“This song put me in the middle of the road. Travelling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch”, said Neil Young about his only major hit, Heart of Gold, from the 1972 album Harvest. 

Whether or not the dozens of artists who’ve covered it since consider it “middle of the road”, they’ve certainly taken it right off the beaten track. Andy’s guest analysts in this second edition of our new Cover Story series are singer-songwriters and broadcasters Henry Wagons and Georgia Mooney.

Music details:

Heart of GoldComposed by Neil YoungOriginally performed by Neil Young for the album Harvest (1972) on Reprise Records

Covers by:

Johnny CashWillie NelsonMidnight ShineTori AmosBettye LaVetteBoney M.OndaraNeil Young & Stray Gators (live in Tuscaloosa)

Technical production by Harvey O’Sullivan and Bethany Stewart.

The Music Show is made on Gadigal and Gundungurra Country