The Red Hot Compilations Make A Comeback
The sixteenth volume in the Red Hot series of compilations, which raise funds for AIDS research, is coming in 2009, featuring a very Starbucks-friendly duet between Ben Gibbard and Feist, as well as tracks from David Byrne, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, and The National (who are also producing the compilation). The fact that there are fifteen volumes in the series blew my mind, especially as the series has done a good job of capturing various trends in music since the first volume hit stores in 1990.
The first volume, Red, Hot and Blue, collected covers of Cole Porter songs, including “Night and Day” performed by U2:
Red, Hot and Dance was possibly most notable for featuring three tracks from George Michael, left over from the Listen WIthout Prejudice Volume 2 sessions, including the model strewn “Too Funky”:
1993’s No Alternative has tracks by Barbara Manning and The Verlaines, and was one of the better purchases I ever made at the Wherehouse location by my high school. Oh, there were also songs by Nirvana, Soundgarden and “Glynis” by the Smashing Pumpkins:
Fast forward past tributes to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Portugal, and “Rock en Español” quite a bit to Red Hot and Riot, a hit and miss tribute to Fela Kuti, but this track with D’Angelo, Femi Kuti and Macy Gray isn’t bad:
No word if there’s a theme to the newest compilation, between a good cause and a National track, I’m likely to pick up a copy.
