After just observing the unique musical collaborations that have been happening lately, low and behold there are a couple of tribute albums coming out that will knock your socks off.

Good things come to those who wait and it looks like we’ll be waiting until spring of 2007 for the new Joni Mitchell tribute album. Talk about an all-star cast - artists paying tribute to the amazing Ms. Mitchell include Bjork, Prince, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Sarah McLachlan, k.d. lang, Emmylou Harris and Sufjan Stevens.

A Tribute to Joni Mitchell will include covers of songs like “Free Man in Paris”, “Dreamland” and “Blue”. It’s just too bad Jaco Pastorius isn’t around to add his bass to the tracks.

From Billboard, here are the track listings for A Tribute to Joni Mitchell:

“Free Man in Paris,” Sufjan Stevens
“Boho Dance,” Bjork
“Dreamland,” Caetano Veloso
“Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” Brad Mehldau
“For the Roses,” Cassandra Wilson
“A Case of U,” Prince
“Blue,” Sarah McLachlan
“Ladies of the Canyon,” Annie Lennox
“Magdalena Laundries,” Emmylou Harris
“Edith and the Kingpin,” Elvis Costello
“Help Me,” k.d. lang
“River,” James Taylor

The other tribute album not to be missed is coming out a bit sooner. This one is in honor of one of my favorites, The Band, with a great line-up of bands and artists eager to show their respect to the legendary music makers who have released classic songs like “The Weight”, “Up on Cripple Creek” and “This Wheel’s on Fire”.

I’ve been lucky enough to see The Band a few years ago in an old refurbed barn in the hills of Vermont. They were great - and it was the perfect atmosphere to be hearing all of their classics played live. I’ve also seen quite a few of the bands play live who are on the tribute album, Endless Highway: The Music of the Band which is why I’m looking forward to hearing it.

429 Records is releasing the album and the line-up and song selections make this another great album to own.

The track listings are:

“I Shall Be Released,” Jack Johnson
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” the Allman Brothers Band
“Rocking Chair,” Death Cab For Cutie
“It Makes No Difference,” My Morning Jacket
“The Weight,” Lee Ann Womack
“Whispering Pines,” Jakob Dylan
“Up on Cripple Creek,” Gomez
“King Harvest,” Bruce Hornsby
“Unfaithful Servant,” Rosanne Cash
“Rag Mama Rag,” Blues Traveler
“Bessie Smith,” Joe Henry
“This Wheel’s on Fire,” Guster
“Chest Fever,” Widespread Panic
“Ain’t No More Cane,” John Hiatt & North Mississippi Allstars
“Look Out Cleveland,” Jackie Greene
“Ophelia,” Animal Liberation Orchestra
“Stage Fright,” Steve Reynolds
“When I Paint My Masterpiece,” Josh Turner
“The Shape I’m In,” Gov’t Mule

The release date for Endless Highway: The Music of the Band is set for Jan. 30 from 429 Records.

By: Jenny May