Only time can write a song

“1974 is a lot different than 1970.” So remarked Pat Thomas in a conversation with Doug Yule reprinted in the latest issue of Maggot Brain. Thomas was referring to when Yule, who’d replaced John Cale in Velvet Underground, reunited with Lou Reed in ‘74 for Reed’s Sally Can’t Dance album and subsequent tour. “I hadn’t really followed Lou’s career [at that time],” Yule remarked, adding dryly, “But I know the year before I was with him, he was in his blonde Nazi phase.”

I read this exchange as I’m r...