The first full version (notably with the inclusion of "A Dream" in one performance) was played on November 29–30, and December 2–3 at the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. On December 4–5, 1989, a live performance—without an audience—was filmed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, directed by Ed Lachman, and released on VHS and LaserDisc formats. Over the following two months, Reed and Cale proceeded to record the material for the album, which was released on April 11, 1990 by Sire Records.
The initial full version of the work (including "A Dream" in one performance) premiered at the Next Wave Festival in Brooklyn from November 29–30 to December 2–3, 1989. A live recording without an audience was filmed on December 4–5, 1989 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and released on VHS and LaserDisc formats. The following two months saw Reed and Cale record the material for the album, which was then released by Sire Records on April 11, 1990.