White Light/White Heat is the second studio album by American  band , released in 1968. It was the band's last with violist and founding member . In 2003, the album was ranked #293 on  magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time After the disappointing sales of the Velvet Underground's first album, , the band's relationship with  deteriorated. They toured throughout most of 1967. Many of their live performances featured noisy improvisations that would become key elements on White Light/White Heat. The band eventually fired Warhol and parted ways with ; and ultimately went on to record their second album with  credited as producer.

The album was recorded in just two days, and with a noticeably different style thanThe Velvet Underground & Nico. John Cale described White Light/White Heat as "a very rabid record...The first one had some gentility, some beauty. The second one was consciously anti-beauty."  said, "We were all pulling in the same direction. We may have been dragging each other off a cliff, but we were all definitely going in the same direction. In the White Light/White Heat era, our lives were chaos. That's what's reflected in the record." During the recording of "Sister Ray", producer Tom Wilson reportedly left the studio rather than endure the cacophony.

The album cover to White Light/White Heat is a faint image of a  of a . The tattoo was that of Joe Spencer, who played the lead role in Warhol's 1967 film. Spencer starred as a hustler in a motorcycle gang and is seen taking a shower in the movie. Although he wasn't credited for the cover design as with their debut album, it was Warhol's idea to use a black-on-black picture of the tattoo. Reed selected the image from the negatives from the film, and it was enlarged and distorted by , one of the members of . It is difficult to distinguish the tattoo, as the image is black, printed on a slightly lighter black background. On this cover, the album name, the Verve logo, and the band name are all on one line.

Thanks for looking at my auction I grade according to the Goldmine standards I have listed below. All of the records I sell have been professionally cleaned and inspected. Many of them I play grade as well. When I play grade them I do so on a Dual with a Shure V15-IV. I offer free shipping with the USPS media mail. If you would like expedited shipping it can be arranged and I am sorry but I do not accept returns. If you have any issue with the vinyl you buy let me know I work on a case by case basis and I have not failed to make my customers happy yet. I am a collector of records and have high standards for what I sell. I regularly purchase records on eBay and often I'm disappointed with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in grading. I am always honest with my grading and more often than not I under grade in order to please the buyer. Feel free to check and read my feedback. Bid with confidence and good luck!!

On Dec-29-14 at 11:13:47 PST, seller added the following information:

Thanks for looking at my auction I grade according to the Goldmine standards I have listed below. All of the records I sell have been professionally cleaned and inspected. Many of them I play grade as well. I offer free shipping with the USPS media mail. If you would like expedited shipping it can be arranged and I am sorry but I do not accept returns. If you have any issue with the vinyl you buy let me know I work on a case by case basis and I have not failed to make my customers happy yet. Feel free to check and read my feedback. Bid with confidence and good luck!!

MINT (M)

These are absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees that the record or sleeve truly is in this condition. There is no set percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring; it is best negotiated between buyer and seller.

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-)

A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.” In other words, it’s nearly perfect. Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect. NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects also must be absent; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. (NM records don’t have to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.) NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)

or EXCELLENT (E)

A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it toward the high end of the grade (sometimes called VG++ or E+).

VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.

 

VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

Very Good (VG)

Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. That said, VG records — which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of a NM record — are among the biggest bargains in record collecting, because most of the “big money” goes for more perfect copies. For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve will be worth the money.

VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape. They lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise

Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.

VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

 

 

 

Good (G),

Good Plus (G+)

or Very Good Minus (VG–)

These records go for 10 to 15 percent of the Near Mint value, if you are lucky.

 

Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. A Good to VG– cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing, such as, for example, huge radio station letters written across the front to deter theft.

 

If the item is common, it’s probably better to pass it up. But if you’ve been seeking it for a long time, get it cheap and look to upgrade.

 

POOR (P)

and Fair (F)

Poor (P) and Fair (F) records go for 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint value, if they go at all. More likely, they end up going in the trash. Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Covers are so heavily damaged that you almost want to cry.