Benefit Beat

Ever since George Harrison gathered with Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar at Madison Square Garden for the 1971 benefit concert for Bangladesh, philanthropic pop has been a booming business. And in the caring, sharing '90s, a new formula has emerged: the compilation album. Among the best:

FOR OUR CHILDREN

For:

Pediatric AIDS

Theme:

Children's songs

Stars:

Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting, Ziggy Marley, Bette Midler

Best Cuts

Dylan's quirky This Old Man, Little Richard's sassy Itsy Bitsy Spider, Elton's jazzy The Pacifier

DEADICATED

For:

Rainforest Action Network

Theme:

Songs by the Grateful Dead

...

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