Young's charity covers album series Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young expands with Vol. 2 – Out of the Blue and Vol. 3 – Into the Black, out Nov. 6. King Princess' and Draco Rosa's covers of "Helpless" and "After the Gold Rush," the first two singles, are out now.
The Canadian legend and singer-songwriter is expanding his Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young covers album series with two additional volumes titled Vol. 2 – Out of the Blue and Vol. 3 – Into the Black, out Nov. 6. The series doubles as a charity project, with all proceeds going towards the Bridge School in California, a school and charity co-founded by Young and his late ex-wife Pegi Young and devoted to the education of children with extensive speech and physical disabilities.
With two new volumes, the series is more than doubling down and bringing in Ann Wilson of Heart, English rock star Peter Frampton, Billboard chart-topping hitmakers Los Lobos, Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard, singer-songwriter Kurt Vile and many more to reinterpret many of Young's classic songs. Young's music has left a lasting impact that has touched generations of fellow musicians, who now get to rework the Canadian icon's music for an impactful cause.
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Two new covers were released to kick off the rollout, one being a cover of "Helpless" by King Princess, the musical project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mikaela Straus. With their rendition, Straus fleshes out a personal favourite by Young, which the local hero wrote and recorded as part of the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young supergroup in 1970.
“It felt kismet that they asked me to do ‘Helpless,'" Straus says. "It’s my mom and my favourite Neil Young song; I can hear her singing it in the car on our way upstate. As far as the recording process, Brad Oberhofer and I decided to take it on together at my dad’s studio (recorded by my dad himself). We tried to record it as simply and intimately as the Crosby Stills Nash and Young version. Brad played guitar and I played drums and keys. We did it as a one take, off click, and the rest we just built together as a two-man band. The only thing we changed was just making it longer. My only complaint about the original is that it’s too short. I want more.”
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American singer-songwriter Draco Rosa, who formerly participated in the Puerto Rican band Menudo alongside a young Ricky Martin, covers Young's "After the Gold Rush." He shared his gratitude on being apart of the project and likens the song to his own personal journey, which includes surviving cancer and navigating through different bands and solo endeavours throughout his musical career, which spans multiple decades.
“Bridge School holds significance. Neil Young’s melodies resonate deeply. ‘After the Gold Rush’ is a pivotal song in my journey, reflecting the hope of finding a new home in the sun," Rosa says.
Both new LP's follow suit with Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 1, which was released last year. The effort gathered many widely acclaimed and influential singer-songwriters and folk artists and bands including Brandi Carlile, Mumford & Sons, the Lumineers and Fiona Apple, who covered Young's coveted, career-defining folk hit "Heart of Gold," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1972.
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As his peers reimagine his existing renowned material, Young is preparing to make a musical comeback of his own. In May, he made his first live appearance of the year at a benefit concert in Vancouver, and he revealed back in April via his website that he has new album on the way with the Chrome Hearts titled Second Song, which includes re-recordings of two songs he wrote as a teenager in the 1960s, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Check out the full tracklist for Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 below.
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Heart Of Gold: The Songs Of Neil Young, Vol. 2 – Out Of The Blue
Like A Hurricane (feat. the Preservation Hall Jazz Band) – My Morning Jacket
Walk With Me – Ann Wilson
After The Gold Rush – Draco Rosa
Heart of Gold (feat. Jay Dee Maness, Herb Pedersen, Steve Duncan, & Mark Fain) – Peter Frampton & John Jorgenson
Don't Be Denied – Lucinda Williams
Cinnamon Girl – Los Lobos
Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Edie Brickell
Tell Me Why – Tyler Ballgame
Ohio – Sharlotte Gibson
Pocahontas – Jesse Malin
Rockin' In The Free World – Southside Johnny & Bobby Bandiera
Kinda Fonda Wanda – Dramarama
Heart Of Gold: The Songs Of Neil Young, Vol. 3 – Into The Black
My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) – Briston Maroney
Harvest Moon – LP
Helpless – King Princess
Barstool Blues (feat. Califone) – Modest Mouse
Don't Cry No Tears – Ben Gibbard
Separate Ways – MJ Lenderman
Tonight's The Night – Cold War Kids
When Your Lonely Heart Breaks – Kurt Vile And The Violators
Pardon My Heart – Devendra Banhart
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere – Emily Hackett
Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) (feat. Kelcey Ayer) – RAC
