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 Eighteen of the world's top music stars -- among them Sir
Paul McCartney, Avril Lavigne, David Bowie, New Order, Ronan
Keating, Blue's Lee Ryan, Travis and George Michael -- have
contributed exclusive new tracks to Hope, released on Monday
May 12th to help the child victims of the war in Iraq.
"Whatever the politics, whatever the rights and wrongs
of war, children are always the innocent victims so I am delighted
to be able to make this small contribution to a magnificent
project that I hope goes a long way to alleviating some of
the pain and suffering," says Sir Paul McCartney.
All the acts are giving their services for free and Warner
Music Australia has agreed to donate recording royalties payable
from the album to War Child. Hope was recorded around the
world in 25 days. The track listing -- and running order --
is:
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Travis, who have recorded a new song
called The Beautiful Occupation
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Avril Lavigne, who has contributed a
version of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Avril
recorded the song in London, just before her final show
at the Brixton Academy last week
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Sir Paul McCartney with a new version
of Calico Skies, one of the top tunes from his 2000 album,
Flaming Pie. To ensure his new version was delivered in
time to meet the Hope deadline, Sir Paul recorded it live
at the rehearsals for his current tour
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David Bowie with a new remix of Everyone
Says Hi, one of the stand-out tracks from his much-acclaimed
2002 album, Heathen
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George Michael, who has covered Don McLean's
1971 protest song, The Grave
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Ronan Keating with a live version of
Elvis's 1969 megahit, In the Ghetto
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Blue's Lee Ryan, who makes a one off
solo outing especially for War Child with a self penned
song called Stand Up as People
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Beverley Knight, who has updated Stevie
Wonder's Love's In Need of Love Today, one of the classic
songs from his groundbreaking 1976 album, Songs in the Key
of Life
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Moby, with a new song called Nearer
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New Order with an update of reggae supremo
Jimmy Cliff's 1970 single, Vietnam -- a tune once described
by Bob Dylan as the "best protest song" he had
ever heard
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Basement Jaxx and the Jamaican dancehall
legend Yellowman with a new song called
Love is the Answer
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Spiritualized with a new song called
Hold On
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The Charlatans, who have recorded their
own version of soul legend Curtis Mayfield's impassioned
1972 single, We Got To Have Peace
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Beth Orton, who has covered The 5 Stairsteps'
soul classic O-O-H Child, a U.S. Top 10 hit in 1970
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BRITS and Mercury Music Prize-nominated Tom McRae
with a brand-new composition called Border Song
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Billy Bragg with a newly-written song
called The Wolf Covers Its Tracks
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Yusuf Islam -- the artist formerly known
as Cat Stevens -- with a new version of his 1971 classic,
Peace Train. Recorded in Johannesburg with the South African
choir, Incwenga, this is Yusuf's first English-language
music release in 25 years
War Child was founded in 1993 in response to the conflict
in the former Yugoslavia. The charity was responsible for
the 1995 Help album -- recorded by 20 top bands and artists
-- which raised more £1.25 million for the children
of Bosnia. War Child has since expanded its fieldwork to conflicts
around the world.
Whatever our individual views about the justification for
the war, the suffering of children is something none of us
can ignore. Hope is not a political album; the plight of children
transcends politics. These songs are a plea for hope, without
which the children of Iraq have nothing at all.
Available in Australia through Warner Music from 12 May 2003.
For further information: www.warnermusic.com.au
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