WELCOME (BACK) MATS: The Replacements have recorded a brand-new EP, Songs for Slim, the first new recording from the legendary band since 1990’s All Shook Down. Proceeds from this limited edition 10” for New West Records will benefit friend and former ‘Mats guitarist, solo artist and Minneapolis post-punk scene veteran Slim Dunlap, who has been partially paralyzed since suffering a massive right-brain stroke last February. Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson entered Flowers Studio in Minneapolis (with guitarist Kevin Bowe and drummer Peter Anderson) last September to record Dunlap’s “Busted Up,” then tackled Leon Payne’s “Lost Highway” (by way of Hank Williams), Gordon Lightfoot’s “I’m Not Sayin’” (originally covered by Nico) and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” most famously sung by Ethel Merman from the Broadway show Gypsy. The five-track EP also includes original drummer Chris Mars’ version of Slim’s “Radio Hook Word Hit.” 250 numbered, signed copies of the 180-gram vinyl EP will be available by auction starting today through Jan. 25 here. The EP will then be made available for digital purchase March 5. A standard 12” edition of the record, with a download card comes out in April. Longtime Mats pal, New West VP Production and Catalog Peter Jesperson, has confirmed that 17 other artists will also contribute a series of limited edition 7” vinyl covering Dunlap’s solo material, including Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Jakob Dylan, John Doe and Joe Henry. (1/15a)