It's not hard to understand why Curtis Mayfield would become the subject of an all-star tribute album. Between the Impressions, his solo career and the writing and production work he did for others, Mayfield was responsible for an astonishing string of hits, from "It's All Right!" to "Freddie's Dead" and "Giving Him Something He Can Feel." Add in the fact that he has been bedridden since 1990, when he was paralyzed from the neck down in a freak accident, and it's easy to see why so many stars would want to contribute to a benefit project.

Still, it's moving to feel how much heart has gone into A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield. This is no mere collection of covers tossed off with minimal thought and effort. Instead, what we get are performances that stress the spirit and character of Mayfield's work. In the process, the album manages to underscore the resilience of his songs and often brings out the best in the artists themselves.

That's certainly the case with Whitney Houston, whose soulful and assured rendition of "Look Into Your Heart" surely ranks among the finest things she has recorded. It isn't just the power and luster of her voice that carry the performance, either, for she finds a depth in the song that goes beyond even Aretha Franklin's original version (from Sparkle). Franklin, though, compensates with a wonderfully restrained, emotionally rich reading of "The Makings of You."

Tevin Campbell shows unexpected range in his raw, bluesy reading of "Keep On Pushin'," while Eric Clapton delivers "You Must Believe Me" in a smooth falsetto that will amaze even devoted fans (though there's no mistaking his guitar tone). And who would have thought Elton John could sing gospel as convincingly as he does with Sounds of Blackness on "Amen"?

Admittedly, there are a few clunkers, like Steve Winwood's perfunctory "It's All Right!" and Stevie Wonder's too-sweet "I'm the One Who Loves You." But on the whole, A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield makes a convincing case for the continued relevance of these songs – so much so that when Mayfield himself joins Repercussions to sing "Let's Do It Again," it's impossible not to hope he means it literally. (RS 680)

J.D. CONSIDINE