Though Laura Marling has been covering Neil Young’s 1972 song “The Needle and the Damage Done” and Jackson C. Frank classic “Blues Run the Game” in various live settings over the past year, we now have studio versions of both stunning renditions, produced by Jack White for her new Third Man Records 7-inch. Unlike many White-helmed studio sessions, however, this pair of covers features no backup instrumentation or an appearance by the man himself, providing an intimate sonic landscape that focuses — much like the Young/Frank originals did — solely on Marling’s steady voice and acoustic guitar.
“It was perfect – one take,” White said of the session. “She’s gorgeous. Gorgeous voice and an incredible person. A wonderful girl… It’s really beautiful what she recorded.” Hear both recordings over at NME or below alongside the originals:
“Blues Run the Game” (Jackson C. Frank Cover)
“The Needle and the Damage Done” (Neil Young Cover)
Jackson C. Frank – “Blues Run the Game”
Neil Young – “The Needle and the Damage Done”