Hurricane benefit CD a go

Star-studded lineup for double album includes artists as far-reaching as Harry Connick Jr., Coolio, Coldplay, Mary J. Blige, and Fats Domino.

The long-rumored benefit album for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita--dubbed Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now--will hit stores as a double CD in mid-November, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The star-studded album will include a who's who in the music business, and all artists, labels, songwriters, and publishers have waived their royalties on the compilation. As a result of the waiver, at least $15 of the nearly $20 retail price will go to the hurricane relief efforts of the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and MusiCares, which helps musicians who have been displaced.

"Flooded streets, shattered lives, broken hearts, yet through it all, the music never dies," said New Orleans native Harry Connick Jr., one of the artists who will record a track on the Live Aid-style album, in the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes. "This CD helps us heal a place that has given so much music to the world."

The album will have at least 30 songs on it, many of which feature an ensemble of artists. Most of the songs have been previously released.

Among the highlights are Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Rod Stewart, Sir Elton John, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Robert Downey Jr., Phil Collins, Andrea Bocelli, and the band Velvet Revolver singing a version of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven." Sharon Osbourne originally organized the song as a single to benefit Save The Children.

"The music community is proud to do its part and come together--merging the great talent of this industry and the overwhelming desire of so many to lend a hand--in one united effort to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Mitch Bainwol, the RIAA's chairman and CEO, in a statement.

"New Orleans is one of this nation's great cradles of music, and so it is especially important that we do everything we can to also help musicians get back on their feet," he continued.

The album also includes a duet between Norah Jones and Wyclef Jean on "Any Other Day" and a collaboration between Dave Matthews Band and Robert Randolph on "Louisiana Bayou."

A huge ensemble of artists contributed to the song "Come Together Now," including The Game, Aaron Carter, Nick Carter, Chingy, Natalie Cole, Gavin DeGraw, Celine Dion, Anthony Hamilton, Wyclef Jean, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Brian McKnight, AJ McLean, Mya, Kelly Price, Angie Stone, Joss Stone, and Ruben Studdard.

Michael McDonald, Wynonna Judd, and Eric Benet contributed "Heart of America," while Kirk Whalum and Coolio did a rework of the classic "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Most of the songs have been previously released and chosen because they fit the album's theme. They included John Fogerty's "Born on the Bayou," Clint Black's "The Great Mississippi Flood," Connick's "City Beneath the Sea," Bonnie Raitt's "I Will Not Be Broken," and Sting's "Moon Over Bourbon Street."

The album also features several live recordings, with Coldplay delivering a live take of "Fix You," while James Brown contributed a live performance of his classic "Try Me."

New Orleans legend Fats Domino contributed "Walking to New Orleans" to the album. The 77-year-old Domino returned to his lower Ninth Ward home this week for the first time since he was rescued from rising floodwaters in a boat. He found only a few of his 21 gold records.