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Sweet Jane
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Sweet Jane
| cover = Sweet Jane-Rock & Roll.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = the Velvet Underground
| album = Loaded
| B-side = Rock & Roll
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Proto-punk
| length =
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Lou Reed
| producer =
| prev_title = Who Loves the Sun
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = I'm Waiting for the Man
| next_year = 1973
}}
"'Sweet Jane'" is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground; it appears on their fourth studio album 'Loaded'. The song was written by Lou Reed, the band's leader, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances as a solo artist.
When 'Loaded' was originally released in 1970, the song's bridge was cut. 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 19672003)'; 'Live on Letterman: Music from The Late Show'; and 'Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse'.
History
There are two distinct versions of "Sweet Jane" with minor variations, spread over its first four releases. The first release of the song in November 1970 was a version recorded earlier that year and included on 'Loaded'. In May 1972, a live version recorded in August 1970 appeared on the Velvet Underground's 'Live at Max's Kansas City'; this 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'. The elaborate twin guitar "intro" on the 'Rock 'n' Roll Animal' version was written by Steve Hunter and played by Hunter and Dick Wagner, two Detroit guitarists who would go on to play with Alice Cooper. 'Cash Box' said that "this heavy rocker" has a "strong production and good hook" as well as "stunning lead guitar and Lou's inimitable vocals."
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 release on 'Loaded' 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 finished edit.
In a 2005 interview, former Velvet Underground member Doug Yule stated that the main signature "riff" of the song (as it appears on 'Loaded') was finalized in the studio just before the tracks were recorded, and it was achieved by Lou Reed's playing "cranked-up very loud" through a large Sunn amplifier. In addition to recording the bass track, the drums on the recording were performed by Doug Yule because Velvet drummer Maureen Tucker was pregnant at the time and not present during the 'Loaded' sessions.
Lou Reed performed "Sweet Jane" in two keys. The 1969 and 1970 versions were in D as was 1972's 'American Poet' version. On 1973's 'Rock 'n' Roll Animal' and 1978's 'Take No Prisoners', the song is in E, and on 1984's 'Live in Italy', the song is back in D.
Cover versions
* 1972: Mott the Hoople on the David Bowie-produced album 'All the Young Dudes'. It was released as a single in Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United States.
* 1973: Brownsville Station on their album 'Yeah!'
* 1977: Early British punk band Eater on their debut and only album 'The Album', alongside 'I'm Waiting for the Man', also written by Reed.
* 1983: The Jim Carroll Band on the album 'I Write Your Name'
* 1988: Cowboy Junkies on 'The Trinity Session'. This version's arrangement is based on the slower version of the song released on '1969'. Lou Reed was often quoted as saying that the Cowboy Junkies' version was his favourite. It features on the soundtrack of Oliver Stone's 1994 movie, 'Natural Born Killers'
* 1989: Two Nice Girls on the album '2 Nice Girls' combined with Joan Armatrading's "Love and Affection" as "Sweet Jane (With Affection)"
* 2012: Sweet on NYC (New York Connection) album
* 2020: Miley Cyrus in 'Backyard Sessions', October 17, 2020
Rankings
In 2004, 'Rolling Stone' ranked it No. 335 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In a 2011 update of the list, it appears at #342.
In March 2005, 'Q' placed "Sweet Jane" at No. 18 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
'Guitar World' ranked "Sweet Jane" at No. 81 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
References
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