Double-shot of relief

Play it: Various Artists I Believe to My Soul
Play it: Various Artists A Celebration of New Orleans Music
Stream it: Rhino Records' I Believe to My Soul

Katrina may have come and gone, but the devastation of her wake ain't goin' away anytime soon. Now you can help out by enjoying great music - you see Hurricane Katrina victims got a double-dose of medicine yesterday with the release of two benefit albums.

The first is I Believe to My Soul, which features New Orleans greats Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, along with soul greats Billy Preston and Mavis Staples, collaborating with musician/producer Joe Henry on new songs recorded in a classic soul manner. Inspired by Henry's production of Solomon Burke's 2001 grammy-winning album Don’t Give Up on Me, other artists started to show interest in an updated version of authentic soul. The results are as astounding as they were for Burke's Don’t Give Up on Me, and much like the music of yesterday, these songs are immediately intimate and warm, which makes me believe maybe there's hope for authenticity in the digital age after all.

While the project didn't start out to be a benefit album, key contributors Toussaint and Thomas saw their homes demolished in Katrina's wake, so it became one out of compassion (and necessity.) Starbucks Hear Music, Rhino and Work Song and will donate $10 of the purchase price of every CD sold to aid in the region’s recovery (via American Red Cross.) (Buy here.) (via Robert of the Radish)

The second album, A Celebration of New Orleans Music: to benefit the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund is a compilation of songs from New Orleans favorite sons and daughters. This Rounder Records release features Irma Thomas, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Professor Longhair, Jelly Roll Morton, and photo-opportunee Harry Connick, Jr., among others. The album nearly reads like a history of the area (with notable exceptions,) and all proceeds from this CD go to the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund. (Buy here.)

tags: playlist, music, new orleans, allen toussaint, irma thomas, hurricane relief, joe henry