Transformer is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Lou Reed. The album is considered an influential landmark of the glam rock genre, anchored by Reed’s most successful single, “Walk on the Wild Side“, which touched on controversial topics of sexual orientation and drugs. Produced by David Bowie and arranged by Mick Ronson, the album was released in November 1972 by RCA Records. Though Reed’s self-titled debut solo album has been unsuccessful, Bowie had been an early fan of Reed’s former band The Velvet Underground, and used his own fame to promote Reed, who had not yet achieved mainstream success.