The Blue Mask

by Lou Reed

The Blue Mask cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: February 1982
  • Label: RCA
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 41:10
  • Community rating: 3.74/5 from 8 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Backed by the brilliant, wildly expressive guitar work of Robert Quine, Lou Reed delivered his most intensely personal and acclaimed album since the early 70s. 'The Blue Mask' is a fiercely poetic, deeply introspective art-rock triumph that balances his signature deadpan sarcasm with surprising domestic warmth and harrowing accounts of alcoholism.

Genres

Descriptors: political, guitar-driven, distorted, confrontational, minimal, literary

Tracklist

  1. My House (5:25)
  2. Women (4:57)
  3. Underneath the Bottle (2:33)
  4. The Gun (3:41)
  5. The Blue Mask (5:06)
  6. Average Guy (3:13)
  7. The Heroine (3:05)
  8. Waves of Fear (4:11)
  9. The Day John Kennedy Died (4:08)
  10. Heavenly Arms (4:47)

Credits

  • Lou Reed - primary artist, producer [produced by], songwriter [all songs written by], vocals, guitar, lead guitar
  • J. J. Stelmach - art direction [art director]
  • Fernando Saunders - bass, backing vocals [background vocals]
  • Sylvia Reed - design [the cover design is by]
  • Doane Perry - drums
  • Sean Fullan - engineer [engineered by], producer [produced by]
  • Dennis Ferrante - engineer [engineered, special thanks to]
  • Robert Quine - guitar
  • Guitarman - instrument builder [guitar built by]
  • Greg Calbi - mastered by
  • Mick Rock - photography by [cover photo]

More from Lou Reed: full discography