“Sweet Jane,” covered by Cowboy Junkies … (Alternative Rock / Blues – Music to Your Ears, Covers–6)
The band created a secondary classic, a masterpiece that in many respects transcends the original.
Cowboy Junkies – “Sweet Jane”
“Sweet Jane” (1988 – original from 1969)
This song is one of the stand-out tracks on Cowboy Junkies’ breakthrough 2nd album, “The Trinity Session.” It’s a cover of one of Lou Reed’s classic songs.
Its first recording appears on the album “1969: The Velvet Underground Live.” Reed and the Velvets subsequently recorded various other versions.
A Secondary Classic, a Masterpiece of Originality
Cowboy Junkies
The music of Cowboy Junkies is classified variously as alternative rock, alternative country, folk rock, and even … Americana. But one slow listen to virtually any of their music will tell you that they are essentially a blues band. Maybe a “Canadian blues” band?Toronto to Tokyo
Cowboy Junkies had established their languid bluesy sound on their 1986 debut album – “Whites Off Earth Now!!” – which sold about 3,000 copies.
In 1988, the band’s fortunes changed with the release of “The Trinity Session.” They had begun the year playing at a small club on their home turf of Toronto. But at year’s end, they were playing a large club in Tokyo. The album went platinum in both Canada and the US.
Anyone who's ever had a heart Wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who's ever played a part
Wouldn't turn around and hate it
Sweet Jane, sweet Jane, Sweet, sweet Jane You're waiting for Jimmy down in the alley
Waiting there for him to come back home
Waiting down on the corner
And thinking of ways to get back home
Sweet Jane, sweet Jane, Sweet, sweet Jane
Anyone who's ever played a part
Anyone who's ever been lonely
And anyone who's ever split apart
Sweet Jane, sweet Jane, sweet, sweet Jane Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to me when you smile
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to me when you smile La la la la, la la la...
Sweet Jane, sweet, sweet Jane (Image source)
Velvet Underground – “Sweet Jane” (Live) (Right-click to hear on YouTube)
Lyrics by Lou Reed, courtesy of –YouTube.com (at above vid link)
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia
Into your ears … through 5 channels
The various posts are categorized into 5 channels (Right-Click to see details)
1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
2 – “Cover Versions”
3 – “Honor Roll”
4 – “Documentaries”
5 – “Mock’n’Roll”
Links to my other series ...
Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"
Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”
Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"
Vocab-Ability – "Index" to all Chapters and Sections
Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"
Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"
That voice just got me speechless...
Good. In the silence, we can hear the quiet sounds emanating from the band.
This is a music that should play by the bedside before dozing off. I love the softness and mildness of the music. Since Lou Reed himself thinks this is a better version of his own song, then I have nothing else to say.
You have good eyes for good music. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to share it. And there have been time when I've shared it by playing it bedside. It's very soothing, relaxing, and even seductive. :-)
Such a beautiful and well done cover!
Sure is. And most of their music is as beautiful, calm, and peaceful. Very unique, and very pleasant.
Hi @majes.tytyty
Great piece of music the first time I heard it was in the 90's, although it came out well before the nineties. however, it is a style of music that does not lose validity in time, and one never tires of listening to it at any time.
Greetings my friend.
Ya, I heard of them when I moved to Toronto in the mid-1980s. In fact, I went to the record-release party for their first album, at a bar in Toronto.
I still listen to that 1st album, too.
#excilent music . i love this . #go ahead..