Since 1989, the Red Hot Organization (RHO) has been combatting the scourge of HIV/AIDS.  Red Hot has primarily raised money through the creation of music compilations beginning with the 1990 release Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter.  Now, that star-studded release and numerous others have come to digital and streaming services to continue raising money for the charity.

RHO co-founder John Carlin, an entertainment lawyer spurred into action by the devastating losses suffered by the New York cultural community, envisioned an album of Cole Porter songs performed by world-class artists.  The late tunesmith's songbook was synonymous with romance, wit, and sophistication - and a little naughtiness, too. Chances are he couldn't have imagined how many renowned musicians would join him.  Ultimately the album would feature such luminaries as Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop, David Byrne, Tom Waits, Annie Lennox, k.d. lang, The Neville Brothers, Sinead O'Connor, and U2.  Red Hot + Blue, named after Porter's 1936 musical (which introduced "It's De-Lovely," "Ridin' High," and "Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor") ultimately raised over one million dollars for the organization and inspired a television special hosted by Richard Gere, Kyle MacLachlan, and Carrie Fisher.

Red Hot + Blue has received a digital reissue along with an EP of remixes of its opening track, Neneh Cherry's rendition of the timeless standard "I've Got You Under My Skin."  It's joined by three more compilations from the Red Hot team. 1995's Red Hot + Bothered (The Indie Rock Guide to Dating) featured underground favorites like Lisa Germano, The Verlaines, and Future Bible Heroes.  1997's Offbeat: A Red Hot Sound Trip lived up to its title with recordings from an eclectic group including Christian McBride, Amiri Baraka, Meat Beat Manifesto, Mark Eitzel, My Bloody Valentine, and Moby.  The final release in this group is also from 1997.  Silencio = Muerto: Red Hot + Latin featured adventurous collaborations between rock and Latin artists, among them Los Lobos and Money Mark; Café Tacvba and David Byrne; Diego Frenkel, Aterciopelados, and Laurie Anderson; and Ruben Blades and Sol Miserables.  Solo tracks were also featured from Juan Perro, Cibo Matto, Sepultura, and Melissa Etheridge.

The RHO's collections (also including the likes of Red Hot + Rio, Red Hot + Country, and the Gershwin tribute Red Hot + Rhapsody) are among the most eclectic releases out there, and also among the most worthy.  Check your favorite digital service provider for this Red Hot roster.

Neneh Cherry, I've Got You Under My Skin (Remixes) (Red Hot, 2020)

1. I've Got You Under My Skin (Blacksmith "Brixton Bass" Mix)
2. I've Got You Under My Skin (Original Baby Afrika Bambaataa & Booga Bear Mix)
3. I've Got You Under My Skin (David Z Mix)
4. I've Got You Under My Skin (Ronin "Skin Deep" Mix)
5. I've Got You Under My Skin (Blacksmith "USPO" Mix)
6. I've Got You Under My Skin (Ronin "In Deep" Mix)

All tracks released on Circa U.K. 12" promo NENEH 2, 1990

Red Hot + Blue (originally released as Chrysalis F2 21799, 1990 - reissued Red Hot, 2020)

1. I've Got You Under My Skin - Neneh Cherry
2. In the Still of the Night - The Neville Brothers
3. You Do Something To Me - Sinéad O'Connor
4. Begin the Beguine - Salif Keita
5. Love for Sale - Fine Young Cannibals
6. Well Did You Evah! - Debbie Harry & Iggy Pop
7. Miss Otis Regrets/Just One of Those Things - The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
8. Don't Fence Me In - David Byrne
9. It's All Right with Me - Tom Waits
10. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Annie Lennox
11. Night and Day - U2
12. I Love Paris - Les Negresses Vertes
13. So in Love - k.d. lang
14. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - Thompson Twins
15. Too Darn Hot - Erasure
16. I Get a Kick Out of You - Jungle Brothers
17. Down in the Depths - Lisa Stansfield
18. From This Moment On - Jimmy Somerville
19. After You, Who? - Jody Watley
20. Do I Love You? - Aztec Camera

