New Orleans Exiles Get Political

Three years ago, during a set at Jazz Fest, New Orleans singer John Boutte brought the crowd to tears with his wrenching cover of "Why," a ballad on the 1992 LP Diva by Annie Lennox of Eurythmics. His studio take is now the finale of the Katrina benefit CD Sing Me Back Home, to be released in April.

"It seems appropriate," says Boutte. "It's like, 'Why, man? Who knows? Life is hard.'"

Cut in a week last October in Austin, Texas, with a rhythm team featuring members of the Meters, Sing Me Back Home -- credited to the New Orleans Social Club -- includes dynamic new tracks by local stars such as Irma Thomas, Henry Butler and Mardi Gras Indian chief Monk Boudreaux, many of whom lost their homes or were living in exile. The result is a sharp political edge amid the second-line vigor: Cyril Neville sings the Impressions' protest ballad "This Is My Country"; Ivan Neville turns John Fogerty's "Fortunate Son" into outraged funk.

"I didn't want to make a woe-is-me record," says co-producer Leo Sacks. "I modeled it on the records Gamble and Huff made at Philadelphia International that got people to think as they were dancing."