Nico (born Christa Päffgen) was a model, actress and tamer/purveyor of night mares. Modeling gigs and a part in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita eventually led her to Andy Warhol’s Factory, where she was inserted into Warhol’s musical art project, The Velvet Underground. Nico’s jetset zombie vocals on The Velvet Underground & Nico were contained to just a few tracks (“Femme Fatale,” “All Tomorrow’s Parties”), but once heard were not soon forgotten.
The Velvet Undergound proved to be a launching pad for a subsequent solo career featuring John Cale in the role of musical director. Chelsea Girl, named after a Warhol film in which she starred, was made surprisingly accessible by the unsanctioned addition of orchestration. Nico has since repudiated the record, although its use in the film The Royal Tenebaums showed that it has aged well. The dark masterpiece The Marble Index was much truer to Nico’s musical vision: a harrowing journey through a nightmare world. Nico and Cale also collaborated on Desertshore and The End, the latter featuring The Doors’ song, which always suggested to me a kind of Oedipus/Elektra parallel between label Elektra’s twin towers of doom, Jim Morrison and Nico.
Nico continued to release records in the 80s despite a heroin addiction. Fiercely non-commercial, Nico nevertheless enjoyed recognition for her pioneering work during her lifetime by the generation of goth rockers she inspired. She passed away in 1988 at age fifty, an enigma for the ages.
The Discography
CHELSEA GIRL (1967)
The Fairest of the Seasons / These Days / Little Sister / Winter Song / It Was A Pleasure Then // Chelsea Girls / I’ll Keep It With Mine / Somewhere There’s A Feather / Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams / Eulogy To Lenny Bruce. Released on mono & stereo elpee in 1967 in the US (Verve, V/V6-5032) and Germany (Verve, 710 008). Re-issued on elpee in 1971 in the UK (MGM, 2353 025). Re-issued on elpee in the UK (Polydor, 2353 025). Re-issued on compact disc in the US (Polydor, 835 209) and in Japan (Verve, POCY-9006). Re-released on 180g vinyl on July 31, 2007 in the US (4 Men Wth Beards, 4M138). Re-released on super-high material compact disc in 2009 in Japan (Verve, UICY-93902).
THE MARBLE INDEX (1969)
Prelude / Lawns of Dawns / No One Is There / Ari’s Song / Facing The Wind / Julius Caesar (Memento Hodie) / Frozen Warnings / Evening of Light. Released on elpee in 1969 in the US. Re-issued on expanded compact disc on March 19, 1991 in the US (Elektra, 74029) with two bonus tracks.
DESERTSHORE (1970)
Janitor of Lunacy / The Falconer / My Only Child / Le Petit Chevalier // Abschied / Afraid / Mutterlein / All That Is My Own. Released on elpee in 1970 in the US (Reprise, RS 6424), the UK (Reprise, RSLP 6424) and France (Reprise, K44 102). Re-issued on compact disc in 1989 in Europe (WEA, 25870) and on October 26, 2993 in the US (Reprise, 6424-2). Re-issued on 180g vinyl elpee in 2002 in the US (4 Men With Beards, 4M113) with gatefold cover.
JUNE 1, 1974 (1974)
Driving Me Backwards / Baby’s On Fire / Heartbreak Hotel / The End // May I? / Shouting In A Bucket Blues / Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes / Everybody’s Sometime And Some People’s All The Time Blues / Two Goes Into Four. Co-credited to Kevin Ayers, John Cale and Brian Eno and released on elpee on June 28, 1974 in the UK (Island, ILPS 9291 on pink rim labels). This has been issued/re-issued on elpee in the UK (Island, ILPS 9291) on a variety of different label designs. Released on compact disc on March 28, 1990 in the UK (Island, IMCD 92) and on July 25, 1990 in Japan (Island, PSCD-1044). Re-issued on compact disc in 2006 in Japan (Island, UICY-9686).
THE END (1974)
It Has Not Taken Long / Secret Side / You Forgot To Answer / Innocent And Vain / Valley of the Kings / We’ve Got The Gold / The End / Das Lied Der Deutschen. Released on elpee in 1974 (Island, ILPS-9311). Re-issued on compact disc (Island, IMCD 174) and on July 30, 1996 in the US (Polygram, 518 892).
DRAMA OF EXILE (1981)
Genghis Khan / Purple Lips / One More Chance / Henry Hudson / Waiting For The Man / Sixty-Forty / The Sphinx / Orly Flight / Heroes. Released on elpee in 1981 (Aura, 715). Re-released in remixed version in 1983 on compact disc (Celluloid). Re-issued on compact disc on October 19, 193 in the US (Cleopatra) and on June 18, 1996 (Buda Musique, 92647).
DO OR DIE (1983)
Janitor of Lunacy / All Tomorrow’s Parties / Saeta / Vegas / No One Is There / Abschied / Secret Side / Procession / Heroes / Femme Fatale / All Tomorrow’s Parties / Waiting For The Man / The End. Released on cassette in 1983 (ROIR, A-117). Re-issued on compact disc on April 2, 1992 (ROIR) and again on May 23, 2000 (ROIR, 8261).
CAMERA OBSCURA (1985)
Camera Obscura / Tananore / Win A Few / My Funny Valentine / Das Lied Von Einsanen Madchens / Fearfully In Danger / My Heart Is Empty / Into The Arena / Konig. Released on compact disc in 1985 in the US (PVC, 8938). Re-issued on compact disc on March 12, 1996 (Beggars Imports, 92694).
