#109 of 500
· Rolling Stone
“Transformer by Lou Reed (1972) sits at #109 and earns every bit of it. Deep enough in the list to separate casual fans from serious collectors. The original pressing is built for vinyl playback — the kind of album that sounds better on wax.”
Lou Reed (1942-2013) was an American rock musician and songwriter who emerged as a founding member of The Velvet Underground in the mid-1960s. Alongside John Cale, Reed pioneered experimental rock and art rock, challenging conventional songwriting with poetic lyrics addressing taboo subjects. After the Velvet Underground disbanded in 1970, Reed launched a solo career that spanned four decades, releasing influential albums such as Transformer (1972)—featuring the iconic 'Walk on the Wild Side'—Berlin (1973), and Coney Island Baby (1975). Throughout the 1980s and beyond, he continued recording and touring, maintaining artistic credibility while exploring diverse sonic territories from hard rock to ambient experimentation.
Style
Lou Reed's work encompassed avant-garde rock, glam rock, and art rock, characterized by deadpan vocal delivery, innovative guitar work, and unflinching lyrical content exploring urban life, sexuality, and psychological themes. His sound ranged from the minimalist drones of early Velvet Underground material to the polished production of his glam-rock period.
Significance
Reed is a crucial figure in rock music whose influence extended far beyond conventional rock audiences into art, fashion, and culture. For vinyl collectors, his diverse discography offers essential documents of rock's artistic evolution, with The Velvet Underground records and his solo works remaining highly sought-after and reissued regularly.
Transformer, Lou Reed's second solo album released in 1972, marked a dramatic shift toward mainstream accessibility while maintaining artistic integrity. Recorded at RCA's studios in New York, the album was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, who also provided guitar arrangements and production expertise. The collaboration proved transformative—Ronson's lush orchestrations and Bowie's pop sensibilities helped Reed craft some of his most commercially viable songs without sacrificing lyrical sophistication. The album features Reed's most famous composition, 'Walk on the Wild Side,' which became an unexpected hit single. Recording sessions were relatively brief and focused, with the production team bringing a glam rock polish to Reed's raw, often provocative storytelling about urban life, sexuality, and alienation.
Historical Context
Transformer arrived during the early 1970s glam rock explosion, when androgyny and theatrical presentation dominated progressive rock. The album's release coincided with Bowie's own rising superstardom, and the connection between the two artists generated significant cultural attention. 'Walk on the Wild Side' became a crossover hit, reaching the Top 20 and introducing Lou Reed to mainstream radio audiences who had never heard of The Velvet Underground. The album's unflinching treatment of transgender characters and hustler culture was revolutionary for popular music, sparking both celebration and controversy. Critics recognized it as both a commercial breakthrough and an artistic validation of Reed's vision. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and established Reed as a significant solo artist.
Pressing Notes
The original 1972 RCA release featured the iconic cover photograph by Mick Rock showing Reed in makeup and feminine styling. Early pressings are identifiable by the RCA Victor label with the characteristic orange band. Various reissues exist across different formats and decades; the 1990 RCA remaster on 180-gram vinyl is particularly sought after by collectors for its improved sound quality. The album has been reissued multiple times, including a deluxe remaster in 2009. Collectors should note that original pressings vary in sound quality depending on specific pressing plants. The 1972 original pressing, particularly early UK copies, command premium prices. Counterfeit pressings exist, so verification through matrix numbers and label details is recommended for high-value purchases.
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
Shares the glam rock aesthetic and introspective songwriting that defined Transformer, with similarly experimental approaches to rock music.
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Reed's foundational work with VU provides the raw artistic roots and avant-garde sensibility that evolved into Transformer's polished glam sound.
For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Offers the same sophisticated glam rock sensibility with art-school experimentation and theatrical arrangements that complement Transformer's aesthetic.
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