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Various - dark was the night (this cd)

For the original song by Blind Willie Johnson, see Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground.
Dark Was the Night 
 
Compilation album for charity by Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series 
Released February 16, 2009 
Recorded 2005–2008 
Genre Various (Indie pop/rock) 
Length 2:10:19 
Label 4AD (DAD 2835) 
Producer Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National 
Professional reviews 
Allmusic  link
Drowned in Sound (8/10) link
Gigwise.com  link
Pitchfork Media (8.6/10) link
The Skinny  link
Toro (8.5/10) link
 
Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series chronology 
Red Hot + Riot
(2002) Dark Was The Night
(2009)  
 

Dark Was the Night is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Featuring exclusive recordings by a number of independent artists and production by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, the compilation was released on 16 February 2009 (UK) and 17 February (US) as a double CD, three vinyl LPs, or as a digital download.[1] John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization, was the executive producer for the album. The title is derived from the Blind Willie Johnson song "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground," which is covered on this collection by the Kronos Quartet.

On 26 October 2009, it was announced on 4AD"s website that profits raised by the compilation for the benefit of AIDS/HIV awareness and prevention amounted to £423,212 ($668,358), a sum that represents all the profits from worldwide sales for the first half of 2009. John Carlin was quoted as saying "Dark Was The Night encapsulated the spirit and creativity of a new generation of musicians whose work struck a chord and got people to actually purchase the album and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight AIDS."[2]

"Disc 1"
1."Knotty Pine" – Dirty Projectors and David Byrne – 2:23
2.""Cello Song" (Nick Drake) – The Books featuring José González – 3:54
3."Train Song" (Vashti Bunyan) – Feist and Ben Gibbard – 3:02
4."Brackett, WI" – Bon Iver – 4:03
5."Deep Blue Sea" – Grizzly Bear – 3:46
6."So Far Around the Bend" – The National – 3:43
7."Tightrope" – Yeasayer – 3:18
8."Feeling Good" (Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse) – My Brightest Diamond – 3:54
9."Dark Was the Night" (Blind Willie Johnson) – Kronos Quartet – 3:51
10."I Was Young When I Left Home" (Bob Dylan) – Antony with Bryce Dessner – 4:55
11."Big Red Machine" – Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner – 4:39
12."Sleepless" – The Decemberists – 7:54
13."Stolen Houses (Die)" – Iron & Wine – 1:07
14."Service Bell" – Grizzly Bear and Feist – 2:23
15."You Are the Blood" (Castanets) – Sufjan Stevens – 10:14