Cover art for Satellite of Love by Lou Reed

Satellite of Love

Lou Reed
Track 5 on Between Thought and Expression: The Lou Reed Anthology 

Producers

Mick Ronson & David Bowie
This song was first released on Reed’s solo album Transformer, but a recording was first made for The Velvet Underground’s 1970 album Loaded. It did not make the final… Read More 
Nov. 8, 19721 viewer51.7K views

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About

Genius Annotation

This song was first released on Reed’s solo album Transformer, but a recording was first made for The Velvet Underground’s 1970 album Loaded. It did not make the final album, and the original version eventually surfaced in 1995 on the Peel Slowly And See collection box set.

The earlier version is more abrasive than the version on Transformer, with a faster tempo, and without the piano line that dominates the later version, which gives the song a uniquely bittersweet feeling. The lyrics are also somewhat different.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Lou Reed say about "Satellite of Love"?
Genius Answer

Band member Doug Yule recalls in a 2005 interview that Reed mentioned the song to him in the summer of 1970 while they were riding in the back of a limousine with their manager Steve Sesnick:

Steve was there going on about “how we needed airplay”, and Lou said “I have this song ‘Satellite of Love’, and he mentioned the satellite that had just gone up which was a big deal in the news at the time, cause the space race was happening, and Steve Sesnick said ‘Yeah, yeah – that’ll do it!’”

Who produced “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed?
When did Lou Reed release “Satellite of Love”?
Who wrote “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed?
Between Thought and Expression: The Lou Reed Anthology (1992)
  1. 1.
    I Can’t Stand It
  2. 2.
    Lisa Says
  3. 3.
    Ocean
  4. 4.
    Walk on the Wild Side
  5. 5.
    Satellite of Love
  6. 6.
    Vicious
  7. 7.
    Caroline Says I
  8. 8.
    How Do You Think It Feels
  9. 9.
    Oh, Jim
  10. 10.
    Caroline Says II
  11. 11.
    The Kids
  12. 12.
    Sad Song
  13. 13.
    Intro / Sweet Jane (Live 1973 Version)
  14. 14.
    Kill Your Sons
  15. 15.
    Coney Island Baby
  16. 16.
    Nowhere at All
  17. 17.
    Kicks
  18. 18.
    Downtown Dirt
  19. 19.
    Rock and Roll Heart
  20. 20.
    Vicious Circle
  21. 21.
    Temporary Thing
  22. 22.
    Leave Me Alone (Coney Island Baby outtake)
  23. 23.
    Heroin [Rock ‘N’ Roll Animal]
  24. 24.
    Here Comes The Bride
  25. 25.
    Street Hassle
  26. 26.
    Metal Machine Music
  27. 27.
    The Bells
  28. 28.
    America
  29. 29.
    Think It Over
  30. 30.
    Teach the Gifted Children
  31. 31.
    The Gun
  32. 32.
    The Blue Mask
  33. 33.
    My House
  34. 34.
    Little Sister
  35. 35.
    Legendary Hearts
  36. 36.
    The Last Shot
  37. 37.
    New Sensations
  38. 38.
    My Friend George
  39. 39.
    Doin’ the Things That We Want To
  40. 40.
    The Original Wrapper
  41. 41.
    Video Violence
  42. 42.
    Tell It to Your Heart
  43. 43.
    Voices Of Freedom
Credits
Producers
Writer
Bass
Drums
Piano
Tuba
Trumpet
Background Vocals
Recorded At
Trident Studios, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London, England
Released on
November 8, 1972
Satellite of Love Covers
Satellite of Love Live Performances
View Satellite of Love samples
Tags
RockPop-RockGlam RockPiano Rock
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