God Bless America

MUSIC

In the wake of terrorist attacks, Sony releases a new CD to benefit the Twin Towers Fund.

By Tim Whitaker

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Oct. 17, 2001

Various Artists
God Bless America
SONY

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This compilation was pressed quickly, clearly in a patriotic fervor, with proceeds benefiting the Twin Towers Fund. There are 15 songs, and not all 15 are intended to directly induce flag-waving frenzy, like Bill Withers' "Lean On Me," which is simply there in a supportive context. As with all compilations united under a single theme, it's not likely many consumers will sit and listen to this from beginning to end. You buy it for the little gems, or you buy it as a charitable gesture, but you don't buy it to listen to in your car every day. The first song, beware, is Celine Dion singing "God Bless America." You'll want to skip that one and jump to Springsteen's "Land of Hope and Dreams." The serious gems: Tramaine Hawkins' version of "Amazing Grace"; Pete Seeger's "This Land Is Your Land"; and Mahalia Jackson's "We Shall Overcome." The others you either already have somewhere ("Bridge Over Troubled Water,"; "Blowin' in the Wind") or don't care to ever have (Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A."). Get it for the lost gems, or to be a good guy. And in that spirit, let's skip giving this one a grade, shall we?