The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico Unripened

Title: The Velvet Underground & Nico - Unripened
Year/Genre/Sub-Genre/City: 1966, Rock, Art Rock Proto-Punk, New York City, New York 8/26
Condition: New (BC) | Members: Lou R (42' - 13'), John C (42' - ), Sterling M (42' - 95'), Maureen T (44' - ), Nico (38' - 88')
Cultural Facts:

1. Studio Lore: Unripened preserves the April 1966 Scepter Studios acetate, an embryonic version of the debut with alternate takes, different mixes, and a radically different running order. Andy Warhol presented the recording to Columbia Records, which rejected it. (Jazz Messengers)

2. Collector's Note: One of the original acetates vanished for decades before collector Warren Hill found it at a New York flea market in 2002 for just 75 cents. After a bogus $155,401 eBay bid fell through, it legitimately sold in 2006 for $25,200. (Pitchfork)

3. Fun Fact: Norman Dolph helped arrange the sessions after meeting Warhol through New York's art scene, and Warhol reportedly compensated him with an original Andy Warhol painting rather than conventional studio payment. The recording that Columbia rejected would eventually become one of rock's great artifacts. (Wikipedia)