Lou had left the Velvets and (I didn't previously know this) released an unsuccessful self-titled solo album. For 'Transformer' he hooked up with David Bowie and Mick Ronson who managed to funnel the irascible poet and 'rock n roll animal's' material into a cleaner, more accessible mode. The rock n roll still pops up in tracks like 'Vicious' and 'I'm so free', but Reed's tales of hookers, transvestites and junkies find more laidback, genteel and melodic homes in tracks like 'Make up' and of course 'Walk on the wild side' (I watched a doco about Reed recently where David Byrne recalled hearing the song at gas stations and malls and wondering "do they even know what this song is about?!").
Lou wore Bowie's glam rock like a comfy jacket, while remaining absolutely Lou Reed underneath.
This is probably the most accessible that Reed ever got. In some ways I find it odd that 'Wild side' ended up being the biggest hit here as there some great pop tracks like 'Satellite of love' and the beautiful yet quietly bleakly cynical "Perfect day".
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