A great way to help hurricane victims

Two CDs that found their way into Christmas stockings at our house offer both some great music and a way to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

One, Our New Orleans, features Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Irma Thomas and many more New Orleans-connected musicians -- even Randy Newman with a philharmonic orchestra doing his classic "Louisiana 1927." Proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity. All of the cuts were recorded for this album. It's my favorite find of the season.

The other, Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now, is a double CD that touches a range of musical bases and popular artists -- Louis Armstrong, Dr. John, Coldplay, Norah Jones, Wyclef Jean, John Mayer, James Brown, Aaron Neville, Bonnie Raitt, R. Kelly, Barbra Streisand and Elton John and more. Proceeds to the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and MusicCares.

Do yourself and Katrina victims a favor and get one or both.