As reported by Brooklyn Vegan, Fiona Apple has released a hauntingly beautiful cover of Don Heffington’s “Lately,” as part of the newly released tribute album Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’: A Tribute to Don Heffington. The album, which honors the life and legacy of the prolific drummer and songwriter who passed away in 2021, features a variety of musicians paying homage to Heffington’s work, with proceeds benefiting the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. For Fiona Apple, this tribute album follows her recent collaboration with Iron & Wine for the single “All In Good Time.” 

Apple’s rendition of “Lately” brings a fresh yet nostalgic twist to Heffington’s original from his 2016 album Contemporary Abstractions in Folk Song and Dance. With a sultry vocal style reminiscent of 1930s and 1940s jazz, Apple transforms the folk-leaning track into a smoky, vintage ballad, imbued with her signature raw emotion. Her voice, simultaneously delicate and powerful, captures the introspective longing of the song, while subtle strings wrap the listener in an atmospheric soundscape. As is characteristic of Apple’s covers, she makes the song entirely her own, blending her unique voice with the emotional depth of Heffington’s original.

Don Heffington, who collaborated with legends like Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, and Sheryl Crow, was known for his contributions to both country rock and folk music, as well as for his solo albums. Each track on the album celebrates Heffington’s diverse musical legacy while raising funds for a good cause. 

Listen to Fiona Apple’s cover of Don Heffington’s “Lately” here: