folk pop]]
* [[chamber folk]]
* {{nowrap|[[baroque pop]]}}
| length = 45:04
| length = 45:04
| label = [[Verve Records|Verve]]
| label = [[Verve Records|Verve]]
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}}
}}


'''''Chelsea Girl''''' is the debut solo album and second studio album by [[Nico]]. It was released in October 1967 by [[Verve Records]] and was recorded following Nico's collaboration with [[the Velvet Underground]] on [[The Velvet Underground & Nico|their 1967 debut]]. It was produced by [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]], who added string and flute arrangements against the wishes of Nico. The title is a reference to [[Andy Warhol]]'s 1966 film ''[[Chelsea Girls]]'', in which Nico starred.
'''''Chelsea Girl''''' is the debut solo album and second studio album by German singer [[Nico]]. It was released in October 1967 by [[Verve Records]] and was recorded following Nico's collaboration with [[the Velvet Underground]] on [[The Velvet Underground & Nico|their 1967 debut studio album]]. It was produced by [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]], who added string and flute arrangements against the wishes of Nico. The title is a reference to [[Andy Warhol]]'s 1966 film ''[[Chelsea Girls]]'', in which Nico starred.


Much of the album features instrumental work and songwriting credits from Velvet Underground members [[Lou Reed]], [[Sterling Morrison]], and [[John Cale]]. The song "[[I'll Keep It with Mine]]" was written by [[Bob Dylan]], while three songs are by [[Jackson Browne]], who contributes guitar.
Much of the album features instrumental work and songwriting credits from Velvet Underground members [[Lou Reed]], [[Sterling Morrison]], and [[John Cale]]. The song "[[I'll Keep It with Mine]]" was written by [[Bob Dylan]], while three songs are by [[Jackson Browne]], who contributes guitar.


== Background ==
==Background==
⚫
After collaborating as a singer with the Velvet Underground on their debut ''[[The Velvet Underground & Nico]]'' (recorded in 1966 and released in March of the following year), [[Warhol superstar]] Nico toured with the band in [[Andy Warhol]]'s [[Exploding Plastic Inevitable]] (EPI) [[multimedia]] roadshow. Before the EPI came to an end in 1967, Nico took up residence in a New York City coffeehouse as a solo [[folk music|folk]] chanteuse; accompanied in turn by guitarists, such as [[Tim Hardin]], [[Jackson Browne]], and also her Velvet Underground bandmates [[Lou Reed]], [[Sterling Morrison]] and [[John Cale]].

⚫
After collaborating as a singer with the Velvet Underground on their debut ''[[The Velvet Underground & Nico]]'' (recorded during 1966, released in March 1967), [[Warhol superstar]] Nico toured with the band in [[Andy Warhol]]'s [[Exploding Plastic Inevitable]] (EPI) [[multimedia]] roadshow. Before the EPI came to an end in 1967, Nico took up residence in a [[New York City]] [[coffeehouse]] as a solo [[folk music|folk]] chanteuse; accompanied in turn by [[guitarists]], such as [[Tim Hardin]], [[Jackson Browne]], and also her Velvet Underground bandmates [[Lou Reed]], [[Sterling Morrison]] and [[John Cale]].

⚫
== Composition ==


⚫
==Composition==
Some of the accompanists wrote songs for Nico to sing, and these form the backbone of ''Chelsea Girl''. Browne contributed "The Fairest of the Seasons", "These Days", and "Somewhere There's a Feather", while Hardin contributed "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce". "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" by Lou Reed was part of the earliest Velvet Underground repertoire (which did not surface as a Velvet Underground recording until it was included in the 1995 [[box set]] ''[[Peel Slowly and See]]''), and Reed, Cale and Morrison in various combinations contributed four more songs. Additionally, [[Bob Dylan]] gave her one of his songs to record: "I'll Keep It with Mine".
Some of the accompanists wrote songs for Nico to sing, and these form the backbone of ''Chelsea Girl''. Browne contributed "The Fairest of the Seasons", "These Days", and "Somewhere There's a Feather", while Hardin contributed "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce". "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" by Lou Reed was part of the earliest Velvet Underground repertoire (which did not surface as a Velvet Underground recording until it was included in the 1995 [[box set]] ''[[Peel Slowly and See]]''), and Reed, Cale and Morrison in various combinations contributed four more songs. Additionally, [[Bob Dylan]] gave her one of his songs to record: "I'll Keep It with Mine".


