Search - Various Artists :: God Bless America

Various Artists
God Bless America
Genres: Folk, International Music, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock, Classic Rock, Broadway & Vocalists

Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
1. God Bless America - Celine Dion
2. Land Of Hope And Dreams - Bruce Springsteen
3. Hero - Mariah Carey
4. Amazing Grace - Tramaine Hawkins
5. Blowin' In The Wind - Bob Dylan
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
7. Peaceful World - John Mellencamp
8. There's A Hero - Billy Gilman
9. America The Beautiful - Frank Sinatra
10. God Bless The U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood
11. This Land Is Your Land - Pete Seeger
12. Coming Out Of The Dark - Gloria Estefan
13. My Country 'Tis Of Thee - Mahalia Jackson
14. The Star-Spangled Banner - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
15. Lean On Me - Bill Withers

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CD Details

All Artists: Various Artists
Title: God Bless America
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 12
Label: Sony
Release Date: 10/16/2001
Genres: Folk, International Music, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock, Classic Rock, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk, Cool Jazz, Traditional Jazz & Ragtime, Vocal Jazz, Bebop, Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriters, Soft Rock, Vocal Pop, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 696998630024, 5099750518625

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Columbia Records rushed this compilation of patriotic and inspirational favorites into production in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks. The title song is a new version by Celine Dion similar to the performance she gave on the Tribute to Heroes telethon, while John Mellencamp's "Peaceful World" is included in an alternate, acoustic treatment. Each listener may find his or her own favorites, but few will be left unmoved by a selection that also includes Bruce Springsteen's "Land of Hope and Dreams," Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water," and renderings of "America the Beautiful," "This Land Is Your Land," and "Amazing Grace" by, respectively, Frank Sinatra, Pete Seeger, and Tramaine Hawkins. Bill Withers's "Lean on Me" closes the disc on a plainspoken note that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of rescuers and other Americans since the tragedies. A back-cover note promises that a "substantial portion of the proceeds received by Sony Music [Columbia's parent company] from sales of this album will be donated to the Twin Towers Fund." --Rickey Wright

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Member CD Reviews

Kathy S. (lakotakat)
Reviewed on 12/30/2011...

Oh rah, rah! Yes, this is an album with the most "known" patriotic songs. HOWEVER, I seriously doubt that the people listed (sure doesn't sound like Sinatra to me, etc!)are actually the performers of most of these songs. Frankly, I was quite disappointed with the "quality" of the performers on this CD! And I sure would like to know just HOW MUCH of the price went to the "Fund." Don't they have to declare a percentage, not just "a substantial sum?" I say - PROVE IT!!

Ray P. (radar) from DECATUR, AL
Reviewed on 4/6/2009...

The is the CD that raised funds for the survivors of the 911 bombing

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Michael J. from CHARLOTTE, NC
Reviewed on 2/18/2007...

God help you if you want this cd

1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Carol W. from SAN DIEGO, CA
Reviewed on 8/26/2006...

Good CD.

0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

A friendly foreign viewpoint

Pat Kelly | Here, There & Everywhere | 10/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"... God Bless America is a remarkably good collection of music. Patriotic music is of course tempered by one's birthright or citizenship. O Canada probably won't stir great feeling in Americans, and that's fair enough. The US national anthem is, I believe, fairly regarded as a difficult piece of music. You need a singer with the range of Whitney or Mariah to hit the span of notes in that song. Since Sony doesn't have Whitney and Mariah is already represented, they have taken the safe and perhaps pedestrian approach of using the Mormom Tabernacle Choir, whose 300-strong voices guarantee the song will be done justice.Personally, I've always thought that Irving Berlin's God Bless America was a better piece of music than the Star Spangled Banner. But Celine Dion must surely confirm that beyond ANY doubt. She starts the tune as a lullaby and gradually, flawlessly builds it to an aria. Her performance leaves me in complete awe. Ironically, Celine is also Canadian, as is the producer of the track, David Foster.John Mellencamp's Peaceful World is not the radio version, but a simple acoustic mix. Invariably such acoustic version of his songs make them even stronger, bringing his quiet determined pride in America forward. If you can find an acoustic Pink Houses, you'll know what I mean.Springsteen, as ever, steps up to bat and belts out a home run with "Land of Hope and Dreams". After that the pickings are, if not desparate, certainly eclectic. This is probably the only time in history that you'll see Frank Sinatra side by side with Pete Seeger...Filling in are a number of pop standards meant to calm rather than inspire: Hero, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Lean On Me. The songs are inspiring -- the choices aren't particularly.It's ironic how many song on the CD have non-American connections. Besides Celine Dion, "God Bless America"'s composer was born in Germany. Gloria Estafan was born in Cuba. Amazing Grace was composed in Scotland, and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" uses exactly the same tune the British anthem "God Save The Queen".
"

Very Powerful, Very Moving...

