Pearl Jam made waves with the release of their third studio album, Vitalogy, in late 1994, during a period of frenetic growth in their popularity. Among the most unexpected and exciting developments of that era was the band’s collaboration with legendary musician Neil Young for the 1995 album Mirror Ball. This partnership not only marked a pivotal moment in their musical journey but also showcased the band’s ability to evolve and experiment with different sounds and influences.

Brett Eliason, a longtime associate of Pearl Jam, vividly recounts the serendipitous events that led to this collaboration. “Pearl Jam had performed at Constitution Hall in D.C. for Gloria Steinem’s Voters for Choice concert,” he shared during a recent interview on the UCR Podcast. “Neil Young and Crazy Horse joined us for that memorable performance. As the headlining act, Pearl Jam was on stage after Neil, who had just played some new material. He was so captivated by Pearl Jam’s energy that night that he invited them to join him for an encore, where they played one of the songs that would eventually feature on Mirror Ball. They quickly learned it backstage, and the performance was electric.”

The song “Act of Love” was performed that night, serving as a catalyst that inspired Neil Young to pursue a full album collaboration with Pearl Jam. True to his artistic vision, Young expressed a desire for the recording sessions to be very “Pearl Jam-centric.” He planned to travel to Seattle to work closely with the band, utilizing their trusted producer, Brendan O’Brien, along with Eliason and other key members of their recording team to create something truly special.

The recording sessions took place at Bad Animals, a studio owned by Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson at the time. Eliason recalls, “We brought in this enormous rug from the rehearsal space to lay down, transforming the studio into a cozy atmosphere. We set up couches and lamps, creating a large, inviting space that felt like a living room. The band arranged themselves in a semi-circle, equipped with live monitors, resembling a stage setup. This arrangement allowed them to play together in a live setting, which was essential to their creative process.”

Reflecting on the recording process, Eliason notes that the sessions maintained a relaxed and organic feel, characteristic of many of Young’s past works. “We would keep going until they captured the base they wanted, and that was the take. There was little to no fixing unless a remarkable take just needed a tiny adjustment. Neil would often double his vocals, but he recorded his parts simultaneously while playing guitar with the band. It was truly a magical experience, capturing the essence of their collaboration in real-time.”

Experience Neil Young and Pearl Jam’s Live Performance of ‘Downtown’

The recordings made during the sessions in January and February of 1995 are a genuine representation of what transpired in the studio. “Most of that album consisted of the board mixes that we had at the time,” Eliason confirms. “That’s Neil’s style. If it felt right, it was done. I admire that about him; he doesn’t overthink his art. Approximately 90 to 95% of Mirror Ball consisted of those rough mixes that were up on the console between Brendan and myself.”

Following their studio work, Neil Young and Pearl Jam took their collaboration on the road, performing a brief series of concerts in the summer of 1995. This tour capped off a significant year, which also saw Eddie Vedder deliver a heartfelt speech inducting Young into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just two days before the Voters for Choice concert. Vedder praised Young for imparting lessons about “dignity and commitment” as well as the importance of “playing in the moment,” a philosophy that resonated deeply during the Mirror Ball sessions.

For fans eager to see an expanded reissue of Mirror Ball, hopes for unreleased studio material may be tempered. Eliason states, “From those sessions, most of the content has already been released. We did record a live performance at Moe’s on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which was the first time they played this record together. Those tapes are out there somewhere, and it would be exciting to find them because that show was exceptional.”

During the interview, Eliason also discussed the recording process behind Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy, which has recently been remixed for the first time in spatial audio. Listeners can enjoy the full conversation below.

Listen to Brett Eliason Discuss on the ‘UCR Podcast’