New CD inspired by 'Passion'

NASHVILLE, March 4 (UPI) -- Elvis Presley, Ricky Skaggs and Bob Dylan are among the U.S. musicians who will be included on an upcoming companion CD to "The Passion of the Christ" film.

Mel Gibson, the film's director, has served as a consultant on the CD, "Songs Inspired by 'The Passion of the Christ,'" which will be released April 6 by Universal South Records, the Nashville-based record company announced.

Over the last few months, Gibson worked with Lian Lunson, Gibson's friend and a documentary filmmaker and music video director, to put together a record that they felt would honor the emotional voyage experienced by watching the film. Gibson said in a statement he felt the songs should compliment the message in the film and inspire spiritual reflection, but not in an obvious way.

The CD also includes music from Leon Russell, Dolores O'Riordan (of Cranberries fame) and a song by Jessi Colter and Shooter Jennings (the late Waylon Jennings' wife and son) written specifically for the film.