Rockwell: A Night of Legendary Collaborations

This 14-track set presents highlights from a 2011 charity concert at London's O2 Arena in support of the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. Razorlight begins the show with an earnest brand of piano rock led by a front man who appears to have spent some quality time with the recordings of Patti Smith and Lou Reed. Robert Plant takes a more international approach by blending Eastern and African influences (tabla and kora) with conventional rock instrumentation for one cover and two Led Zeppelin classics, "Black Dog" and "Whole Lotta Love." Joss Stone hits the stage in bare feet and form-fitting mini-dress to perform two numbers, including a too-long version of "Free Me." Consummate professional Tom Jones sings "It's Not Unusual" with customary charm, which helps to compensate for a lackluster showing in the vocal department, particularly on "Sex Bomb." Jones and Stone also duet on the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing," while David Gray joins up with the string players of Escala. The evening ends with a group sing-along on the Beatles' "Let It Be" (Jones refers to a lyric sheet, while Plant and Gray opt out). Like many multi-act highlights concerts, Rockwell is a mixed bag. Presented in PCM stereo, this is a strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)