Diana Princess of Wales Tribute  (Audio CD) 
by Various Artists

Given the multimedia frenzy that accompanied Princess Diana's untimely death, it's somehow appropriate that the tragedy should inspire this album--a 2 CD set featuring 36 old and new tracks by an array of international stars--with a portion of the proceeds going to a Memorial Fund established in the late Princess' name. But, with Diana's death as the only unifying thread (and a tenuous one at that), it's not a particularly consistent or cohesive listen. But it's hard to argue with such an impressive array of stars including Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, the Spice Girls, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Puff Daddy, Aretha Franklin, R.E.M., Sinead O'Connor, Seal, George Michael, Des'ree, Bryan Ferry, and Michael Bolton (joining opera star Placido Domingo to perform "Ave Maria"). --Scott Schinder