The Replacements have reunited for their first official recording in 23 years, albeit in somewhat unfortunate circumstances.

The Minneapolis punk legends, best known for their releases in the early 1980s, have reassembled in aid of former member Slim Dunlap, who is currently recovering from a stroke. As The Stool Pigeon note, the band’s surviving members have reunited to record a new EP to raise funds for the ailing guitarist.

Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars all appear on the Songs For Slim EP, which includes a selection of cover versions. Leon Payne’s ‘Lost Highway’, Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘I’m Not Sayin’ and Broadway musical number ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’ all feature, as does a version of Dunlap’s own ‘Busted Up’. Former Replacements drummer Chris Mars also makes a solo appearance on a cover of Dunlap’s ‘Radio Hook Word Hit’.

Songs For Slim will be available as a limited edition 10″, of which only 250 editions will be pressed .The disc will come bundled with exclusive band photos, a print of a Chris Mars painting, a Dunlap poster and autographs from Westerberg, Stinson and Mars. The discs will be auctioned over at the dedicated Songs For Slim page over the next ten days.

A digital version will drop on March 5, with a 12″ vinyl version hitting stores in April 2013. An album compilation of the tracks is also mooted but not confirmed. A supplementary disc of covers of Dunlap songs is also being auctioned – contributors include Steve Earle, Frank Black and Jakob Dylan.

Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. Busted Up (Slim Dunlap)
2. Radio Hook Word Hit (Slim Dunlap)
Side B:
1. I’m Not Sayin’ (Gordon Lightfoot)
2. Lost Highway (Leon Payne)
3. Everything’s Coming Up Roses (Stephen Sondheim/Jule Styne)