Jeff Tweedy and Lucero Close Out 'Songs for Slim' Single Series

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Lucero have joined forces for the last in the Songs for Slim 7-inch singles series. Tweedy is joined by his son Spencer and other musicians on a cover of Dunlap’s “Ballad of the Opening Band”; Lucero takes a Memphis-inspired spin on his “From the Git Go.” Benefiting former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap, who suffered a debilitating stroke in February 2012, the vinyl release will be limited 250 copies to be sold at auction.

The series kicked off with a four-song covers EP by the Replacements back in January, and also featured contributions from Frank Black, Drive-by Truckers’ Patterson Hood, Vanessa Carlton, Deer Tick, John Doe, You Am I, and the Young Fresh Fellows. Digital versions of the tracks are also available, with a CD that features bonus cuts coming soon.

The auction for the Tweedy/Lucero single, which features artwork by former Replacements drummer Chris Mars, kicks off Sunday, September 15 at 1 p.m. EST at SongsForSlim.com and will conclude a week later. That same night, the newly reunited Replacements — frontman Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson, with two backing musicians — will close out Riot Fest Chicago, their second gig since reforming at the Toronto iteration of event after a 22-year hiatus. At that show, Westerberg announced that they had “a special request from Slim back home” to play “Swingin’ Party.” Check out that rendition, as well as snippets of Tweedy and Lucero’s covers, below.