Slade – Gudbuy T’ Jane

Apparently Jane was the host of a San Francisco talk show that Slade appeared on. We have a lot to thank Jane for.

Gudbuy T’Jane was one of a string of hits for Slade most of which featured mis-spelt titles, but to me this was the best of those songs.

Apparently young Jane was a bit uppity and the line “Got a kick from her ’40s trip boots” is a reference to her kicking Noddy Holder up the arse when the band were taking the piss. It seems Jane was very proud of her boots, saying they were antiques from the 40’s. I don’t think Slade were all that impressed.

It really doesn’t matter who Jane was. The song is a gem anyway. It opens with a tribal drum beat from Don Powell before Noddy delivers a typically gruff vocal that epitomises the band working class roots. The chanted vocal chorus and the incessantly looping guitar riff are all typical Slade but this song is one of their best because it manages to shimmer and shake as well as stomp.
This has a lot to do with the use of percussive shakers right through the song that is reminiscent of the Rolling Stones’ song Jumping Jack Flash. Producer Chas Chandler allows the song to built into a big booming echo laden finale that makes it one of the “bigger” Slade songs by its end.

This could have been about any Jane – any feisty young lady that working class lads would alternatively describe as “a queen” but at the same time would kick them in the arse. Good stuff!