Sold Date: December 6, 2024
Start Date: November 29, 2024
Final Price: $250.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 302
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Estate Find

Andy Warhol

Banana Album

The Velvet Underground & Nico

1967

We offer an early 1967 edition of the Andy Warhol produced album "The Velvet Underground & Nico" featuring Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker with the German singer Nico. The album was released by Verve Records in March 1967 and featured the Warhol banana on one side and the band in concert on the reverse. The image of Eric Emerson is seen in the cover art which dates the album from the earliest production issued for the retail market.

When the album was first issued, the main back cover photo contained an image of actor Eric Emerson projected upside-down on the wall behind the band. Having recently been arrested for drug possession and desperate for money, Emerson threatened to sue over this unauthorized use of his image, unless he was paid. Rather than complying, MGM recalled copies of the album and halted its distribution until Emerson's image could be airbrushed from the photo on subsequent pressings. Copies that had already been printed were sold with a large black sticker covering the actor's image.

The inside script shows the timing for “I’ll Be Your Mirror” as 2:01 which would be corrected to 2:10 on later editions.

The vinyl album has scratches and plays poorly. The album cover shows age appropriate wear and has an owner's name written on the upper right cover. The yellow sticker which originally covered the banana is missing.

The Andy Warhol produced album "The Velvet Underground & Nico" is presented in gently used vintage condition.