Mott The Hoople’s first album for the Columbia Records label, All The Young Dudes, released in 1972 was a turning point for the struggling 1970s British band. With the band about to break up, David Bowie stepped in and gave Mott the title track "All the Young Dudes". Bowie also produced the album.

"Sweet Jane", a cover of the Velvet Underground song from their 1970 album Loaded, is the first song from All the Young Dudes. It was released in Canada, Holland, Portugal, Spain and the United States, though not in the UK, their home.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine says on All Music Guide that Bowie "gave them a surefire hit with "All the Young Dudes," had them cover his idol's "Sweet Jane," and produced ... the album that was designed to make them stars." Despite Ian Hunter's misgivings, they did it and "Mott's original version is a relatively straightforward cover of one of Reed's quintessential rock & roll songs"

In 2003, the album was ranked number 491 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.