Top 10 John Cale Songs From His Solo Albums

Photo: Simon Bonaventure [CC BY-SA 2.0

Our Top 10 John Cale songs list looks at an artist best known as the co-founder of the legendary band The Velvet Underground

. John Cale was the bassist, organ player, vocalist, and electric viola player on the Velvet Underground’s first two albums, entitled The Velvet Underground and Nico and White Light/White Heat. John Cale has had an enduring and influential solo career. Born in Wales, Cale had a formal musical education in the UK before moving to New York City. In New York, John Cale met longtime collaborator and occasional rival, Lou Reed. John Cale and Lou Reed founded The Velvet Underground. John Cale played multiple instruments on the first two Velvet Underground albums before being fired by Reed, who was searching for a more commercial sound.

John Cale went on to become one of the most influential recording artists of the century. In addition to his groundbreaking work with The Velvet Underground, Cale worked as a producer and arranger for The Stooges’ eponymous first release. Cale also worked with diverse artists such as Nico, Nick Drake, Sham 69, and Patti Smith. It’s not an overstatement to say that without John Cale, rock and roll wouldn’t be what it is today. Cale’s influence can be heard over a variety of sub-genres, including punk, noise rock, classical, alternative folk, and avant-garde music.

# 10 – Guts

We open up our top 10 John Cale songs list with a song released on John Cale’s fifth solo album, Slow Dazzle , in 1975. “Guts” is a mid-tempo rock and roll song. “Guts” is centered around drums, an electric guitar riff, and piano. The lyrics of “Guts” are quite dark and reference violence, murder, and adultery. Cale’s vocals in “Guts” sound frantic and near-psychotic. “Guts” becomes less conventional as it progresses, culminating in Cale screaming into the mic. It’s not hard to see why “Guts” was so influential on the nascent punk movement of the late 1970’s.

# 9 – I Wanna Talk To U

From 2012’s Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood. “I Wanna Talk To U” was the first single from Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood. “I Wanna Talk To U” features layered instrumentation and studio effects reminiscent of Brian Eno and Brian Wilson’s work. “I Wanna Talk To U” starts with a simple acoustic guitar melody before the fast-tempo drums and synth riffs kick in. “I Wanna Talk To U” makes heavy use of studio effects. “I Wanna Talk To U” was co-produced by Danger Mouse. “I Wanna Talk To U” is an alternative pop song with clear influences from the Beach Boys, featuring orchestral parts that draw on Cale’s classical background.

# 8 – Turn The Lights On

Continuing with our top 10 John Cale songs list, we turn to a song from John Cale’s 2005 release Black Acetate. “Turn The Lights On” was the first single from Black Acetate. “Turn The Lights On” is a modern alternative rock song. “Turn The Lights On” features Cale’s strong vocals over indie-rock guitar riffs. “Turn The Lights On” uses backing vocals and complex studio effects. The modern sound and catchy hooks of “Turn The Lights On” proved that John Cale could remain a popular and influential musician after a half-century-long career.

# 7 – The Man Who Couldn’t Afford to Orgy

Appeared on Cale’s critically acclaimed record Fear released in 1975. “The Man Who Couldn’t Afford to Orgy” has a mellow piano, vocal harmonies, and an R&B feel. Cale’s vocals are very pop-influenced, especially by the work of Beach Boy Brian Wilson. The lyrics to “The Man Who Couldn’t Afford to Orgy” are lighthearted and describe quite simply a man who couldn’t afford to orgy. “The Man Who Couldn’t Afford to Orgy” is gentler and less frantic-sounding than some of the other songs from Fear, such as “Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend” and “Gun.”

# 6 – Andalucia

In the number six position on our John Cale songs list is a song that first appeared on John Cale’s acclaimed 1973 album Paris 1919. “Andalucia” makes use of Cale’s virtuoso multi-instrumentalist capabilities. The vague, somewhat mysterious lyrics of “Andalucia” refer to Andalusia and its inhabitants. Andalusia is a region of Spain. “Andalucia” is written in a baroque pop style, with layered instrumentation and orchestral elements. “Andalucia” is one of Cale’s most tender yet haunting tracks. “Andalucia” was covered in 1990 by the alternative rock band Yo La Tengo.

