Following the commercial disaster of Metal Machine Music’s atonal feedback squall, Lou Reed swung a full 180 to make one of the most approachable records of his career. The subject of much of Coney Island Baby’s songs was Reed’s transgender partner/manager/on tour hairdresser Rachel Humphreys and songs such as buoyant opener Crazy Feeling shine with an uncharacteristically breezy optimism, producer Godfrey Diamond’s fuss free arrangements and production giving everything a warm FM glow. The title track’s nostalgic doo-wop drift, meanwhile, might be the old curmudgeon’s most heartfelt and romantic song.