Artists including Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, The Doobie Brothers, Eddie Vedder, Mumford & Sons, and more have released their tribute to Neil Young titled ‘Heart Of Gold Volume 1’ via Cinema Music Group.

To be honest, being a Gen Xr, I never really thought much about the music of Neil Young. To me, his career started with ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’. That pre-grunge sound of gritty guitars laid with chords and chords of rebel dirt. I now stand corrected. I remember the bulk of these songs through raiding my dad’s record collection, but, collected here and reinterpreted via different artists of different genres with careers spanning decades themselves, I never really took in the diversity and wide-ranging soundscapes of Neil Young’s talent and songwriting capabilities.

As vast as Neil’s repertoire and chameleon-like reinvention upon reinvention that his vast catalogue of music represents, there is a sincerity that goes beyond him as a musician. It carries well into this collection of songs. It carries into all of us, as an appreciation as well as astonishment for the legacy.

About Cinema Music Group & ‘Heart Of Gold Volume 1’

Cinema Music Group (CMG) is a Los Angeles-based production house founded by longtime friends and collaborators Dave Resnik and Niko Bolas. With decades of experience between them, they’ve worked with some of the biggest names in music—from Neil Young to Mavis Staples to Don Henley—and share a deep belief in capturing music the old-school way: live in the room, minimal takes, and maximum feeling.

Dave Resnik has composed music for major networks like ABC and CBS and performed with artists including Ricky Martin, Donna Summer, and Sonia Dada. He also spent time in A&R, signing bands like Kyuss and working with Lucinda Williams. Niko Bolas is a legendary producer and engineer whose credits include James Taylor, Sting, Billy Joel, KISS, and a long-running collaboration with Neil Young.

In 2021, after reconnecting at a friend’s wake, Dave and Niko launched CMG to reimagine classic songs and produce new music with both established and emerging artists. They quickly became known as “the cover guys,” working out of their LA studio, The Surf Shack, and partnering with talents like Chris Pierce and Charlie Greene.

Their latest project is their most ambitious yet: Heart Of Gold Volume 1, a compilation of Neil Young covers performed by artists including Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, The Doobie Brothers, Eddie Vedder, Mumford & Sons, and many more. What began as a one-off session with Chris Pierce turned into a full-scale benefit project with Neil’s blessing, supporting The Bridge School, a pioneering nonprofit that helps children with severe speech and physical impairments through assistive technology.

Each artist on the album personally chose the song they covered, and nearly every track was recorded in just one or two takes, giving the record an intimate, live feel. Thanks to a distribution deal with Killphonic Rights, CMG has already raised $100,000 for The Bridge School, with Volume 1 out now, and Volumes 2 and 3 on the way.

Beyond Heart of Gold Volume 1, CMG is working on a new Chris Pierce album and a protest song compilation featuring artists like Draco Rosa, continuing their mission to make meaningful, soulful music with purpose.

LINKS:
https://www.cinemamusicgroup.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thecinemamusicgroup/
https://www.instagram.com/daveresnik/
https://www.instagram.com/niko.bolas/