How did Hy Weiss get credit on a Velvet Underground song?
April 28, 2007 7:39 PM Subscribe
How did the late Hy Weiss get a songwriting credit on the Velvet Underground song "Foggy Notion"? Although the song is very Lou Reed-sounding, it is the only song in the entire Velvets' catalog that doesn't credit Lou Reed as sole songwriter or co-songwriter.
I have an early official promo release of "Foggy Notion" (edit) on 12" single, and it credits Lou Reed as the songwriter. Afterwards, though, the songwriting credits on the official releases say "Sterling Morrison, Doug Yule, Maureen Tucker & Hy Weiss". (I have seen some things online that stick Lou's name in there, but the official CDs just credit Morrison, Yule, Tucker, and Weiss.) It is almost as if Lou or his record company gave the credit to Hy Weiss as a payment of some sort. I mean, if you look into Weiss's career, it seems like he might have been someone that Lou Reed might know and admire, but there seems to be almost zero chance that he would have been part of creating that song. Can anyone help clear up this mystery for me?
I have an early official promo release of "Foggy Notion" (edit) on 12" single, and it credits Lou Reed as the songwriter. Afterwards, though, the songwriting credits on the official releases say "Sterling Morrison, Doug Yule, Maureen Tucker & Hy Weiss". (I have seen some things online that stick Lou's name in there, but the official CDs just credit Morrison, Yule, Tucker, and Weiss.) It is almost as if Lou or his record company gave the credit to Hy Weiss as a payment of some sort. I mean, if you look into Weiss's career, it seems like he might have been someone that Lou Reed might know and admire, but there seems to be almost zero chance that he would have been part of creating that song. Can anyone help clear up this mystery for me?
Weird--I just searched inside the collection of lyrics and the song doesn't seem to appear. Every other song I searched for was there, though.
posted by dobbs at 8:52 PM on April 28, 2007
posted by dobbs at 8:52 PM on April 28, 2007
Here's one speculation. (Probably the most likely reason.)
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 9:51 PM on April 28, 2007
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 9:51 PM on April 28, 2007
Response by poster: "I don't have it handy but I'm pretty sure my copy of Peel Slowly and See lists Reed along with the others."
I just checked mine, and it only lists Morrison, Yule, Tucker, and Weiss. I think that was where I first noticed it. I asked myself, "Weiss? Who the f*** is Weiss?"
Regarding the speculation provided by punchdrunkhistory, I do think that that is a pretty good theory, but someone must know the actual story. I can't help but think that it's an interesting one. Maybe Weiss came up with the line "too busy sucking on a ding dong" and Lou (notorious for taking all the credit for a song, according to Sterling) just swiped it and got busted by Hy twenty years later.
posted by Doug Skullery at 10:09 AM on April 29, 2007
I just checked mine, and it only lists Morrison, Yule, Tucker, and Weiss. I think that was where I first noticed it. I asked myself, "Weiss? Who the f*** is Weiss?"
Regarding the speculation provided by punchdrunkhistory, I do think that that is a pretty good theory, but someone must know the actual story. I can't help but think that it's an interesting one. Maybe Weiss came up with the line "too busy sucking on a ding dong" and Lou (notorious for taking all the credit for a song, according to Sterling) just swiped it and got busted by Hy twenty years later.
posted by Doug Skullery at 10:09 AM on April 29, 2007
It's probably because of the "Sally Mae, Sally Mae" bit in the middle. According to Doug Yule: "We always considered that a throwaway. It was a song you played when you were running out of tunes and you needed more time. It's like 'Sister Ray' but without the esoteric language, a combination of two or three rock n roll songs. In fact, the middle of it I think is a direct cop from an old rock n roll song. 'Sally Mae, Sally Mae...'"
posted by cropshy at 10:34 AM on April 29, 2007
posted by cropshy at 10:34 AM on April 29, 2007
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I don't have it handy but I'm pretty sure my copy of Peel Slowly and See lists Reed along with the others.
posted by dobbs at 8:50 PM on April 28, 2007