Rock News: Music's high and low notes

'THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK CITY': THE ALBUM

Last month's "Concert For New York City" at Madison Square Garden is being released as a 2-CD collection (on Columbia Records). The album hits stores Tuesday. DVD and VHS versions will follow.

"The Concert For New York City" set the record as Madison Square Garden's highest grossing event ever, and VH1 scored the highest ratings in the network's history when the benefit concert aired live from 7:00 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. (ET) on Oct. 20.

Track listing:

Disc One

1. David Bowie -- "America"

2. David Bowie -- "Heroes"

3. Bon Jovi -- "Livin' On A Prayer"

4. Bon Jovi -- "Wanted Dead Or Alive"

5. Bon Jovi -- "It's My Life"

6. Jay Z -- "Izzo" (H.O.V.A.)

7. Goo Goo Dolls -- "American Girl"

8. Billy Joel -- "Miami 2017"

9. Billy Joel -- "New York State Of Mind"

10. Destiny's Child -- "Emotion"

11. Destiny's Child -- "Gospel Medley" ("Walk With Me"/"Jesus Loves Me"/"Total Praise")

12. Eric Clapton featuring Buddy Guy -- "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man"

13. Adam Sandler -- "Operaman"

14. Backstreet Boys -- "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)"

15. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards -- "Miss You"

16. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards -- "Salt Of The Earth"

Disc Two

1. Mike Moran FDNY

2. The Who -- "Who Are You"

3. The Who -- "Baba O'Riley"

4. The Who -- "Won't Get Fooled Again"

5. Melissa Etheridge -- "Come To My Window"

6. Melissa Etheridge -- "Born To Run"

7. James Taylor -- "Fire and Rain"

8. James Taylor -- "Up On The Roof"

9. John Mellencamp -- "Peaceful World"

10. John Mellencamp (featuring Kid Rock) -- "Pink Houses"

11. Five For Fighting -- "Superman (It's Not Easy)"

12. Elton John -- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"

13. Paul McCartney -- "I'm Down"

14. Paul McCartney -- "Yesterday"

15. Paul McCartney -- "Let It Be"

16. Paul McCartney -- "Freedom" (Finale)

Proceeds from the sale of this album will benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund, providing aid to New Yorkers victimized by the attack on Sept. 11.

(Web sites: robinhood.org, columbiarecords.com)

MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael Jackson and his brother, Tito, will serve as "best man" when entertainer Liza Minnelli marries producer David Gest in New York City on March 2, 2002.

The pair met while Minnelli was appearing on Gest's production of "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration." The special was edited down from the two Michael Jackson concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden last September.

Minnelli will be the subject of a Gest-produced television tribute in March 2002 that will feature Michael Jackson and Minnelli in a 10-minute dance number taken from Vincente Minnelli's film "The Band Wagon." Also slated to appear in the tribute are Whitney Houston, Mya, Usher, and Chaka Khan, among others.

SMASH MOUTH, FIVE FOR FIGHTING

Five For Fighting and Smash Mouth are the featured artists for Music Choice's December concert series.

The show featuring John Ondrasik and his band, Five For Fighting, will air now through Dec. 2. (Check musicchoice.com or your local cable company for specific times.) It was recorded live at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood on Oct. 22.

"America Town," the group's debut album on Aware/Columbia Records, was recently certified "gold."

Smash Mouth's concert, which airs later next month, was filmed Oct. 25 at the Fillmore in San Francisco. The band performs a number of its hit songs including "All Star," "Walkin' on the Sun" and "Force Field" off their new self-titled album. That CD -- the band's third album -- is due in stores Tuesday. The first single is "Pacific Coast Party."

P.O.D.

P.O.D. takes the main stage at Warner Bros. Online's site, warnerbros.com, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at a rehearsal performance from the band's "Youth Of The Nation" tour.

The multi-camera shoot was captured for Warner Bros. Online at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. P.O.D. plays hits from their latest CD, "Satellite," which was certified platinum just one month after its release.

Meanwhile, the members of the band will sign autographs of their new album Monday (at 4:30 p.m. CST) at Sam Goody Central at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

U2

An Atlanta radio station (WNNX) will be giving away 25 pairs of tickets to this Friday's sold-out U2 concert during its live morning broadcast (6-10 a.m. EST) from the local Best Buy store.

The promotion comes in support of Best Buy's "Toys for Tots" gift drive. The tickets will be given to fans who are creative in the gifts they choose to donate. AT&T and U.S. Marines will be on hand to collect the toys for the drive.

"Toys for Tots" is a national non-profit organization that collects toys, sorts them by age and gender, and then delivers them to needy children during the holiday season.

3 OF HEARTS' XMAS SINGLE

Country/pop recording artists 3 of Hearts are releasing a new seasonal tune, "The Christmas Shoes," just in time for the holidays. The song hits the airwaves Thursday.

"The Christmas Shoes" was written by New Song members Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ablstrom. It was produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Gordon Kennedy, who co-wrote Eric Clapton's Grammy-winning song "Change the World."

"The Christmas Shoes" is an inspiring song about the giving spirit of the Christmas season. Coincidently, it was recorded in Nashville on Sept. 11, and its message became even more important with the new turn in our world's events.

"I think it's a great song that reminds us that Christmas time isn't just about presents and Santa Claus," 3 of Hearts' Deserea Wasdin says. "It's the time of the year where anyone should lend a helping hand to anyone else in need. I hope it helps us all realize what we all already know in our hearts."

LOU REED

"POEtry" -- the latest production by legendary rocker Lou Reed and theater director and lighting designer Robert Wilson -- opens Tuesday at BAM as part of the "Next Wave Festival."

"POEtry" is a journey into the mysterious shadow world of the 19th century American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). It combines texts including "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Raven," "The Pit and the Pendulum," as well as other stories and poetry. Reed wrote 13 songs, an overture and libretto for the production.

The musical runs through Dec. 8.

"POEtry" is Wilson's second collaboration with Lou Reed. In 1996, Wilson, Reed and writer Darryl Pinckney presented a hard-rock time and space odyssey entitled "Time Rocker."

Reed is currently working on a record of the music from the play with for release later this year.

(Web site: wbr.com)