A cover of Neil Young’s “The Needle and the Damage Done” by Eddie Vedder has been released as the latest single from the upcoming compilation album Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young Volume I, arriving today along with a cover of “Old Man” by Stephen Marley.
Vedder’s take on “The Needle and the Damage Done” conveys the hard-earned wisdom of the 1972 composition, and showcases the Pearl Jam singer’s signature gravelly baritone. It also isn’t the first time he’s sung the song — Pearl Jam first covered it in 1995, and it’s appeared a few times in their setlists since then. In 2009, Vedder dedicated a rendition of it to Michael Jackson, two months after the pop star’s death.
As for Marley’s cover of “Old Man,” it augments the rootsy sound of the original with a easy-flowing reggae vibe, with the pièce de résistance being the warm, hazy pedal steel lines that shine on the interludes. Stream both songs below.
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Of some historical note, this isn’t the first time “The Needle and the Damage Done” and “Old Man” have been released together — both songs made their original debut on the same single 52 years ago in 1972 (with “Old Man” as the A-side).
The first volume of Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young is due in full on April 25th, and will benefit The Bridge School. Other artists on the compilation include Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, Sharon Van Etten, The Lumineers, The Doobie Brothers, Steve Earle, and more.
Last month, along with the album’s announcement, two lead singles were released: Courtney Barnett’s “Lotta Love” and Chris Pierce’s “Southern Man.”
Meanwhile, Vedder, Marley, and Young all have upcoming tour dates, with Vedder touring with Pearl Jam in April and May, Marley hitting the road for a summer tour with Stick Figure in June, and Young booked for a number of upcoming shows with his new band the chrome hearts.
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