# 5 – Trouble with Classicists

Reunited with his old Velvet Underground bandmate Lou Reed. “Trouble with Classicists” appeared on the 1990 album Songs For Drella. The album was composed entirely by Cale and Lou Reed and centers on the life of their recently deceased mentor, Andy Warhol. “Trouble with Classicists” was written and sung by John Cale with Lou Reed on guitar. “Trouble with Classicists” is piano-driven, with John Cale singing the lead vocals.

“Trouble with Classicists” picks up speed partway through, with Reed’s guitar kicking in and the song’s momentum building. “Trouble with Classicists” is the most musically technical, experimental, and fast-paced song on Songs For Drella. “Trouble with Classicists” is one of the most memorable tracks from Songs For Drella.

# 4 – Perfect

This catchy alternative rock song appeared on Black Acetate in 2005. “Perfect” is a fairly straightforward, guitar-riff-based rock-and-roll tune. “Perfect” is both catchy and edgy, with definite pop and indie rock influences. “Perfect” was the second single from Black Acetate. “Perfect” made it into the top twenty on The Sunday Times list of best pop songs of 2005. The success of “Perfect” proved that John Cale was still as capable of making great rock and roll in 2005 as he was forty years earlier in The Velvet Underground.

# 3 – Gun

A more uptempo, fairly straightforward rock song from 1974’s Fear. The lyrics of “Gun” discuss dark themes such as murder, gun violence, blood, criminal behavior, and anesthetic-free surgery. “Gun” is an uptempo song based around a fairly straightforward guitar riff. “Gun” has a proto-punk style. “Gun” takes the standard rock song format but stretches it into over seven minutes.

As “Gun” progresses, it becomes less straightforward with a long instrumental section featuring shrieking experimental guitar solos reminiscent of The Velvet Underground‘s “White Light/White Heat.” After “Gun” departs for several minutes of experimental noise guitar, the vocals come in for one last verse before “Gun” disintegrates into an extended proto-punk guitar solo. Interestingly, Cale’s former bandmate Lou Reed also released a song called “Gun” the same year, though the title is the only similarity between the two.

# 2 – Paris 1919

The title track to John Cale’s critically acclaimed 1973 record Paris 1919. “Paris 1919” features smoother, more pop-oriented, and more orchestral music than Cale’s work with The Velvet Underground or his subsequent albums. “Paris 1919” refers to the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. In addition to standard rock instrumentation, “Paris 1919” also includes orchestral parts and samples.

“Paris 1919” showcases Cale’s versatility as an artist able to create wild, noisy avant-garde proto-punk music but equally capable of drawing on his roots in classical music. “Paris 1919” features top-notch production from John Cale himself. It is easily one of John Cale’s most loved songs of all time. “Paris 1919” was influenced by singer-songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, psychedelic groups like Procol Harum, and the production styles of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. “Paris 1919” went on to be very influential, and it is perhaps Cale’s best-known solo song.

# 1 – Fear is a Man’s Best Friend

We close out our top 10 John Cale songs list with a song from Cale’s fourth studio album, 1974’s Fear. “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” starts off as a rather conventional-sounding rock song. As “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” continues, it builds towards a peak of explosive noise and paranoia. The lyrics of “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” are macabre, discussing subjects such as paranoia, drug addiction, and violent fantasy. “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” also discusses existential matters with Cale singing, “life and death are things you just do when you’re bored.”

“Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” ends with a storm of feedback and Cale madly screaming the refrain over and over until the song comes to a shuddering, psychotic close. Unlike much of his work, “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” is more minimalist, using the standard drums, guitar, piano, and basic instrumentation typical of rock and roll. “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” blends Cale’s songwriting talent and vocals with his avant-garde arrangements and unique instrumental style. “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” was very influential on the punk scene, which started only a few years after “Fear is a Man’s Best Friend” was released.