Sweet Relief III: Pennies From Heaven

Musicians are often among the first people to offer to raise money for people in need. The Sweet Relief charity is set up to help musicians—who often can't find affordable health insurance—to pay their medical costs. Previous Sweet Relief albums helped Victoria Williams (who appears here singing Sam Cooke's prophetic civil rights anthem “Change Is Gonna Come”) and the late Vic Chesnutt. Proceeds from this album will be added to the Sweet Relief charity fund to help future musicians in need. Artists here range from Jackson Browne, singing his late friend Warren Zevon’s stirring hymn “Don’t Let Us Get Sick," to Tina Schlieske, singing The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” in its Joe Cocker–style interpretation. Ben Harper tackles Van Morrison’s soul ballad “Crazy Love,” while Genevieve Toupin brings a feminine intimacy to Neil Young’s craggly “Heart of Gold.” Best of all, Rickie Lee Jones strings along The Beach Boys’ classic “Surfer Girl.”