Sweet Jane
Encyclopedia
"Sweet Jane" is a song
by The Velvet Underground
, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by band's leader Lou Reed
, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances years later as a solo artist.
When Loaded was originally released in 1970, the song's bridge
was edited out. The box set Peel Slowly and See and reissue Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition restored the missing section.
The song also appears on the albums Live at Max's Kansas City
; 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
; Peel Slowly and See
; Live MCMXCIII
; Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition; American Poet
; Rock 'n' Roll Animal
; Live: Take No Prisoners
; Live in Italy
; The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground
; NYC Man (The Ultimate Collection 1967–2003); Live on Letterman: Music from The Late Show; and Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse
.
; the live song had an additional bridge that was missing from the Loaded release. In February 1974 a live version recorded in December 1973 (similar to the Loaded version but with extended intro and hard rock sound), appeared on Reed's Rock 'n' Roll Animal
. Finally, in September 1974 a down-tempo live version recorded in late 1969 was included on 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
, with a different song structure and lyrics. When a restored version of the original Loaded release was eventually unveiled on Peel Slowly and See
in 1995 (and in 1997 on Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition), it turned out that some of the 1969 lyrics (notably the entire bridge as heard on Live at Max's Kansas City) had originally been included in the Loaded version as well, but were scrapped in the final mix.
Reed has performed "Sweet Jane" in two keys: the 1969 and 1970 versions were in D. On 1972's American Poet, 1973's Rock 'n' Roll Animal, and 1978's Take No Prisoners, the song is in E, while on 1984's Live in Italy the song is back in D.
English band The Kooks
performed a cover of the song combined with The Rolling Stones
' "Beast of Burden
".
Covered by the Jim Carroll
Band.
Covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
live.
Lou Reed performed the song with Metallica
on October 25, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City during a concert to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
.
ranked it #335 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Sweet Jane" at number 18 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
Guitar World
ranked "Sweet Jane" at number 81 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
by The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by band's leader Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances years later as a solo artist.
When Loaded was originally released in 1970, the song's bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
was edited out. The box set Peel Slowly and See and reissue Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition restored the missing section.
The song also appears on the albums Live at Max's Kansas City
Live at Max's Kansas City
Live at Max's Kansas City is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released on May 30, 1972, by Cotillion, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records.-About the album:...
; 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released as a double album in September 1974 by Mercury Records. The September 1988 CD re-release was issued as two separate single CD volumes, with one extra track per disc...
; Peel Slowly and See
Peel Slowly and See
Peel Slowly and See is a five-disc box set of material by The Velvet Underground. It was released in September 1995 by Polydor.-Compilation:...
; Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII
Live MCMXCIII is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was released simultaneously in single and double CD/Cassette formats on October 26, 1993 by Sire Records. The single CD is an abridged version of the double CD edition: there are no different takes of songs across the two editions...
; Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition; American Poet
American Poet (album)
American Poet is an album of an early solo concert by Lou Reed, recorded live at the Hempstead Theatre, New York on Boxing Day - 26 December 1972 during the Transformer tour. The backing band are The Tots. It features material from that album, The Velvet Underground, his 1972 solo debut Lou Reed. ...
; Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock n Roll Animal is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1974. In its original form, it features five songs from different periods of his creative career, including several songs by the Velvet Underground. The songs are all re-arranged into a powerful glam rock set...
; Live: Take No Prisoners
Live: Take No Prisoners
Live: Take No Prisoners is Lou Reed's third live album. Released in 1978, it was Reed's contribution to the double live album era. It was recorded at the Bottom Line in New York, and there is no overdubbing...
; Live in Italy
Live in Italy (Lou Reed album)
Live In Italy is an album by Lou Reed recorded live in Verona and Rome on September 7 and 10, 1983 by the Rolling Stones Mobile Unit. It was issued on vinyl only in Germany and Japan. At the time, Reed and his band were on a world tour to promote the album, Legendary Hearts...
; The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground
Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground
Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground is a compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was released for the European market by Polydor on July 2, 2001 as part of their "An Introduction To" series of budget compilations....
; NYC Man (The Ultimate Collection 1967–2003); Live on Letterman: Music from The Late Show; and Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse
Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse
Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse is a concert film and live album by Lou Reed released in 2008. The concert film was directed by Julian Schnabel, live at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, NY during five nights in December 2006...
.
History
There are two distinct versions of Sweet Jane with minor variations, spread over its first four releases. The first release of "Sweet Jane", in November 1970, was a version recorded earlier that year and included on Loaded. In May 1972, a live version (recorded August 1970) appeared on The Velvet Underground's Live at Max's Kansas CityLive at Max's Kansas City
Live at Max's Kansas City is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released on May 30, 1972, by Cotillion, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records.-About the album:...
; the live song had an additional bridge that was missing from the Loaded release. In February 1974 a live version recorded in December 1973 (similar to the Loaded version but with extended intro and hard rock sound), appeared on Reed's Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock n Roll Animal is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1974. In its original form, it features five songs from different periods of his creative career, including several songs by the Velvet Underground. The songs are all re-arranged into a powerful glam rock set...
. Finally, in September 1974 a down-tempo live version recorded in late 1969 was included on 1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live
1969: The Velvet Underground Live is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released as a double album in September 1974 by Mercury Records. The September 1988 CD re-release was issued as two separate single CD volumes, with one extra track per disc...