Musically, ''Chelsea Girl'' can be described as a cross between chamber [[folk music|folk]] and 1960s [[pop music|pop]]. The musical backing is relatively simple, consisting of one or two [[guitars]] or, alternatively, a [[keyboard instrument]], played by either Browne or (a combination of) her Velvet Underground colleagues, but there are no [[Drum kit|drums]] or [[Bass guitar|bass]] instruments, hence the absence of Velvets drummer [[Maureen Tucker]], and adding to the chamber folk feel of the music are the [[string instrument|string]] and [[flute]] overdubs added to the initial recordings by [[record producer|producer]] [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]] and arranger [[Larry Fallon]] without involving or consulting Nico.
Musically, ''Chelsea Girl'' can be described as a cross between chamber [[Folk music|folk]] and 1960s [[pop music|pop]]. The musical backing is relatively simple, consisting of one or two guitars or, alternatively, a [[keyboard instrument]], played by either Browne or (a combination of) her Velvet Underground colleagues, but there are no drums or bass instruments, hence the absence of Velvets drummer [[Maureen Tucker]], and adding to the chamber folk feel of the music are the string and flute overdubs added to the initial recordings by [producer [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]] and arranger [[Larry Fallon]] without involving or consulting Nico.


== Reception ==
==Reception==
{{album ratings
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r14089}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r14089}}</ref>
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| rev4 = ''[[Trouser Press]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Trouser Press]]''
| rev4score = unfavorable<ref name="Trouser Press">{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=nico |title=TrouserPress.com :: Nico |last1=Isler |first1=Scott |last2=Robbins |first2=Ira |website=[[Trouser Press|TrouserPress.com]] |accessdate=July 5, 2016}}</ref>
| rev4score = unfavorable<ref name="Trouser Press">{{cite web |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=nico |title=TrouserPress.com :: Nico |last1=Isler |first1=Scott |last2=Robbins |first2=Ira |website=[[Trouser Press|TrouserPress.com]] |accessdate=July 5, 2016}}</ref>
}}
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot -->
In retrospective 21st-century reviews [[AllMusic]] feel the album is "an unqualified masterpiece",<ref name="AllMusic"/> while ''[[Trouser Press]]'' feel that the album "is sabotaged by tepid arrangements and weak production" and is "of interest mainly for its links to the band Nico had just left."<ref name="Trouser Press"/>
In retrospective 21st-century reviews, [[AllMusic]] described the album as "an unqualified masterpiece",<ref name="AllMusic"/> while ''[[Trouser Press]]'' commented that the album "is sabotaged by tepid arrangements and weak production" and is "of interest mainly for its links to the band Nico had just left."<ref name="Trouser Press"/>


Nico was dissatisfied with the finished product. Looking back in 1981, she stated:
Nico was dissatisfied with the finished product. Looking back in 1981, she stated:
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{{cquote|I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes! [...] They added strings and – I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute.<ref>Nico quoted in Dave Thompson's [[liner note]]s for the 2002 ''Deluxe'' re-issue of ''[[The Velvet Underground & Nico]]'', which includes all five Velvet collaborations for ''Chelsea Girl''.</ref>}}
{{cquote|I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes! [...] They added strings and – I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute.<ref>Nico quoted in Dave Thompson's [[liner note]]s for the 2002 ''Deluxe'' re-issue of ''[[The Velvet Underground & Nico]]'', which includes all five Velvet collaborations for ''Chelsea Girl''.</ref>}}


== Legacy ==
==Legacy==
⚫
Two tracks from the album – "The Fairest of the Seasons" and "These Days" – were used in [[Wes Anderson]]'s 2001 film ''[[The Royal Tenenbaums]]''. "The Fairest of the Seasons" was also used in [[Gus Van Sant]]'s 2011 film ''[[Restless (2011 film)|Restless]]''. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is used in [[Andrew Dominik]]'s 2012 film ''[[Killing Them Softly]]''.


