Sweet Jane is a Lou Reed song and was originally released on the 1972 All The Young Dudes LP by Mott The Hoople nonetheless it was a staple of Ian Hunter solo concerts. David Bowie strummed the classic riff for Mott and the band reacted wanting to know what it was. Although Ian was puzzled by the New York gay scene Bowie stood next to Ian and sang the lyrics. Thereafter, Lou Reed came in the studio to do a guide vocal and Hunter was even more mystified. Ian told Reed an awful joke and Lou just stared at him and they didn't speak again. It was just one meeting and that's it and they didn't get along at all. Lou reduced his music to its simplest components and Hunter admits that is really difficult to do. How the riff emerged from Reed is just as mysterious. Out of an obligation to Bowie's help Mott recorded the tune although the song was not really Mott.
Nonetheless, Hunter has made the song his own way live and kudos to James "Maestro" Mastro for his original arrangement of the song.
There are live releases from 2008, 2010, and a Tribes version.
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Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Sweet Jane
(Lou Reed)
Standing on the corner
Suitcase in my hand
Jack is in his corset and Jane is in her vest
And me I'm in a rock and roll band
Riding in a Stutz Bearcat Jim
Those were different times
And the poets studied rules of verse
And all the ladies rolled there eyes
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Now Jack he is a banker
And Jane she is a clerk
And they're both saving up all their money
And when they come home from work
Sitting by the fire
Radios a-playin'
A little classical music for you kids
To the march of the wooden soldiers and you can hear Jack say
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Some people like to go out dancing
Other people they got to work
And there's always some evil mothers
I tell you life is just full of dirt
And the women never really faint
And the villains always blink their eyes
And children are the only ones that blush
And that life is just to die
But anyone who had a heart
He wouldn't want to turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
He wouldn't want to turn around and hate it
Sweet Jane Sweet Jane Sweet Jane Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane Sweet Jane Sweet Jane Sweet Jane
Oh my sweet Jane
| Sweet Jane (live 2nd March 2008) | 5:22 | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only). |
| Sweet Jane (live October 2010) | 4:23 | This live version (recorded at an unknown UK venue) can be found on Live In The UK 2010. |
| Sweet Jane | 4:39 | Credited to 'Ian Hunter and Tribes', this can be found on Sampling In Reality (not on the box set). |
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