Valentin Mix vs. Closet Mix

Which is better?
I don't think I've heard anyone state a preference.

NP:: Closet Mix

I prefer the Valentin Mix. "What Goes On" is my favorite Velvets song, and the way the organ builds and swells in that tune just doesn't sound right to me on Peel Slowly and See.

Had the CDs and then got the box-set.

No preference.

Which, I guess, means I was fine with the Valentin mix. I prefer its "Some Kinda Love."

I dont get it. To what does this thread refer, pray tell?

I'm glad we have both, but for me the closet mix is the definitive version.

The two different mixes of The Velvet Underground. The original U.S. release in 1969 was Lou's own mix, which Sterling allegedly called the "Closet Mix" (because that's where it would've stayed if Verve had gotten its way). The original UK release was engineer Val Valentin's mix.

The 1985 reissue used the Valentin mix, both on vinyl and CD. The Closet Mix, for the most part, remained unavailable until it was used on the box set Peel Slowly and See. (I didn't even know about the Closet Mix until I bought the box; I was kind of a latecomer to the VU.)

Delvin are you sure that the original UK pressing was the Valentin mix? I didn't know that. My first exposure to the Velvets was through a Dutch vinyl pressing of the third album that featured the closet mix (and different version of "Some Kind of Love" than the one heard on the Peel Slowly box). It didn't sound as muddy as the Peel Slowly box version, maybe because it was vinyl? I've always thought it had a claustraphobic quality that really brought out the sadness of the songs. It's depressing where the Valentin mix is stirring. I had heard that the "closet mix" name came from Lou himself who had bragged that his new mix (I think that Valentin's effort actually came first) sounded like it was recorded in a closet. Indeed it does, especially "After Hours."

Nosepail's bafflement at the whole question made me chuckle. When I first saw this post I thought to myself "here's a music geek question if ever I saw one."

@Marco

Yeah, I have had that album since I was a young teenager and love it and was completely unaware of this entire controversy.

Marco,

mixed bag

There were original European pressings that were Closet Mix Side A and Valentin side B. You have to listen to tell or else check the matrix numbers (euro pressing ending in 01 is the 50/50; 02 is Valentin remix).
Most UK vinyl was originally Valentin.
Original US vinyl was Closet Mix.
All US CDs (sans box set version) are Valentin remix.
I.E., until the 80s reissues there was essentially a US mix (Lou's) and a UK mix (the studio engineer's).

After comparing, my overall nod, I think, goes to Closet Mix (rumored to be named after Morrison stated that Lou's original mix was put back in the closet). With the vox up front it sounds less contrived and timeless with more impact (except for the vocal take used on Some Kinda Love-Valentin). Check out how baffled Valentin was by Murder Mystery.

Like Raw Power, it's just nice to have both readily available. Apparently a new 2-disc set is in the works, but given who owns the title, it will probably be brickwalled.

Quote

I thought to myself "here's a music geek question if ever I saw one."

Well that's a first for us.

> Delvin are you sure that the original UK pressing was the Valentin mix? I didn't know that.

I don't have first-hand knowledge of that pressing; I got that nugget of info from Wikipedia. (Sorry, I should have cited the source.)

My first exposure to the Velvets was Joy Division's version of "Sister Ray"; after that, I began to sit up and take notice whenever I heard either the VU or JD on KRCC. At that time, the VU's albums all were out of print.

My first purchase of the VU's music was an original copy of Loaded. That LP cost me $20 in 1985; considering its condition, it probably would've been cheap at three or four times the price. That was, physically speaking, the oldest record in my collection, until I got married. (My wife's dowry was a sizeable collection of vintage vinyl.) After that, I purchased the Verve reissues.

And I admit, I still prefer Joy Division's cover of "Sister Ray" to the original.