⚫
==Track listing==
Two tracks from the album – "The Fairest of the Seasons" and "These Days" – were used in [[Wes Anderson]]'s 2001 film, ''[[The Royal Tenenbaums]]''.
⚫
===Side A===
⚫
"The Fairest of the Seasons" was also used in [[Gus Van Sant]]'s 2011 film ''[[Restless (2011 film)|Restless]]''. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is used in [[Andrew Dominik]]'s 2012 film ''[[Killing Them Softly]]''.

⚫
== Track listing ==

⚫
=== Side A ===
# "The Fairest of the Seasons" ([[Jackson Browne]], Gregory Copeland) – 4:06
# "The Fairest of the Seasons" ([[Jackson Browne]], Gregory Copeland) – 4:06
# "[[These Days (Jackson Browne song)|These Days]]" (Jackson Browne) – 3:30
# "[[These Days (Jackson Browne song)|These Days]]" (Jackson Browne) – 3:30
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# "It Was a Pleasure Then" (Lou Reed, John Cale, [[Nico]]) – 8:02
# "It Was a Pleasure Then" (Lou Reed, John Cale, [[Nico]]) – 8:02


=== Side B ===
===Side B===
# "[[Chelsea Girls (song)|Chelsea Girls]]" (Lou Reed, [[Sterling Morrison]]) – 7:22
# "[[Chelsea Girls (song)|Chelsea Girls]]" (Lou Reed, [[Sterling Morrison]]) – 7:22
# "[[I'll Keep It with Mine]]" ([[Bob Dylan]]) – 3:17
# "[[I'll Keep It with Mine]]" ([[Bob Dylan]]) – 3:17
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# "Eulogy to [[Lenny Bruce]]" ([[Tim Hardin]]) – 3:45
# "Eulogy to [[Lenny Bruce]]" ([[Tim Hardin]]) – 3:45


== Personnel ==
==Personnel==
===Musicians===
* [[Nico]] – [[Singing|vocals]]
* [[Nico]] – [[Singing|vocals]]
* [[Jackson Browne]] – [[electric guitar]] (A1-2, B2-3, B5)
* [[Jackson Browne]] – [[electric guitar]] (A1-2, B2-3, B5)
Line 77: Line 75:
* [[John Cale]] – [[viola]], [[organ (music)|organ]], [[guitar]] (A3-5)
* [[John Cale]] – [[viola]], [[organ (music)|organ]], [[guitar]] (A3-5)
* [[Sterling Morrison]] – [[electric guitar]] (B1, B4)
* [[Sterling Morrison]] – [[electric guitar]] (B1, B4)

;Technical
===Technical===
* [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]] – [[record producer|producer]]
* [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]] – [[record producer|producer]]
* [[Val Valentin]] - director of engineering
* [[Val Valentin]] - director of engineering
* [[Gary Kellgren]] - recording and remix engineer
* [[Gary Kellgren]] - recording and remix engineer
* [[Larry Fallon]] – string and flute arrangements
* [[Larry Fallon]] – string and flute arrangements
* [[Billy Name]] - photography
* [[Billy Name]] – photography
* [[Paul Morrissey]] - photography
* [[Paul Morrissey]] – photography


== References ==
==References==
{{Reflist}}


⚫
==External links==
{{reflist|2}}

⚫
== External links ==
* [http://smironne.free.fr/NICO/chels.php?page=a Lyrics and liner notes]
* [http://smironne.free.fr/NICO/chels.php?page=a Lyrics and liner notes]


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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


⚫
[[Category:Nico albums]]
[[Category:1967 debut albums]]
[[Category:1967 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by Larry Fallon]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by Larry Fallon]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tom Wilson (record producer)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Tom Wilson (record producer)]]
[[Category:Folk rock albums by German artists]]
[[Category:Folk rock albums by German artists]]
[[Category:Verve Records albums]]
[[Category:Nico albums]]
[[Category:The Velvet Underground]]
[[Category:The Velvet Underground]]
⚫
[[Category:Verve Records albums]]

Revision as of 04:47, 16 January 2021

Chelsea Girl
Studio album by
Nico
ReleasedOctober 1967
RecordedApril–May 1967
StudioMayfair Recording, Manhattan
Genre
Length45:04
LabelVerve
ProducerTom Wilson
Nico chronology
The Velvet Underground & Nico
(1967) 		Chelsea Girl
(1967) 		The Marble Index
(1968)

Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album and second studio album by German singer Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records and was recorded following Nico's collaboration with the Velvet Underground on their 1967 debut studio album. It was produced by Tom Wilson, who added string and flute arrangements against the wishes of Nico. The title is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, in which Nico starred.

