Lou Reed Archive

Light in the Attic (LITA), 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, out digitally on September 27th and via 2xLP/CD on October 4th. Following on the heels of Reed’s Hudson River Wind Meditations (2023 reissue) and Words & Music, May 1965 (2022), the latest installment in LITA’s 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.

One of the most original and innovative figures in music history, Reed 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.

Why Don’t You Smile Now… 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, and an essay by Lenny Kaye. The double-LP package is designed by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Masaki Koike. This release marks the first official anthology of Lou Reed’s work for Pickwick Records and features rarities, cult classics, and previously unreleased material.