Nico’s 1974 album, The End, was her fourth solo release, her fifth collaboration with John Cale (including The Velvet Underground & Nico) and her third with him as producer. John Cale had signed a new contract with Island records in 1973 and Nico was also brought to the label by A&R man Richard Williams, although The End would be only full album she recorded for the label.
The album was recorded in 1973 at Sound Techniques in London, with John Wood (who had also engineered the earlier Desertshore) and Cale. He chose Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music to work on the album with him; between them providing the entire instrumental framework to Nico and her harmonium. The album was recorded quickly; the arrangements were mostly Nico’s own and Cale was impressed by the new way she enriched her phrasing with Arabic flourishes which he was able to complement with Middle Eastern style percussion.
The End, remastered here for the first time, was a definite move away from the stark almost classical sound of Nico and Cale’s collaboration on The Marble Index, and the folk motifs employed on Desertshore. It completes her glorious triptych with John Cale.
Island included Nico on the bill of the specially prepared publicity concert which also launched new LP’s from Cale, Eno, and Kevin Ayers. The concert took place at London’s Rainbow Theatre on 1st June 1974 which became the title of the resulting live album released only three weeks later. Nico performed two tracks from her new album; ‘The End’, and a previously unreleased version of ‘Das Lied der Deutschen’. Both tracks can be heard on this new edition.
Nico also had a champion in John Peel, appearing twice on his programme during this period. Her first Peel session was recorded on 2nd February 1971 ostensibly to promote Desertshore, but she debuted one new song ‘Secret Side’, later recorded for The End. This session was released on vinyl by Strange Fruit but has long been deleted. Peel invited Nico on the programme again on 3rd December 1974. This session, along with ’Secret Side’ and ‘The Valley of the Kings’, which she performed on The Old Grey Whistle Test have been unreleased until now. The Strange Fruit tracks make their CD debut here.
Although critically well received, the album sold poorly and Nico was dropped by Island; she wouldn’t get another recording contract for almost a decade, recording only two further studio albums before her death in 1988.
The End remains one of Nico’s most remarkable records and brilliantly complements her two previous solo albums produced by John Cale – The Marble Index and Desertshore (released in 2006 as The Frozen Borderlines). This trilogy undoubtedly represents Nico’s best work, a unique statement from an artist with an uncompromising musical vision.
DISC ONE
The Original Album remastered for the first time
01: It Has Not Taken Long (4: 11 )
02: Secret Side (4:08)
03: You Forget To Answer (5:07)
04: Innocent and Vain (3:51)
05: Valley of the Kings (3:57)
06: We’ve Got The Gold (5:44)
07: The End (9:36)
08: Das Lied Der Deutschen (5;28 )
DISC TWO
01: Secret Side (4:05) – John Peel Session 20th February 1971 – First Time on CD
02: We’ve Got The Gold (4:00) – John Peel Session – 3rd December 1974 – Previously Unreleased
03: Janitor of Lunacy (4:36) – John Peel Session – 3rd December 1974 – Previously Unreleased
04: You Forget To Answer (4:32) – John Peel Session – 3rd December 1974 – Previously Unreleased
05: The End (9:07) – John Peel Session – 3rd December 1974 – Previously Unreleased
06: Secret Side (4:07) – Old Grey Whistle Test – 7th February 1975 – Previously Unreleased
07: Valley of the Kings (3:34) – Old Grey Whistle Test – 7th February 1975 – Previously Unreleased
08: Das Lied Der Deutschen (5:37) June 1st 1974 – Previously Unreleased
09: The End (9:14 ) – from June 1st 1974
