Velocity (album)

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Velocity is the debut studio album by American band The Vels, released in 1984 by Mercury Records and PolyGram. While the album didn’t chart as a whole, two songs did appear on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart: Hieroglyphics reached number 30 and Look My Way reached number 39. Look My Way also reached number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, The Vels’ only appearance on that chart. The album has been out of print on vinyl and cassette and was not released on CD. In 2023, Velocity was made available for streaming and digital download with a rearranged track listing and two bonus tracks.

Recording and production
- Velocity was mainly recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, The Bahamas, with producer Steven Stanley (known for work with Tom Tom Club).
- The track Secret Garden was produced by their A&R representative, Peter Lubin, at Park South Studios in New York City.
- The band members played most parts themselves without live drums. Chris Larkin used a LinnDrum drum machine, with additional percussion from Chuck Sabo.
- Sanford Ponder contributed Fairlight CMI programming on some tracks, most prominently on Can’t You Hear Me?

Critical reception
- AllMusic gave Velocity 4.5 out of 5 stars.
- Music critic Robert Christgau rated it B+. He praised the trio’s feel for pop hooks and described lead singer Alice DeSoto as vivid and unpretentious.

Track listing
All songs were written by Alice Cohen (Desoto), Charles Hansen, and Chris Larkin.
Side One
1) Tell Me Something – 3:23
2) Secret Garden – 3:39
3) Can’t You Hear Me? – 3:54
4) Coming Attractions – 4:21

Side Two
5) Look My Way – 4:38
6) Day After Day – 3:14
7) Private World – 4:30
8) Hieroglyphics – 5:10

Personnel
The Vels
- Alice Cohen (credited as Alice Desoto) – vocals, keyboards, percussion
- Charles Hansen – bass guitar, keyboards, vocals, percussion, guitar
- Chris Larkin – keyboards, vocals, LinnDrum, percussion

Additional musicians
- Sanford Ponder – Fairlight CMI programming
- Chuck Sabo – additional percussion

Production and artwork
- Steven Stanley – producer and engineer
- Benjamin Armbrister – assistant producer
- Peter Lubin – producer (track 2)
- Bruce Tergensen – engineer
- Mark Procopio – assistant engineer
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Manhattan Design – design; Frank Olinsky – illustration; Deborah Feingold – photography; Bill Levy – art direction

Release notes
- Originally released in 1984, recorded February–March 1983
- Studios: Compass Point Studios (Nassau) and Park South Studios (New York City)
- Genre: New wave, synth-pop
- Length: 32:49
- Labels: Mercury Records, PolyGram

Re-release
- In 2023 Velocity became available for streaming and as a digital download (Amazon Music, iTunes Store) with a rearranged track listing and two bonus tracks.