My Funny Valentine (1985)
b/w My Heart Is Empty. Released on 7-inch in 1985 in France (Beggars Banquet, BEG 139) with picture sleeve.
THE BLUE ANGEL (1985)
Femme Fatale / All Tomorrow’s Parties / I’ll Keep It With Mine / Chelsea Girls / Janitor of Lunacy // Heroes / One More Chance / Sixty/Forty / I’m Waiting For The Man / The End. Compilation released on elpee in 1985 in the UK (Aura, AUL 731). Re-issued on compact disc in 1986 in Japan (Aura, AUCD 731).
BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN (1986)
Live tracks: All Saints Night From A Polish Motorway / One More Chance / Frozen Warnings / The Song of the Lonely Girl / Win A Few / Konig / Purple Lips / All Tomorrow’s Parties // Fearfully In Danger / The End / My Funny Valentine / 60-40 / Tananoori / Janitor of Lunacy / My Heart Is Empty / Femme Fatale. Released on 2LP and cassette in 1986 in Germany (Line, FEDLP 5.00014 M/FEDMC 8.00014 H) and in France (Dojo, DOJO LP 27).
LIVE HEROES (1986)
Live tracks: Heroes / Procession / My Funny Valentine / All Tomorrow’s Parties / Secret Side / Femme Fatale / The End. Released on elpee in 1986 in the US and Canada (Performance, 385).
PEEL SESSIONS (EP) (1988)
Secret Side / No One Is There // Janitor of Lunacy / Frozen Warnings. Released on EP in 1988 in the UK (Strange Fruit, SFPS064). Re-issued on CDEP in the UK (Strange Fruit, 8314).
HANGING GARDENS (1993)
Hanging Gardens / The Sound / Your Forgot To Answer / Vegas / I’m Waiting For The Man / Your Voice / Your Word Against Mine / I Will Be Seven / The Line. Released on compact disc on July 1, 1993 in the US (restless, 72383).
CHELSEA GIRL LIVE (1994)
Live tracks: Tananore / One More Chance / Procession / My Heart Is Empty / Janitor of Lunacy / The Sphinx / You Forget To Answer / Fearfully In Danger / Sixty/Forty / All Tmoorrow’s Parties / Purple Lips / Femme Fatale / Saeta / The End. Released on compact disc on February 18, 1994 in the US (Cleopatra, 6108).
HEROINE (1995)
Live tracks: My Heart Is Empty / Procession / All Tomorrow’s Parties / Valley of the Kings / The Sphinx / We’ve Got The Gold / Mutterlein / Afraid / Innocent And Vain / Frozen Warnings / Fearfully Ini Danger / Tananore / Femme Fatale. Recorded in 1980 and released on compact disc in 1995 (Anagram, 85). Re-issued on elpee in 2000 (Get Back, 68) and on July 17, 2017 (Tiger Bay, TB 6041).
LIVE IN TOKYO (1995)
Live tracks: My Heart Is Empty / Purple Lips / Tananore / Janitor of Lunacy / You Forget To Answer / Sixty/Forty / My Funny Valentine / All Tomorrow’s Parties / Das Lied Von Einsanen Madchens / Femme Fatale / The End. Recorded on April 11, 1986 and released on compact disc in 1995 in the UK (Dojo, DOJO CD 50).
ICON (1996)
Vegas / One More Chance / The Sphinx / Orly Flight / Henry Hudson / Sixty/Forty / Genghis Khan / Mutterlein / We’ve Got The Gold / Saeta / Nico Interviews 1977-1986. Released on compact disc on April 9, 1996 (Cleopatra, 9709).
THE CLASSIC YEARS (1998)
I’m Not Saying / The Last Mile / I’ll Be Your Mirror / Femme Fatale / All Tomorrow’s Parties (single version) / The Fairest of the Seasons / These Days / Little Sister / Chelsea Girl / No One Is There / Ari’s Song / Frozen Warnings / Nibelungen / Janitor of Lunacy / Abschied / Afraid / Secret Side / Your Forget To Answer / The End. Compilation released on compact disc on September 15, 1998 in the US (Island, 565 185).
JANITOR OF LUNACY (1999)
Vegas / Saeta / Genghis Khan / Janitor of Lunacy / Tanadore / Afraid / Purple Lips / Femme Fatale / All Tomorrow’s Parties / No One Is There / Frozen Warnings / Closing The Door / Heroes. Released on compact disc on March 1, 1999 (Cherry Red).
NICO’S LAST CONCERT: FATA MORGANA (2000)
The Sound L / The Hanging Gardens of Semiramis / Your Voice / I Will Be Seven / Fata Morgana / All Saint’s Night / The Sound LL / You Forget To Answer. Released on compact disc on February 22, 2000 in the US (SPV, 96202).
INNOCENT & VAIN (2002)
I’ll Keep It With Mine / All Tomorrow’s Parties / You Forget To Answer / Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams / Valley of the Kings / Femme Fatale / Eulogy To Lenny Bruce / Secret Side / Little Sister / It Was A Pleasure Then / Innocent And Vain / The End (live). Released on compact disc on February 5, 2002 (Polydor, 589 421).
FEMME FATALE (2002)
All Tomorrow’s Parties / Procession / Frozen Warnings / Saeta / Purple Lips / These Days / I’ll Keep It With Mine / Heroes / Procession / Sixty/Forty / The Sphinx / Konig / Femme Fatale / I’m Waiting For The Man / Orly Flight / Secret Side / Femme Fatale. Released on cmopact disc on April 23 ,2002 (Freud, 69).
