From 1972 to 1986,
Lou Reed recorded for the RCA and Arista labels, where he made several strong solo albums as well as a few creative missteps, and while he became one of rock's most respected songwriters, both labels seemed unsure of how to present
Reed's work to the public. In 1989,
Reed signed with Sire Records, one of the most artist-friendly labels in the business, and with Sire
Reed recorded some of his most ambitious and imaginative works, beginning with
New York, a song cycle that earned him some of the best reviews of his solo career, giving his career a much-needed boost.
The Sire Years: Complete Albums Box is a specially priced ten-disc box set that includes in full the eight albums
Reed recorded during his tenure with Sire -- 1989's
New York, 1990's
Songs for Drella (a collaboration with fellow
Velvet Underground alumnus
John Cale), 1992's
Magic and Loss, 1996's
Set the Twilight Reeling, 1998's
Perfect Night: Live in London, 2000's
Ecstasy, 2003's
The Raven, and 2004's
Animal Serenade. ~ Mark Deming