My Morning Jacket and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band mined new emotion in Neil Young’s “Like a Hurricane” for an upcoming tribute album, Heart of Gold. Their rendition of the song, which appeared on Young’s 1977 album, American Stars ‘n Bars, still features
a monster guitar solo, but Jim James sings the vocals with unusual sadness and the soulful touches from the Jazz Band’s brass instruments, including their own solos, put a unique spin on the song.
Both Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 2 – Out of the Blue and Vol. 3 – Into the Black will come out on November 6 to raise money for the Bridge School, the California-based nonprofit that Young co-founded with his ex-wife Pegi 40 years ago to help children with speech and physical disabilities. Lucinda Williams, Ann Wilson, Peter Frampton, MJ Lenderman, Ben Gibbard, and Los Lobos are among the artists who contributed cover versions. Both volumes are available for pre-order.
“We were so honored to get to be at several of the Bridge School Benefit concerts in the past, and are so honored to once again be a part of raising funds for this amazing school, with these amazing songs of Neil Young,” James said in a statement. “We felt like teaming up with Preservation Hall Jazz Band would add some magic to this track, so we all got together with producer Ross Hogarth down in New Orleans and recorded it live at Marigny Studios. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed playing it!”
Modest Mouse and Califone also released a rendition of “Barstool Blues,” a song that originally appeared on Young’s 1975 album with Crazy Horse, Zuma. Shimmering synths and Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock’s signature staccato delivery give the song a new, New-Wavey feel. The instrumentation, which recalls “Then He Kissed Me,” is more pronounced in their version.
“Getting to do a cover of one of Neil’s songs on a project like this matters both because it gets to be helpful for an important cause like the Bridge School, and because it’s actually attached to the person whose song we are covering,” Brock said. “It’s really… well, it’s a stressful honor. The stakes seem a little higher. I like that.”
“As the Bridge School celebrates our 40th anniversary, these Heart of Gold tribute albums are a meaningful reminder of the incredible community that has supported our mission for so many years,” Gabriela Berlanga, the Bridge School’s executive director, said in a statement. “We know that music has an extraordinary ability to connect us, inspire us, and bring people together for a greater purpose. We are especially grateful to those whose love and appreciation for music have inspired them to support our mission and help ensure that individuals with communication and physical disabilities have a voice.”
The tribute albums follow the release of Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young Part I last year. That release featured Eddie Vedder, Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, and others. “The album opens promisingly with Brandi Carlile’s lovely, meditative reading of ‘Philadelphia,’ a ballad that appeared on the soundtrack to the first big Hollywood movie to address the AIDS crisis, performed here by an artist who has long been an eloquent advocate for LGBTQ+ issues,” Rolling Stone’s review of the album said. “It’s what tribute records are for, showing us a meaningful echo of an artist’s legacy that might not be the first thing that springs to mind.”
Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 2 – Out of the Blue Track List
1. My Morning Jacket with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, “Like a Hurricane”
2. Ann Wilson, “Walk With Me”
3. Draco Rosa, “After the Gold Rush”
4. Peter Frampton & John Jorgenson feat. Jay Dee Maness, Herb Pedersen, Steve Duncan and Mark Fain, “Heart of Gold”
5. Lucinda Williams, “Don’t Be Denied”
6. Los Lobos, “Cinnamon Girl”
7. Edie Brickell, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
8. Tyler Ballgame, “Tell Me Why”
9. Sharlotte Gibson, “Ohio”
10. Jesse Malin, “Pocahontas”
11. Southside Johnny and Bobby Bandiera, “Rockin’ in the Free World”
12. Dramarama, “Kinda Fonda Wanda”
Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 3 – Into the Black Track List
1. Briston Maroney, “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)”
2. LP, “Harvest Moon”
3. King Princess, “Helpless”
4. Modest Mouse feat. Califone, “Barstool Blues”
5. Ben Gibbard, “Don’t Cry No Tears”
6. MJ Lenderman, “Separate Ways”
7. Cold War Kids, “Tonight’s the Night”
8. Kurt Vile and The Violators, “When Your Lonely Heart Breaks”
9. Devendra Banhart, “Pardon My Heart”
10. Emily Hackett, “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”
11. RAC feat. Kelcey Ayer, “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”
12. New Constellations, “Unknown Legend”
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