We invited a few of Neil Younger’s most esteemed followers to cowl his songs
We knew we had been onto one thing good on August 21 – at 3.44pm, to be exact. That’s when Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s model of “Cortez The Killer” landed in mine and Tom Pinnock’s inboxes accompanied by the briefest notice: “Will this be just right for you guys?”
Set over the merest shades of an acoustic guitar, it gave the impression of Will Oldham had recorded it on his entrance porch in Kentucky, with crickets chirping within the distance and the resonant tones of chime bells and the creak of a rocking chair offering additional atmosphere. It was proof that our plan to mark Neil Younger’s impending eightieth birthday by inviting a few of Younger’s most esteemed followers to cowl his songs was off to the very strongest begin.
Some 14 tracks later – the final new recording to reach, on September 7, was Kurt Vile and The Sadies’ rowdy model of “White Line” – Tom and I had a CD each bit as stellar because the Dylan Revisited CD assembled for Bob’s eightieth in 2021. An enormous due to all of the artists concerned for his or her time – and Tom for pulling all of it collectively so brilliantly. Name it our birthday present from Neil to you…
“He radically modifications his thoughts and his path…”
Our Neilfest continues inside, after all. In our in depth cowl story, we requested pals, collaborators and admirers to assist us discover the various sides of Younger, a opposite single-mindedness that has formed a exceptional physique of labor. “He radically modifications his thoughts and his path, to the shock of everybody,” says one. “However then, he’s executed this all his life.”
You’ll discover a number of different great things elsewhere in these pages: Patti Smith, Otis Redding, the Stones, John Foxx, Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, Jonathan Richman, Tremendous Furry Animals, Donovan, Self Esteem, The Belair Lip Bombs and extra.
As ever, tell us what you suppose at letters@uncut.co.uk.
