THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

401-Velvet Underground-Sweet Jane.

1970-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.16. Lou Reed wrote lots of songs about drugs, and even the odd one about transvestites, but this isn’t one of them.

The Velvet Underground (see also best songs 165) were formed in 1964, in New York City, United States by Lou Reed, (1942-2013) (see also best songs 131 and 58) (vocals, and guitar) John Cale, (see also best songs 219) (bass guitar, and keyboards) Sterling Morrison, (1942-1995) (guitar) and Angus MacLise (1938-1979) (percussion.) Prior to the Velvet Underground performing their first gig in 1965 MacLise quit, stating that the band were selling out, he was replaced by Moe Tucker (drums.) John Cale departed in 1968, and was replaced by Doug Yale, (guitars.) In total there were nine official members come and go between 1964 until the split in 1973. There were reformations in 1990, 1992-1993, and finally in 1996. Although during their years together they achieved little commercial success, since their split they have become recognised as one of popular music’s most influential acts. Music critics now see them as crucial in the development of ‘Alternative Rock,’ ‘Punk Rock,’ and ‘New Wave.’

The discography of The Velvet Underground includes five studio Albums released between 1967-1973, although no original founding members played on the final studio Album release ‘Squeeze’ from 1973, there have also been 19 singles issued between 1966-2009, which includes re-issues of previous singles in differing format. There are also six box sets, 14 official compilation Albums, and six live Albums available.

‘Sweet Jane’ was the last of three singles released from ‘Loaded,’ the fourth studio Album from The Velvet Underground, from November 1970, the song was co-written by Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, and Doug Yule, with the production credited to Geoff Haslam, Shel Kagan, and The Velvet Underground. Their record label ‘Atlantic Records’ had told the band that they needed hit singles, which is why the Album was called ‘Loaded,’ as in loaded with hits. Although of course because of the groups reputation many thought that ‘Loaded’ was a drugs reference. There was a lot of infighting during the recording of the Album, and Lou Reed left before it was finished. In his absence ‘Sweet Jane’ was edited down for radio play. This angered Reed who said, ‘If I knew they were going to press on with the Album I would have stayed with them and showed them what to do.’ The full version of the song can be heard on The Velvet Underground’s Album ‘Live at Max’s Kansas City,’ recorded in 1969.

Sterling Morrison was born Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr. on August 29th, 1942, in East Meadow, New York, United States, he died on August 30th, 1995, a few months after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, at the age of 53. Morrison was a founding member of The Velvet Underground, and would remain a member until leaving in 1971, unlike his band mates he never released a solo Album or made recordings under his own name. His musical career post The Velvet Underground was primarily limited to informal sessions for personal enjoyment, though he did play in a few bands around Austin, Texas, most notably the ‘Bizarros.’ In 1992 Reed, Cale, Tucker, and Morrison reformed, and then toured Europe in 1993, but by the end of the tour, relationships had soured again, and plans for an American tour were cancelled. In 1994 Morrison joined Maureen Tucker’s band for a tour. Upon their induction into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ in 1996, Reed, Cale and Tucker performed a song titled ‘Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend,’ which was dedicated to Sterling Morrison.

The original unedited full length studio version of ‘Sweet Jane’ can be found on The Velvet Underground’s 1995 box set ‘Peel Slowly and See.’ In 1972 the English ‘Glam Rock’ group Mott the Hoople (see also best songs 334) covered ‘Sweet Jane’ for their ‘All the Young Dudes’ Album, which was produced by David Bowie, (1948-2016) (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) Lou Reed fully endorsed this cover, and even did a reference vocal to help them out. Another version Reed liked was the one recorded by the American Rock band Brownsville Station on their 1973 Album ‘Yeah!’ ‘Sweet Jane’ is a message, telling the younger generation not to make assumptions that they know everything, maybe the older people (Jack and Jane) were once like them. The song is partly about inter-generational understanding. Just because Jack and Jane have now compromised, and settled for a 9-5 suburban existence, doesn’t mean that they have forgone their thoughts and actions of yesteryear.

‘And everyone who ever had a heart, oh, that would turn around and break it. And anyone who ever played a part, whoa, and wouldn’t turn around and hate it.’