  
White light/White heat is the latest album to be given the deluxe edition treatment by Universal. As with others in the series including, The velvet underground & Nico, it's packed with extras on top of the original album. So in this case you get two discs (or three if you opt for the super deluxe edition). it includes a remastered version of the original stereo release, along with bonus tracks that include alternate versions, unreleased outtakes, John Cale's last studio sessions with the band, and a second CD with the official release of their complete show at The Gymnasium in New York recorded on April 30, 1967, which includes five previously unreleased performances. The Super Deluxe also includes a mono version of the original album, singles and rarities.
The original album was critically acclaimed - and rightly so, it's a groundbreaking album that sounds so far ahead of almost anything else released around that time, having been released in 1968. With lyrical themes including Oral sex, transexuals and drugs, as well as music that features lots of feedback and distortion then it's certainly not an easy listening album, and that's probably why the album didn't sell particularly well. The album has however been an influential one, and it's good to see it getting a re-release with a load of extra's.
While the album had just 6 tracks, this version has 20 split over the two discs - the original 6 tracks from the album, seven bonus tracks made up of alternate versions, and then seven tracks recorded live at The Gymnasium in New York, of which five haven't been available till now. While it's a challenging listen it's definitely worth the effort as it really is a good album.
I think fans are likely to be very happy with this release thanks to all the extra's, but one bit does concern me - the original version of "Sister Ray" is around 17 minutes long, but here it is only thirteen and a half minutes, so it seems to have lost 3-4 minutes in length. Hopefully that's just an issue with the promotional copies of that album as if its on the full release then that is something fans are not likely to be happy about.
A great re-issue.
Track listing: Deluxe edition
Disc 1:
1. White Light/White Heat
2. The Gift
3. Lady Godiva's Operation
4. Here She Comes Now
5. I Heard Her Call My Name
6. Sister Ray
7. I Heard Her Call My Name (Alternate Take)
8. Guess I'm Falling In Love (Instrumental Version)
9. Temptation Inside Your Heart (Original Mix)
10. Stephanie Says (Original Mix)
11. Hey Mr. Rain (Version 1)
12. Hey Mr. Rain (Version 2)
13. Beginning To See The Light (Early Version)
Disc 2:
1. Booker T. (Live In New York City / 1967)
2. I'm Not A Young Man Anymore (Live In New York City / 1967)
3. Guess I'm Falling In Love (Live In New York City / 1967)
4. I'm Waiting For The Man (Live In New York City / 1967)
5. Run Run Run (Live In New York City / 1967)
6. Sister Ray (Live In New York City / 1967)
7. The Gift (Live In New York City / 1967)
Track listing: Super Deluxe edition
Disc 1:
1. White Light/White Heat
2. The Gift
3. Lady Godiva's Operation
4. Here She Comes Now
5. I Heard Her Call My Name
6. Sister Ray
7. I Heard Her Call My Name (Alternate Take)
8. Guess I'm Falling In Love (Instrumental Version)
9. Temptation Inside Your Heart (Original Mix)
10. Stephanie Says (Original Mix)
11. Hey Mr. Rain (Version 1)
12. Hey Mr. Rain (Version 2)
13. Beginning To See The Light (Early Version)
Disc 2:
1. White Light/White Heat (Mono Version)
2. The Gift (Mono Version)
3. Lady Godiva's Operation (Mono Version)
4. Here She Comes Now (Mono Version)
5. I Heard Her Call My Name (Mono Version)
6. Sister Ray (Mono Version) 17:30 Album Only
7. White Light/White Heat (Mono Single Mix)
8. Here She Comes Now (Mono Single Mix)
9. The Gift (Vocal Version)
10. The Gift (Instrumental)
Disc 3:
1. Booker T. (Live In New York City / 1967)
2. I'm Not A Young Man Anymore (Live In New York City / 1967)
3. Guess I'm Falling In Love (Live In New York City / 1967)
4. I'm Waiting For The Man (Live In New York City / 1967)
5. Run Run Run (Live In New York City / 1967)
6. Sister Ray (Live In New York City / 1967)
7. The Gift (Live In New York City / 1967)
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