John Cale - Close Watch: An Introduction to (1999)

I think I picked this up in a sale, just with a feeling that I ought to know Cale’s work far better than just the first Velvet Underground album (and Billy Bragg’s cover of Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend. And, now I think about it, his collaboration with Lou Reed after Warhol’s death - Songs For Drella.

And it’s an enjoyable listen, and a good introduction to Cale from 1973-1996, leaving me asking why I haven’t delved beyond this compilation. Stand out songs include Paris 1919, Dying On The Vine, a very dark version of Heartbreak Hotel, Gun (some wild Phil Manzanera guitar), and Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend.

This is a compilation of good songs by a skilled musician, a decent starting place for the Cale curious.

Link to live video of Paris 1919

3* - worth a listen to introduce Cale’s work.