The Replacements’ Songs for Slim reunion EP comes out digitally today (March 5), just as organizers behind the monthly “Songs for Slim” split seven-inch series have declared the project’s second auction “an overwhelming success.”
Following the January auction of the ‘Mats five-track covers EP — featuring four songs by Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson, plus one extra from drummer Chris Mars — the charity effort to raise money for former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap, who suffered a stroke last year, continued. In February, the “Slim” benefit offered a split vinyl from Steve Earle (covering Dunlap’s “Times Like This”) and the Hold Steady’s Craig Finn (taking on another Dunlap song, “Isn’t It?”).
Bidding for the rare vinyls, which were limited to just 100 copies, closed on February 22 after fans raised a little more than $9,000, “an impressive total by any accounting,” according to a press release. Maybe, but it’s nowhere near the more than $100,000 reportedly generated from the not-quite-back-together Replacements’ Songs for Slim EP.
“The success of Songs for Slim, an innovative charitable project that enables participants to contribute to a worthwhile cause while receiving high quality, super cool collectibles in return, is entirely dependent on the generosity of those with a desire to help Slim face the considerable challenges that lie ahead for him and his loved ones,” the statement reads. “The SFS team, New West Records and the Dunlaps are awed and humbled at the initial response so far.”
More than 300 people bid nearly 700 times, and the highest bid (for the first individually numbered copy) was $355. As per the press release, a fifth of the records went for $100 or more. The vinyls are set to ship near the end of March, and the Earle b/w Finn single will available digitally soon afterward.
The next week-long auction takes place from March 15 to 22 and will offer a seven-inch consisting of Lucinda Williams’ rendition of Dunlap’s “Partners in Crime” and Tommy Keene and R. Walt Vincent’s cover of Dunlap’s “Nowheres Near.” All 100 copies will feature artwork from Chris Mars and will be signed by Williams and Keene.
