Help Beat Cancer: Buy Music!

Jan. 11, 2015

In addition to the many other ways to help the cause, you can also combine your music fandom and your desire to support cancer research.

Here are some great picks, the proceeds of which go to various cancer research organizations.

Various Artists, Let Us in

Americana

Benefit Album

From opener "Come and Get It" as interpreted by the Wood Brothers through Bruce Cockburn’s "Fool on the Hill" and Steve Earle’s "I Will," this Americana collection of McCartney/Lennon covers benefits The Women and Cancer Fund, established in the memory of McCartney’s late wife Linda. (iTunes, Amazon)

Various Artists, Let Us in Nashville

Benefit Album

The companion album to the above set, which also benefits Women and Cancer, features more music by McCartney as interpreted by the likes of SheDaisy ("With a Little Luck"), Steel Magnolia ("Maybe I’m Amazed") and Northern Michigan fave Jeff Daniels ("Heart of the Country.") (iTunes, Amazon)

Artists Stand Up to Cancer, "Just Stand Up!"

Enhanced Single

A girl-powered supergroup got together to record this charity single, which includes Beyonce, Rihanna, Fergie, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, and LeAnn Rimes; proceeds go to the Stand Up to Cancer campaign. (iTunes, Amazon)

Ingrid Michaelson, Be Ok

Benefit Album

The title track "Be Ok" by the singersongwriter is part of the Stand Up to Cancer campaign, and a portion of the proceeds from the entire album also go to the organization. The album itself includes previously unreleased tunes, demos, live recordings, and a few covers. (iTunes, Amazon, Best Buy)

Kylie Minogue "Crystallize"

One Note Single

Using a unique fundraising approach, Aussie singer Minogue is "selling" each of the 4,408 notes in her upcoming single, which will be released once all of the notes are sold. Buyers will get a pre-release of the track, and proceeds will benefit APREC and cancer research. (www.onenoteagainstcancer.com)

George Winston, Spring Carousel

A Cancer Research Benefit EP

Winston has a full album on the way in 2015, but in the meantime he’s put together this collection of melodic solo piano tracks that he composed while he was recovering from a bone marrow transplant. All proceeds from the EP go to benefit City of Hope and cancer research. (iTunes)

Amy Grant, "Welcome Yourself"

Single

Co-written with Beth Nielsen Chapman, this new track from the singer-songwriter was recently performed live on "Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda", and shows off both her acoustic side and ability to craft a thoughtful lyric. Proceeds from the single go to benefit the American Cancer Society. (iTunes)

Various Artists, Specialized II Beat Teenage Cancer

Ccharity Album

A modern take on the classics of The Beat, this set brings together ska bands King Hammond, The Hotknives, Dub Pistols, The Splitters, Swagga, and many more at specializedproject.co.uk to both pay homage to 2-Tone/ska music, and to help cancer research. All proceeds benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. (specializedproject.co.uk)