Red Hot + Bothered (The Indie Rock Guide to Dating) (originally released as Red Hot/Kinetic 9 45983-2, 1995 - reissued Red Hot, 2020)

1. Sensational Gravity Boy - Freedom Cruise
2. Still Flat - Built to Spill + Caustic Resin
3. The Mirror Is Gone - Lisa Germano
4. Mouthwash - Noise Addict
5. Indierockinstrumental - Folk Implosion
6. Some Fantasy - The Verlaines
7. Little League - Liquorice
8. Hazmats - Babe The Blue Ox
9. Mainland China - Juicy
10. The Fontana - The Sea and Cake
11. Sotto Voce - Cradle Robbers
12. Rex's Blues - Jay Farrar + Kelly Willis
13. Empty Yard - Grifters
14. Miracleland - East River Pipe
15. Snail Trail - Heavenly
16. Hopeless - Future Bible Heroes
17. Servicing Man - Flying Nuns
18. Quietly Approaching - Gastr del Sol

Offbeat: A Red Hot Sound Trip (originally released as Wax Trax TVT 7238-2, 1997 - reissued Red Hot, 2020)

1. Intro - Transnational Lullabye - Skylab
2. Ryu-Ki - DJ Krush
3. Train (Interlude) - Christian McBride
4. Looking for the Jackalope - Laika
5. Krazy Groove - Christian McBride
6. Don Cherry (Interlude) - Skylab
7. Black Dada Nihilismus - Amiri Baraka + DJ Spooky
8. Surrounded by Flowers/I.K.B. 95 (Interlude) - Skylab
9. Cartridgemusic - tomandandy
10. Rain Rain/The Phone Call - Skylab
11. Murder of Lawyers - Soul Coughing
12. I Control (Audio Collage #2) - Meat Beat Manifesto
13. Hip No Therapy - Barry Adamson
14. Why Do I?/Trepanation #1 (Interlude) - Skylab
15. It Goes Back - David Byrne
16. Laughing Groove (Interlude) - Christian McBride
17. Incidental One (Interlude) - Mark Eitzel
18. Wait - Tortoise
19. I.K.B. 95 (Interlude) - Skylab
20. Characteristic Beat - Emergency Broadcast Network
21. Pinball/Wisions of Rotterdam - Spookey Ruben
22. Temporally Displaced - DJ Spooky
23. Itsofomo (Interlude) - Ben Neill
24. Incidental Peace - My Bloody Valentine
25. Trepanation #3 (Interlude) - Skylab
26. Republican Party - Moby

Silencio = Muerto: Red Hot + Latin (originally released as H.O.L.A. Recordings 119 341 005-2, 1997 - reissued Red Hot, 2020)

1. Pepe and Irene - Los Lobos + Money Mark
2. Yolanda Nigüas - Café Tacvba + David Byrne
3. Gente Que No - Todos Tus Muertos + Auténticos Decadentes
4. What's New Pussycat? - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs + Fishbone
5. El Son Del Dolor - Cuca + Youth Brigade
6. Wanna Be Loved - Los Pericos + Buju Banton
7. Quien Es Ese Negro - Sen Dog, Mellow Man Ace, MC Skeey, Mr. Rico + DJ Rif
8. Padre Nuestro - Reign + Hurricane G
9. Historia De La Radio - Juan Perro
10. Quien Quiera Que Seas - Geggy Tah + King Changó
11. Águas De Março (Waters of March) - Cibo Matto
12. Una Hoja, Una Raiz - Diego Frenkel (La Portuária), Aterciopelados + Laurie Anderson
13. No Te Miento - Rubén Blades + Son Miserables
14. Sin Tener a Donde Ir - Melissa Etheridge
15. Cosas Que Me Ayudan a Olvidar - Andrés Calamaro
16. You Come and Go - La Ley
17. Venas - Victimas Del Doctor Cerebro
18. War - Sepultura