As I mentioned yesterday, I do quite like it when bands take one of their own songs and give them substantial makeovers for the subsequent single release. But what I also like is when someone decides that their cover version of a song will involve a complete reinterpretation so that you hear it in a completely new light. Billy Bragg did such a thing to a Morrissey/Marr song a fair bit back:-
mp3 : The Smiths – Jeane
This was one of band’s first ever releases, turning up on the b-side of the second single This Charming Man in 1983. We now know all these years later that it is the only track the band ever got round to releasing from the aborted LP sessions recorded with Troy Tate but at the time it was just regarded as a great b-side which you could put on and have a great little dance to. It was the music that stood out more than the lyric.
A year later, the band re-recorded the song alongside Sandie Shaw. The slowed-down version did draw a bit more attention to the lyric but to this fan, it was still very much about the tune and how Johnny had got something different out of the song this time round.
Fast forward two more years and Billy Bragg, having already played the song a few times in his live sets as well as recording a frantic almost speed-fuelled version for a Peel Session in August 1985
mp3 : Billy Bragg – Jeane (Peel Session)
then puts down another version as the b-side to Greetings To The New Brunette in 1986:-
mp3 : Billy Bragg – Jeane
This is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. This is when you get to fully appreciate the story of a love affair doomed to failure as a result of, above else, grinding poverty. The fact that the protagonists had to work so hard at merely surviving every day of their sad and miserable lives, wondering where the next meal will come from and how they can afford to heat the house they live in, left no time for the nicer things in life. They did try….but they ultimately failed.
All of this was lost with the original version as we flailed around the living room or dance halls throwing our best Morrissey shapes. With a tune this good, who needs to think about the message? And then along came Billy to reduce us all to tears…..
Jeane could very easily pass itself off as a Leonard Cohen lyric. Discuss.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
You’ll probably hate me for this, but I always thought ‘Jeane’ is the best thing the Smiths ever did. Still do, in fact …
Not at all Dirk…it’s a very fine song and I know a couple of other folk who rate it among their best ever.
not sure if its just time and getting old but i cant remember the faster peel session version by BB, though i’m sure i would have loved it if i had. the slower version is great, it really adds some poignancy, not many bands have managed to do that to smiths songs. hats off to mr bragg.
Certainly in my Top 3 Smiths tracks. Musically and lyrically it is up there with the best tracks they recorded…completely agree about Bragg’s version on the B side to “Brunette”.
Thought it was the best “Song” they had done at that time, Billy showed it to be