Walk on the Wild Side

song by Reed

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July 20, 2026

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"Walk on the Wild Side" is a song by Lou Reed, released in 1973. It was a breakthrough hit for Reed after his time with the influential band The Velvet Underground. The song is known for its distinctive bass line and Reed's lyrical style, which chronicled characters from New York City's underground scene with a sense of dignity. The song was produced and featured by David Bowie. It's important to note that "A Walk on the Wild Side" is also the title of a 1956 novel by Nelson Algren, which was a reworking of his earlier novel Somebody in Boots.1

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Lou Reed
…on Reed’s breakthrough hit, “Walk on the Wild Side” (1973), and Mott the Hoople, who covered Reed’s Velvets classic “Sweet Jane.” Later Patti Smith and Television’s Tom Verlaine would cite him as an inspiration for the mid-1970s New York City punk scene (see
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…on Reed’s breakthrough hit, “Walk on the Wild Side” (1973), and Mott the Hoople, who covered Reed’s Velvets classic “Sweet Jane.” Later Patti Smith and Television’s Tom Verlaine would cite him as an inspiration for the mid-1970s New York City punk scene (see
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the Velvet Underground
…admirer David Bowie, it featured “Walk on the Wild Side,” which reached number 16 on the American pop chart. He then established himself as a punk-godfather figure with releases such as the lavish song suite Berlin (1973), the feedback oratorio Metal Machine Music (1975), and the concept album New York…
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…admirer David Bowie, it featured “Walk on the Wild Side,” which reached number 16 on the American pop chart. He then established himself as a punk-godfather figure with releases such as the lavish song suite Berlin (1973), the feedback oratorio Metal Machine Music (1975), and the concept album New York…
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