Jeff Buckley left this Earth much too soon before becoming one of the greatest musicians of all time. Despite releasing only one full-length album, Grace (1994), Buckley remains a musical icon, leaving behind an impressive, yet brief, catalog of covers and original music.

The 10-track collection of unheard demo tracks from a single studio session in 1993 has emerged as some of his oldest found solo recordings to date. Recorded shortly after he was signed to his label, the unheard demos sat forgotten for over 20 years. Now recently discovered, and thankfully so, the collection entitled You And I exhibits a young 26-year-old Buckley, learning just as much about himself as the music that he plays.

You And I is a compilation of mostly covers, varying from The Smiths, to Bob Dylan, Sly & The Family Stone, Bukka White and Led Zeppelin, as well as a few musical rarities and two original songs. Hearing the ’93 version of a young, blooming Buckley, and the influences on his pre-famed musical practice, inevitably rings a haunting bell. While these recordings were meant to demonstrate ideas, not meant to be shared in any capacity with the world, they showcase the raw talent and inspiration that Buckley brought to the universe.

To hear the organic nature of these songs bring brilliance to the evolutionary outcome of previously released Buckley tracks, such as “Grace,” which would become the title track to his only full-length release, and “Dream of You and I,” which would become “You And I.” The fascinating details of this session reveal the song as a dream from the previous night.

Buckley humbly whispers in song, as he picks through his ideas with no clear direction, “You and I, you and I, you and I / All for you,” and then goes on to explain, “I heard the people singing that in the dream… I was in the auditorium of a college, and everyone was congregated and singing the same words. There was a band on stage, a sort of spacey, Dead-head band. Guys in their 20’s, a bunch of grunge guys playing this other thing, not like what I’m playing here on guitar,” he strums softly. Buckley explains that the song the people were singing was about a guy singing to his lover who had cut him off from all contact with the world, ultimately taking away his freedom. This romantic medley turns out to be part of a rally for AIDS victims, so the refrain of “You and I” was heavily communicated between those in attendance through song.

“As long as you got that on tape, I’ll remember that,” he finishes. The rest, though turning out much different than these initial, raw ideas, is history.

From a sensually soulful rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman” to a hand-clapping funky take on Sly & The Family Stone’s “Everyday People,” Buckley displays his diverse ability to translate the thoughts in his head through his two main instruments: his voice and his guitar. A jazz-inspired “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'” and a ragtime/blues-heavy “Poor Boy Long Way From Home” shows just how far back he takes his thoughts, until he covers two Smiths and a Zeppelin tune. Buckley is the definition of constant inspiration, and these songs give only slight justification to the puzzle that is his life.

You can listen to the album today, courtesy of Spotify.

You And I Tracklisting

1. Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan)
2. Everyday People (Sly & The Family Stone)
3. Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’ (popularized by Louis Jordan, Ray Charles and others)
4. Grace (Jeff Buckley)
5. Calling You (written by Bob Telson and recorded by Jevetta Steele)
6. Dream Of You And I (Jeff Buckley)
7. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (The Smiths)
8. Poor Boy Long Way From Home (Bukka White)
9. Night Flight (Led Zeppelin)
10. I Know It’s Over (The Smiths)