Robert J. Schneider | Tacoma, WA USA | 11/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although most songs on this CD were first recorded and released by these artists long ago, to hear them in the order on which they appear really stirs up the emotions. The CD begins with the unforgettable version of "God Bless America" as sung by Celine Dion in the way that only she can sing, and continues with the haunting "Land of Hope and Dreams" by Bruce Springsteen. I must say that the tears really started welling up during the listening of "America the Beautiful" by the late great Frank Sinatra, who was (and continues to be) one of our greatest national treasures. I never realized how much of one he was until hearing him on this CD.I never sang along to the stirring chorus of "God Bless The U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood until now. To hear Mahalia Jackson's voice (on "My Country 'Tis Of Thee") alone is probably worth the purchase of this CD. (Speaking of national treasures, she also was one of our greatest.) The wan but quietly inspiring "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers is the right song that ends this collection of American artistry, which pays tribute to the nation from which these artists sprung. Artists who all came from such widely different backgrounds, with such widely differing political views (try to imagine Pete Seeger and Lee Greenwood at the same political event--highly unlikely), but they knew what united them all: each and every artist on this CD was proud to be an American.So am I."

A Timely Collection

Rick Terpstra | Pennsylvania | 11/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are those here who claim that Sony was motivated solely by profit when it released this CD. While I'm sure the bottom line factored in somewhere, I think that this is more a case of supply and demand. Suddenly Americans had a desire to own some of these songs and Sony simply dug through the vault and gave us what it had.While some of the selections or versions chosen are questionable (Mariah Carey's 'Hero' or Tremaine Hawkins's 'Amazing Grace') on the whole this is a solid collection. Celion Dion delivers a powerful rendition of 'God Bless America' and Frank Sinatra's 'America the Beautiful' is a no-frills version but still effective. Lee Greenwood's now ubiquitous 'God Bless the USA' is the version everyone knows, but it's inclusion here is both fitting and necessary. The highlight of the album for me was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. Only a choir's many voices could do justice to such a difficult song. The inclusion of the triumphant fourth stanza is a very nice touch, particularly in these times.While other collections of patriotic songs exist, many are streaky or uneven. I believe this one delivers high quality from start to finish."

Exellent Album!

Paul L. | USA | 11/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think a few people are missing the sentiment upon which this cd was released. It was meant as a humanitarian effort to raise money for the victims of this horrific and tragic human event.One does not have to be American to be appreciated, or included in the line up of artists. The composer of the very title song "God Bless America was Irving Berlin. He was Russian. Gloria Estefan is Cuban. Celine Dion is Canadian. The song My Country 'Tis of Thee
is in the tune of God Save The Queen, the National Anthem of England.Celine Dion was asked by the producers to sing God Bless America. She was in self-imposed retirement. But Dion rose to the challenge and call of duty and came out of retirement to perform the title song, donating all her royalties and proceeds to victims and families of the twin towers charity fund, just as all the other artists have done. Kudos to Celine and all the artists!They have raised millions of dollars in charity for the victims. I think this was mighty commendable of them. So please don't tear Celine down for doing a good humanitarian deed. Thanks to all the artists on the album, American or otherwise, for using their celebrity and in helping out in any way they can."

God Bless America...an appropriate title for this cd.

Marites Del Campo-rodriguez | Sacramento, CA | 10/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In light of all of the events of the past two months, both here and abroad...this compilation appeals to the patriot in all of us. It has songs that comfort and inspire...the opening ballad of "God Bless America" is sung by Celine Dion. Her voice is soothing and comforting...Then there are contemporary songs such as "Hero" by Mariah Carey and Billy Gilman's "There's a Hero" that are a tribute to all the men and women who risked and lost their lives on that tragic day...September 11. And Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." has a way of making you proud to be an American, no matter what your country of origin may be. This is not just a compilation thrown together at the last minute to cash in on the patriotic fever sweeping the nation. It is well thought out and a joy to listen to."