No Money Down (Lou Reed song)

"No Money Down"
Single by Lou Reed
from the album Mistrial
ReleasedJune 1986[1]
Recorded1986
StudioPower Station, New York City
Genre
Length3:09
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Lou Reed
Producer(s)
Lou Reed singles chronology
"The Original Wrapper"
(1986)
"No Money Down"
(1986)
"Busload of Faith"
(1989)
Music video
"No Money Down" on YouTube

"No Money Down" is a song written and recorded by American rock musician Lou Reed, released as both a 7" and 12" single from his fourteenth solo studio album, Mistrial (1986). The only single to chart from the album, it peaked at No. 75 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.

Reed performed the song live four times during the Amnesty International's A Conspiracy of Hope short tour, including a filmed performance of the song at Giants Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with altered lyrics.[2][3]

Music video

The official music video, directed by rock duo Godley & Creme formerly of 10cc,[4][5] features a simple animatronic version of Reed miming along to the song. During the final verse, gloved human hands tear away its wig, sunglasses, and rubber skin to expose the skeleton beneath, then pull off underlying components of the face.[6] The music video was later featured on an episode of adult animated series Beavis and Butt-Head.

Track listing

  • EP 12"
  1. "No Money Down" (Extended Version) – 5:40
  2. "No Money Down" (Dub Version) – 5:22
  3. "Don't Hurt a Woman" – 4:01

Chart performance

Chart Peak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 75

References

  1. ^ "The Great Rock Discography". p. 681.
  2. ^ "Lou Reed Tour Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Lou Reed - No Money Down". Paste. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  4. ^ "The Works of Godley & Creme > music videos > Lou Reed / No Money Down". Gcworks.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  5. ^ "Lou Reed - "No money down"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  6. ^ O'Neal, Sean (2008-03-13). "The Five Faces Of Lou Reed | Music". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 249. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.