I haven’t listened to this yet but where Ed’s covers when I was younger opened me up to music I wasn’t aware, he seems to now cover songs that already amongst my favorite from these artists (this one and Drive come to mind). I don’t put a ton of stock into them yet I find it breezily enjoyable. I will get to this soon.

its an interesting observation and mirrors my own experience. do covere land differently when they are quasi new songs to the listener?

I think when you hear the cover primarily through them it feels like almost part their song, where something like this just seems like maybe someone else’s song completely that you happen to hear Ed’s voice over? It’s maybe not that simple but that’s at least part of it.

baba o riley, RITFW, harvest moon, fuckin up, save it for later are all songs i discovered through Pearl Jam

These I discovered by way of PJ, and I ended up preferring (by a lot) the cover version over the originals:

History Never Repeats
Walking the Cow
Better Things
Timeless Melody
Last Kiss

But they don't always hit home runs (I Just Wanna Have Something To Do).

I'm happy to say I was a huge Baba fan before becoming a Pearl Jam fan. I'm sad to say that Pearl Jam's version has never really done it for me- I need that damn violin and Mike's solo just leaves me wanting more of the original. First time I saw them do it live, in 1993, was incredibly exciting though!

I believe they do, absolutely. That's definitely always been the case for me.

As such, I dig this cover (Room at the Top; that's this thread right? lol). It's not anywhere near as compelling to me as Save It For Later, nor is it as satisfying for me as the original. But it's a cool take on the song.

Ed's cover of Save it for Later will always be tied to The Bear for me so that just is what it is.

RE: Room at the Top 'EHM did play the Petty original followed by Ed's version for the Cover Story today, clear differences but if I had to slap a label on it would be 'inoffensive'.

I enjoyed more than all of you, and I’m okay with that.

Ed's 12" from Record Store Day says Room at the Top is live. I don't know if it's the same version that was previously released, I would assume not, b/c that video doesn't sound live.
It's from the February 17, 2022 Earthings show.

Written by Tom Petty
PUblished by Adria K Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Andrew Watt
Recorded by John Burton at YouTube Theater, Los Angeles
Mixed by Paul LaMalfa, Andrew Watt
Mastered by Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Production Coordinator Chelsea Fodero
Vocals, Electric Guitar by Eddie Vedder
Drums by Chad Smith
Bass by Chris Chaney
Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocals by Glen Hansard
Electric guitar, Background vocals by Josh Klinghoffer
Electric Guitar, Background Vocals by Andrew Watt
Organ by Benmont Tench

Sounds like the same recording. My guess is that it's recorded live, after which they've added some postproduction.

Ah, I just listened to the record. Yeah, I guess it's the same version.