This 1967 Rock Album Was Initially A Flop — Then Became A Timeless Classic

On this day in 1967, The Velvet Underground and Nico released their self-titled debut album.

Despite the huge success of contemporary rock bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground initially struggled to sell their record as it was shunned by the radio and panned by critics. Thankfully, the album eventually got the recognition it deserved.

The Velvet Underground & Nico Were Initially Rejected by the Industry

While The Velvet Underground & Nico is now considered one of the most important, groundbreaking albums of its time, critics were initially cold towards the record due to its abrasive sound and explicit lyrics. The album deals with themes of drug abuse, prostitution, and the cynicism of everyday life.

The album received barely any airtime on the radio, and several record stores even banned the record due to its dark lyrical content. This made it extremely difficult for The Velvet Underground to find their audience—but once they did, their success was unstoppable.

In 2006, the Guardian placed the self-titled album at No. 1 on their list of 50 Albums That Changed Music, writing: "Though it sold poorly on its initial release, this has since become arguably the most influential rock album of all time [...] Lou Reed's lyrics depicted a Warholian New York demi-monde where hard drugs and sexual experimentation held sway. Shocking then, and still utterly transfixing."

Pitchfork also ranked the debut record as the best album of the 1960s, towering over critically acclaimed giants like Abbey Road, Blonde on Blonde, and Pet Sounds.

Despite poor initial sales, The Velvet Underground & Nico is now certified platinum in the United Kingdom with over 300,000 copies. This is a grand achievement, but still quite underwhelming in comparison to its critical applaud—which proves that the initial industry rejection damaged the album's commercial success permanently.

The Velvet Underground followed up their controversial debut with White Light/White Heat, another transgressive rock album that was panned by critics and rejected by most radio stations at the time. Although the band was gathering a strong underground audience, they decided to go more mainstream with their next project—simply titled The Velvet Underground—which allowed them to finally break into the industry.