PEARL JAM frontman Eddie Vedder has released a cover of Neil Young‘s 1971 classic The Needle And The Damage Done. From an upcoming charity album released to raise funds for The Bridge School, Vedder‘s version is a little shorter than the original at just 1’45”, but lacks none of its anguished poignancy.
The Needle And The Damage Done was originally written by Young in response to the heroin addiction suffered by several musician friends – including his bandmate, guitarist Danny Whitten, who would die of an overdose seven months after its release in April 1972.
Other tracks already released from Heart Of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young – the first of two planned volumes – include a reggae-fied version of Old Man by Stephen ‘Son of Bob’ Marley, Courtney Barnett’s take on Lotta Love and a cover of Southern Man by Chris Pierce.
It’s scheduled for release on April 25 and is available to pre-order now.