Which record label released Andy Warhol’s 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico?

Verve Records released The Velvet Underground & Nico in 1967.

The album was the debut studio record by the Velvet Underground, with Nico featured on several songs. Andy Warhol served as the group’s manager and producer of the album, and the record was closely associated with his multimedia project the Exploding Plastic Inevitable.

The album was issued by Verve, a label better known for jazz but also connected to MGM’s wider record operations. Its initial commercial performance was modest, yet the album later became highly influential for rock, punk, alternative music, and experimental pop.

The record is often identified by its banana cover, which was designed by Warhol. The cover and Warhol’s association with the band can lead people to focus on the artwork and overlook the label that actually released the album: Verve Records.