Eddie Vedder, Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, Sharon Van Etten and the Lumineers are among the artists contributing covers to Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, the first volume of which will be released April 25 through Cinema Music Group and Killphonic Records. All proceeds will benefit the Bridge School, which Young and his late wife Pegi founded in the Bay Area for children with severe speech and physical disabilities.
The first two tracks from the collection are out now: Courtney Barnett’s take on Lotta Love” and Chris Pierce’s rendition of “Southern Man.” Says Barnett, “‘Lotta Love’ is one of my favorite Neil songs and the lyrics feel especially relevant at this moment in history. It’s a real honor to be part of this tribute helping to raise funds for the Bridge School.”
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Adds Pierce, who previously opened for Young, “time and time again, I’m reminded of the power of Neil Young’s songs. I’m reminded every time I spin one of his albums at home [and] when his songs play on the radio, and this was particularly evident when I recently had the honor of being the opening act for his solo tour.”
Elsewhere, Vedder offers a live recording of “The Needle and the Damage Done,” while Apple covers the compilation’s title track and the Doobie Brothers team with Allison Russell for “Comes a Time.”
A second volume of Heart of Gold will be announced soon. Click here to preorder volume one.
Here is the track list for Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young:
Brandi Carlile – “Philadelphia”
Fiona Apple – “Heart of Gold”
Mumford & Sons – “Harvest”
Eddie Vedder – “The Needle and the Damage Done”
Courtney Barnett – “Lotta Love”
Stephen Marley – “Old Man”
Sharon Van Etten – “Here We Are in the Years”
Lumineers – “Sugar Mountain”
The Doobie Brothers with Allison Russell – “Comes a Time”
Steve Earle – “Long May You Run”
Rodney Crowell – “Mr. Soul”
Anders Osborne – “Cowgirl in the Sand”
Charlie Greene – “Such a Woman”
Chris Pierce – “Southern Man”
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
