12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief
Various Artists
(Columbia)

With a lineup that looks like a classic rock hall of fame show, The Concert for Sandy Relief on 12-12-12 featured an array of major performers, ranging from the Stones and Springsteen to Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Alicia Keys at Madison Square Garden on the last repeating digit day in our lifetime to raise funds for hurricane relief in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  The marathon show ran for nearly six hours, but there were quite a few significant highlights, most of which are represented on the 24-track album. It features Roger Waters singing “Comfortably Numb” with Eddie Vedder, Chris Martin’s surprise version of “Losing My Religion” with Michael Stipe, and Alicia Keys’ closing song, “Empire State of Mind,” which was introduced by Paul McCartney.

The album is well worth the price with great tracks from The Who, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band along with a funny, but somewhat controversial version of “Hallelujah” from Adam Sandler and Paul Shaffer. Absent though are some of the most talked about moments including Kanye West’s set and the most surprising moment, the collaboration between Paul McCartney and the surviving members of Nirvana, which I still can’t believe happened.

All the proceeds from the album will be going to support The Robin Hood Foundation, so you can consider it a worthwhile investment in our hometown. It’s a way of getting a collection of great songs and helping out some of your fellow New Yorkers in need.