Patti Smith Covers "Helpless"

Patti Smith covers Neil Young's "Helpless" on her upcoming CD Twelve. The album of cover songs also includes Bob Dylan's "Changing of the Guard," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and The Doors' "Soul Kitchen".

Patti Smith covers Neil Young's "Helpless"

Listen to sample clips on Amazon.com.

UPDATE: Patti Smith Covers Neil Young's "Helpless" - Paris 20 juin 2008 - Fondation Cartier, Les Soirée Nomades, Summer Solstice.

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Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute to Neil Young

In 1994 a tribute album to Neil Young called Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young was released. Now comes word that a followup tribute called Borrowed Tunes II will be released later this year.

From the press release:

Sirius Canada Inc. & Universal Music Canada are joining forces to record and produce Borrowed Tunes II, a musical tribute to Canadian music legend Neil Young featuring a mix of popular Canadian artists and new and emerging musicians performing their own version of a Neil Young song.

Collaborating artists include Barenaked Ladies, Emily Haines, Finger Eleven, Chantal Kreviazuk, Dallas Green, Hawksley Workman, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, Ron Sexsmith, Goldendogs, Quebec-based Dobacaracol, Jorane and many others.

"I'm excited to pay tribute to Neil Young and his incredible body of work," said Chantal Kreviazuk. "Neil's songs have inspired so many Canadian musicians over the years and the Borrowed Tunes II recording is a wonderful way to honour him."

"Neil Young is one artist who all five of us regard as a hero and a musical inspiration," added Kevin Hearn of Barenaked Ladies. "We are delighted to pay tribute to him."

"Sirius Canada is thrilled to work with these immensely talented artists on this unique Neil Young tribute project," enthused Andreanne Sasseville, Director of Canadian Talent Development for Sirius Canada. "Sirius is committed to helping established and emerging Canadian artists expand their fan base, and allowing
Canadian music fans to connect with their favourite artists in new and meaningful ways."

Distributed by Universal Music in Canada, Borrowed Tunes II will be recorded in conjunction with Toronto-based producer Mike Roth (Big Bold Sun Music), and will be available at the end of the summer. Selected tracks from the recording will be featured on Sirius Canada's Iceberg channel 95.

All proceeds from album sales will benefit two not-for-profit organizations selected by Neil Young: The Bridge School and Toronto-based Safehaven."

More on other artists covering Neil Young songs.
Thanks Chris!

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Comment of the Moment: Living With War Choir Member Remembers

Responding to the post Still Living With War: One Year Later a member of the 100 voice choir Alicia Morgan writes:

"I'll never forget how shocked I was that people were going nuts about my little post on my little nobody blog. I was surprised at the vitriol, both at the beginning when I was accused of making it up - when I was assured that it wasn't real because 'Neil Young doesn't record at Capitol; everyone knows that' and 'his record company hasn't mentioned it' - and then when it turned out not to be a hoax, and my inbox burst at the seams from all the apologies pouring in ;-), how vile some people could be to find their way to my blog and threaten and insult me.

Nevertheless, it was awesome to get so many positive reactions too, and be a part of something that matters. I think, looking back over last year, that the record did make a difference. It contributed to a lot of dialogue that would not have happened otherwise, and I think we've made progress since last year, and that 'Living With War' was a part of it."

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Still Living With War: One Year Later

The 4 Musketeers
Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, & Neil
Art by Down With Tyranny!

A year ago it all started when an obscure blog link popped up over in the right sidebar here on Thrasher's Wheat. According to the blog Last Left Turn Before Hooterville a new Neil Young album was being recorded. The blog, written by a member of a 100-voice choir, said the album would contain the lyrics: "Let's impeach the President for lyin'!". Alicia blogged:

"Every time new lyrics would come up on the screen, there were cheers, tears and applause. It was a spiritual experience ... We finished the session by singing an a cappella version of "America the Beautiful" and there was not a dry eye in the house."

"I've never been at a recording session that was more like being at church. Heck, I've never been to a church that was more like a church than that session."

Needless to say, the Rusties were in an uproar last April, with a serious meme circulating that this was all an elaborate hoax.

Could this be the predicted swerve to the ditch? This wasn't the first time Neil was ahead of the curve on impeachment (Nixon) or calling out for the truth.

As word of the album began to percolate through the blogosphere, reactions began to pour in fast and furious.

From Cole Slaw Blog:

"Mildly disappointed with Neil Young's syrupy fall release 'Prairie Wind,' this morning I'm happy (I'd write 'thrilled' or 'overjoyed,' but I'm trying to be more understated) to read that Neil will soon release a hard-rocking protest album called 'Life in War.'

After days of continuing speculation as to what Neil was up to, his official website began to offer up specific details. Neil himself described the album as "Metal Folk Protest" like Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan.


Once completed, Neil played the album for his label Reprise and than immediately gave a live interview to CNN. For many fans, this was Neil at his finest -- speaking truth to power.


Neil Rocks on CNN

So would "Living With War" be rock's "Fahrenheit 9/11"? For critics, it seemed to be the case.

But things would get ugly. Very ugly. Blogs exploded on early news reports of the still unheard album.




Day By Day Cartoon

Sadly, a not untypical comment on Hammer of Truth » Neil Young Jumping on the Impeachment Train by Taylor:

"How should I put this? How but, Fuck Neil Young.

He nothing but another commi, liberal, anti-american, hippie. If he hates the way George Bush runs America, then he can just take his whining ass back to Canada. We sure as hell don’t need him here, complaining about how bad things are. He talks like he would make a better president than George Bush. If someone like Neil Young was our president, then every terrorist in the world could walk all over us and he wouldn’t do a damn thing. His little anti-war ass."

Well, we thought we had seen everything. Until "War on Neil Young" from Red State Update started appearing on YouTube. Couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.

It nearly became depressing. How could so many who probably had never even heard of Neil's music become so filled with hate? I was down on a frown when a messenger brought me a letter. Thankfully, there was much support for both Neil and Thrasher's Wheat. Without the stunning and overwhelming reader support, this site would have folded last April.

Eventually, the CD was released, heard and evaluated. Reviews of "Living with War" were predictable for their focus around one song on the album and failing to grasp the larger picture.

The experience of April 2006 was unlike anything ever experienced before here at Thrasher's Wheat. Now I know what it feels to be hit by a virtual tsunami with 100's of comments on nearly every post -- many of which were filled with hate about Neil's freedom of expression. One of the things Thrasher is most proud of is the coverage the site has received that notes our non-partisan and apolitical stance, as Daily Kos notes:

"The definitive Neil Young site Thrasher's Wheat has done the hard work of assembling reaction from musical and political bloggers. Some of the reactions gathered on the normally apolitical Thrasher's Wheat show Bush's zombies in early meltdown."

If nothing else, Living With War was the most courageous album of 2006.

Complete coverage of the Living With War controversary at Neil Young News: 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006 and Neil Young News: 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006.

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