Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Few songwriters have been as prolific—or revered—as Bob Dylan. This 4-CD collection, marking Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary, is a tribute to his artistry, with cover versions by 75 stars of all generations and genres. Diana Krall delivers a tender “Simple Twist of Fate,” while husband Elvis Costello adds a stirring “License to Kill.” The real surprises come from younger artists, including Ke$ha, who sings a touching “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” and K’naan, who bravely reinvents “With God on Our Side.”

Don and Phil Everly surprised everyone in 1958 by turning their backs on a chart-topping pop career to release Songs Our Daddy Taught Us, a collection of old country and bluegrass standards originally recorded by legends like Gene Autry and Lefty Frizzell. Today it’s considered a classic. Now the unlikely duo of Norah Jones and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong have repeated the surprise, paying tribute to the Everly Brothers by re-recording that album. With Billie Joe playing Don and Norah taking the younger Phil’s parts, they recreate the Everlys’ signature close harmony style. But there’s a modern twist: by adding a female voice, songs like “Barbara Allen” and “Oh So Many Years” take on ne...

This 11-song collection pays tribute to the Motown icon with all-star collaborations on his timeless songs. Sheryl Crow joins him for a buoyant “Tears of a Clown,” while James Taylor and the r&b legend serve up a bluesy “Ain’t That Peculiar.” And Elton John gets deeply soulful with Smokey on his classic “The Tracks of My Tears.”

A longtime JJ admirer, Clapton brings together his buddies, including Willie Nelson and Tom Petty, to honor the laid-back legend. Mark Knopfler embraces the boogie in “Train to Nowhere,” while Clapton spices up the sensuous groove of “Cajun Moon. Best of all is John Mayer’s graceful rendition of “Magnolia,” JJ’s deliciously sweet love song.