, with a different song structure and lyrics. When a restored version of the original Loaded release was eventually unveiled on Peel Slowly and See
Peel Slowly and See
Peel Slowly and See is a five-disc box set of material by The Velvet Underground. It was released in September 1995 by Polydor.-Compilation:...
in 1995 (and in 1997 on Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition), it turned out that some of the 1969 lyrics (notably the entire bridge as heard on Live at Max's Kansas City) had originally been included in the Loaded version as well, but were scrapped in the final mix.
Reed has performed "Sweet Jane" in two keys: the 1969 and 1970 versions were in D. On 1972's American Poet, 1973's Rock 'n' Roll Animal, and 1978's Take No Prisoners, the song is in E, while on 1984's Live in Italy the song is back in D.
Cover versions
- 1972: Mott the HoopleMott the HoopleMott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
on the David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
-produced album All the Young DudesAll the Young DudesAll the Young Dudes is an album by Mott the Hoople, released in 1972. Their initial album for the CBS Records label , it was a turning point for the then-struggling British band. They were about to break up when David Bowie stepped in and gave them the song "All the Young Dudes"...
. It was also released as a single in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, The Netherlands, PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. - 1972: Performed during a 'Save the Whales' benefit concert on July 8,, Royal Festival Hall London, England as a duet with Lou Reed and David Bowie.
- 1973: Brownsville StationBrownsville Station (band)Brownsville Station was a rock band from Michigan that was popular in the 1970s. Original members included Cub Koda , Mike Lutz , T.J. Cronley , and Tony Driggins...
on their album Yeah! - 1985: The AfflictedThe AfflictedThe Afflicted are a punk band based in San Francisco, California.They were first active from 1982–1988, consisting of Dan Rancid , Barry Wilder , Frankie John Lennon , and Daryl Bach...
(Good News About Mental Health) - 1987: Annabel LambAnnabel Lamb-Career:Annabel Lamb has released eight albums to date. She had a British Top 30 hit in 1983 with her cover version of The Doors song, Riders on the Storm, her only hit in the UK singles chart. She appeared performing the song on Top of The Pops later that year. Her debut album, Once Bitten,...
on the album BridesBrides (album)Brides is a music album released in 1987 by British singer Annabel Lamb. Its original release on vinyl contained ten tracks, including a cover of The Velvet Underground's 1970 song, Sweet Jane. An additional bonus track was added when the compact disc version was released.-Track...
. - 1988: Cowboy JunkiesCowboy JunkiesCowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
on The Trinity SessionThe Trinity SessionThe Trinity Session is a 1988 album by Cowboy Junkies, their second album.The music was recorded at Toronto, Ontario's Church of the Holy Trinity on , with the band circled around a single microphone...
album. Later released as a CD singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, and used on the Trent ReznorTrent ReznorMichael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
-compiled Natural Born Killers soundtrackNatural Born Killers (soundtrack)Natural Born Killers is the soundtrack to the film Natural Born Killers, produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Reznor reportedly produced the soundtrack using a portable Pro Tools in his hotel room while on tour...
. It was recorded again on Trinity RevisitedTrinity RevisitedTrinity Revisited is an album and a film by Cowboy Junkies, released on October 16, 2007. It is a 20th anniversary edition of their most famous album, The Trinity Session...
in 2006. The Cowboy Junkies's version is based on the slower early version included in 1969: The Velvet Underground Live. Lou Reed himself described it as "the best and most authentic version I have ever heard". - 1989: 2 Nice Girls2 Nice Girls2 Nice Girls was the self titled debut album of Two Nice Girls, released on Rough Trade Records in 1989. The album has been re-released with two extra bonus tracks. This album contains the track "I Spent My Last $10 " which gained the group some commercial success...
recorded a cover of the song combined with Joan ArmatradingJoan ArmatradingJoan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee and has been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist...
's song "Love and Affection"". - 1994: Lone Justice recorded an energetic and extended version of the song on the Radio 1 Live in Concert album.
- 1997: The SugarcubesThe SugarcubesThe Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
on the album Cover Me. - 1998: PhishPhishPhish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
on their album Live Phish Volume 16Live Phish Volume 16Live Phish Vol. 16 was recorded live at Thomas and Mack Center located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Paradise, Nevada on Halloween night, 1998....
. - 2005 re-release of Gang of FourGang of Four (band)Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
's debut album, Entertainment!, featured a live cover version of Sweet Jane. - 2006: Michael StanleyMichael StanleyMichael Stanley is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and disc jockey. Both as a solo artist and with the Michael Stanley Band, his brand of heartland rock was popular in Cleveland and around the American Midwest in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:Michael Stanley Gee graduated from Rocky...
on the album "The Farrago Sessions", this version uses the song "Wichi Tai To" by Jim PepperJim PepperJim Pepper was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and singer of Native American ancestry.-Biography:...
as the chorus.
English band The Kooks
The Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
performed a cover of the song combined with The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' "Beast of Burden
Beast of Burden (song)
"Beast of Burden" is a song by English rock band The Rolling Stones, featured on the 1978 album Some Girls. In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #435 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and #433 on the 500 Greatest Rock and Roll Songs of all time.-Inspiration and...
".
Covered by the Jim Carroll
Jim Carroll
James Dennis "Jim" Carroll was an author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician. Carroll was best known for his 1978 autobiographical work The Basketball Diaries, which was made into the 1995 film of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Carroll.-Biography:Carroll was born to a...
Band.
Covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
live.
Lou Reed performed the song with Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on October 25, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City during a concert to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
.
Rankings
In 2004, Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it #335 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Sweet Jane" at number 18 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
ranked "Sweet Jane" at number 81 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
External links
- [ allmusic.com Song review]