Big Hard Sun – Into the wild with #Indio and #EddieVedder. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers

It’s hard to believe that this song is almost 30 years old, but time truly does fly by.

‘Big Hard Sun’ was released by Indio in 1989 and it received a lot of airplay. Enough to make it a top 10 song. Indio was the chosen ‘band’ name for the project created by Gordon Peterson, who is a Dundas, Ontario resident. This single helped his album, ‘Big Harvest’ gain some prominence on the ‘Alt Rock’ charts. Peterson is a bit of an enigma because recordings have been very scarce since this original release. He did record an experimental piece called ‘This Way Down’ to a small number of friends and fans in 2007.

Since its release in 1989 his original ‘Big Harvest’ record has become a massive collectors item, demanding up to $400. The album was re-released in 2009. The record’s prominence stems from two key points. First, Peterson is revered for his recognition of conservation issues and a love of nature, so the album resonates with that audience. Another reason for his revitalization stems from the controversial cover by Eddie Vedder on the ‘Into the Wild’ soundtrack. 

In 2007 Sean Penn approached Eddie Vedder about creating a soundtrack for his upcoming film ‘Into the Wild’. Vedder put together a fantastic compilation of songs that included some instrumental and vocal experimentations, some originals and two covers. The first cover was a brilliant lyrical piece called ‘Society‘ by Jerry Hannan and the second was ‘Big Hard Sun’.

This is where things got really interesting.

Gordon Peterson sued Eddie Vedder for altering the lyrics and ‘eroding the integrity’ of the original composition. There was also an allegation that he didn’t gain proper rights to record the song, but apparently Peterson’s former record company did grant permission. The lyrical adjustment appears in this passage:

Peterson wrote:

When she comes to greet me

She is mercy at my feet

When I stay to pillage her

She just throws it back at me

Gordon Peterson

Vedder altered the passage to:

When she comes to greet me

She is mercy at my feet

I see her inner charm

She just throws it back at me

Eddie Vedder

Where Peterson, who is a conservationist, is speaking to humanity’s careless disregard for the Earth’s beauty, and willful contempt of its preservation, Vedder seems to be coming from a point of reverence through the point of view of the main character in the movie. Vedder’s  subtle changes work in relation to the movie, but the concern about the adjustment is valid because the meaning of the song is altered. The question becomes, is it enough to justify a lawsuit? Evidently the answer was no. The U.S. District Judge ruled in Vedder’s favour. ‘Big Hard Sun’ is counted among many of Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder crowd favourites and Indio/Peterson enjoyed a resurgence of popularity as a result of the cover, and re-release of his ‘Big Harvest’ album. Everybody wins! Both artists and music fans. 

The final verdict from Ted Tocks Covers perspective, is this is a powerful song that works from both Peterson’s very provocative point of view and Eddie Vedder’s subtle adjustment.

As music fans, we are left with this gift, and the ability to focus on the message.