I really had a bad reputation for not doing the same things twice, and really with a vengeance. People would be like, “is that song?” It’s nice now to get people to expect that. I think I’ve worn a groove there that you don’t know quite what it’s going to be. But for me, I can’t go on the road and do the same things all the time. Drives me nuts."

John Cale

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John Cale on screen

Songs for Drella

Director: Ed Lachman (1990)

55 minutes. Colour

Captures a live performance with Lou Reed of the song cycle Songs for Drella at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, USA, December 4 and 5, 1989. No audience.

Released as a home video in PAL and NTSC format. Out of print.

Released on laserdisc in Japan by WEA Ltd.

Never released officially on DVD, but the 2021 4K restoration version was used for a Japan-only disc in 2023, most likely without consent of any of the interested parties.

Tracks:

John Cale at the Brooklyn Academy of Music

Video credits:
Producers: Jonathan Hewes, Nina Rosenstein
Executive producer: Malcolm Gerrie
Film editor: Jay Freund
Camera operators: Sandy Sissel, Francis Kenny, Paul Cameron, Igor Sunara
Consulting producer: Mitch Owgang
Production manager: Victoria Westhead
Assistant director: Jim Czarnecki
Sound coordinator: Danny Michael
Gaffer: Craig Nelson
Key grip: Bob Andres
Assistant film editor: Melissa Nydick
Make up: Melody Petroni
Still photographer: Risé
Production coordinator: Jane Nydick
Post-production coordinator: Karen Plitt
Script supervisor: coordinator: Elisabeth Perrin

Staging and production design: Jerome Sirlin
Lightning designer: Robert Wierzel
Warhol artwork courtesy of Warhol Foundation
Factory photos: Billy Name
House mix engineer: Jeremy Darby
Assistant engineer: Jim Goatly
Mastering: Bob Ludwig
Associate producers: Susan Feldman, Sylvia Reed
Stage manager: Danny Kapilian
Assistant lightning designer: Troy Maltem
Assistant to Lou Reed: Mike Rathke
Assistant to John Cale: Andy Green
Assistant to Mr. Sirlin: Craig Clipper

An Initial Film and Television Production in association with Channel 4 and Sire/Warner Bros. Records.

Package art direction & design: Tom Recchion and Sylvia Reed
Photo of Lou Reed/John Cale: James Hamilton

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