Much of the album features instrumental work and songwriting credits from Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, and John Cale. The song "I'll Keep It with Mine" was written by Bob Dylan, while three songs are by Jackson Browne, who contributes guitar.

Background

After collaborating as a singer with the Velvet Underground on their debut The Velvet Underground & Nico (recorded in 1966 and released in March of the following year), Warhol superstar Nico toured with the band in Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable (EPI) multimedia roadshow. Before the EPI came to an end in 1967, Nico took up residence in a New York City coffeehouse as a solo folk chanteuse; accompanied in turn by guitarists, such as Tim Hardin, Jackson Browne, and also her Velvet Underground bandmates Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and John Cale.

Composition

Some of the accompanists wrote songs for Nico to sing, and these form the backbone of Chelsea Girl. Browne contributed "The Fairest of the Seasons", "These Days", and "Somewhere There's a Feather", while Hardin contributed "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce". "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" by Lou Reed was part of the earliest Velvet Underground repertoire (which did not surface as a Velvet Underground recording until it was included in the 1995 box set Peel Slowly and See), and Reed, Cale and Morrison in various combinations contributed four more songs. Additionally, Bob Dylan gave her one of his songs to record: "I'll Keep It with Mine".

Musically, Chelsea Girl can be described as a cross between chamber folk and 1960s pop. The musical backing is relatively simple, consisting of one or two guitars or, alternatively, a keyboard instrument, played by either Browne or (a combination of) her Velvet Underground colleagues, but there are no drums or bass instruments, hence the absence of Velvets drummer Maureen Tucker, and adding to the chamber folk feel of the music are the string and flute overdubs added to the initial recordings by [producer Tom Wilson and arranger Larry Fallon without involving or consulting Nico.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Pitchfork8.9/10[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
Trouser Pressunfavorable[4]

In retrospective 21st-century reviews, AllMusic described the album as "an unqualified masterpiece",[1] while Trouser Press commented that the album "is sabotaged by tepid arrangements and weak production" and is "of interest mainly for its links to the band Nico had just left."[4]

Nico was dissatisfied with the finished product. Looking back in 1981, she stated:

I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes! [...] They added strings and – I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute.[5]

Legacy

Two tracks from the album – "The Fairest of the Seasons" and "These Days" – were used in Wes Anderson's 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums. "The Fairest of the Seasons" was also used in Gus Van Sant's 2011 film Restless. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is used in Andrew Dominik's 2012 film Killing Them Softly.

Track listing

Side A

  1. "The Fairest of the Seasons" (Jackson Browne, Gregory Copeland) – 4:06
  2. "These Days" (Jackson Browne) – 3:30
  3. "Little Sister" (John Cale, Lou Reed) – 4:22
  4. "Winter Song" (John Cale) – 3:17
  5. "It Was a Pleasure Then" (Lou Reed, John Cale, Nico) – 8:02

Side B

  1. "Chelsea Girls" (Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison) – 7:22
  2. "I'll Keep It with Mine" (Bob Dylan) – 3:17
  3. "Somewhere There's a Feather" (Jackson Browne) – 2:16
  4. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (Lou Reed) – 5:07
  5. "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce" (Tim Hardin) – 3:45

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

References

  1. ^ a b Chelsea Girl at AllMusic
  2. ^ Moreland, Quinn (12 November 2017). "Nico: Chelsea Girl". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  3. ^ Rolling Stone review
  4. ^ a b Isler, Scott; Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Nico". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Nico quoted in Dave Thompson's liner notes for the 2002 Deluxe re-issue of The Velvet Underground & Nico, which includes all five Velvet collaborations for Chelsea Girl.
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