First official anthology of Lou Reed’s work for Pickwick Records 1964-1965
Light in the Attic, in cooperation with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. Due out September 27th, the latest installment in LITA’s critically acclaimed Lou Reed Archive Series is a compilation of pop songs penned by Reed during his mid-60s stint as a staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records. The compilation follows on the heels of Lou Reed’s Hudson River Wind Meditations (2023) and Words & Music, May 1965 (2022).
One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed (1942-2013) first gained recognition as co-founder and frontman of the massively influential Velvet Underground. Over the course of his five-decade career, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his singular vision to an eclectic expanse of musical endeavors, including era-defining albums like 1972’s Transformer and wildly experimental works like the 1975 avant-garde noise classic Metal Machine Music. But before establishing himself as an enduringly iconic singer, songwriter, musician, and poet, Reed got his start as an in-house songwriter (and occasional session guitarist/vocalist)
for Pickwick Records—a label specializing in sound-alike recordings that emulated the major pop hits of the day. Encompassing everything from garage-rock and girl-group pop to blue-eyed soul and teen-idol balladry, Reed’s output for Pickwick ultimately offers a fascinating early glimpse at his ever-evolving and truly limitless artistry.
The album has been restored and remastered by GRAMMY®-nominated mastering engineer John Baldwin. Both the 2xLP & CD editions feature in-depth booklets with unseen photos, liner notes by Richie Unterberger (renowned music journalist and author of such acclaimed titles as White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground day-by-day), and an essay by Lenny Kaye (the legendary guitarist, Patti Smith Group co-founder, writer, producer, and curator of seminal garage-rock anthology Nuggets).

• Features rarities, cult classics (The Primitives’ “The Ostrich”), & previously unreleased material (The Beachnuts’ “Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy”)
• Produced in partnership with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive
• 20-page LP book/40-page CD book featuring unseen photos and essays by Lenny Kaye & Richie Unterberger
• Remastered by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer John Baldwin
• Art Direction & Design by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike at Phyx Design
• 2xLP pressed at Optimal

Label
Night In the Attic
Genre
Pop & Rock LP - SIDE A
The Primitives - The Ostrich
The Beachnuts - Cycle Annie
The Hi-Lifes - Im Gonna Fight
The Hi-Lifes - Soul City
Ronnie Dickerson - Oh No Dont Do It
Ronnie Dickerson - Love Can Make You Cry
The Hollywoods - Teardrop In The Sand
The Roughnecks - Youre Driving Me Insane
LP - SIDE B
The Primitives - Sneaky Pete
Terry Philips - Wild One
Spongy And The Dolls - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really - Really Love
The Foxes - Soul City
The J Brothers - Ya Running, But Ill Getcha
Beverley Ann - We Got Trouble
The All Night Workers - Why Dont You Smile
Jeannie Larimore - Johnny Wont Surf No More
LP - SIDE C
Robertha Williams - Tell Mamma Not to Cry
Robertha Williams - Maybe Tomorrow
Terry Philips - Flowers For The Lady
Terry Philips - This Rose
LP - SIDE D
The Surfsiders - Surfin
The Surfsiders - Little Deuce Coupe
The Beachnuts - Sad, Lonely Orphan Boy
The Beachnuts - Ive Got a Tiger in My Tank
Ronnie Dickerson - What About Me

SOUTHBOUND