Amnesty International, (described on its website as “a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than three million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied”), is celebrating its 50th anniversary by issuing a 76 track compilation of covers of Bob Dylan songs. Issued as a 4 CD set on 24th January, and available for downloading, the set is called Chimes of Freedom – encapsulating the ethos of Amnesty, as well as highlighting one of Dylan’s greatest and most powerful songs; the original 1964 recording by Dylan concludes the set.

Among the contributors are Pete Seeger (singing Forever Young), Ziggy Marley, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Seal, and Jeff Beck. The set ranges across genres including rock, rap, hip hop, pop, folk, country, jazz, and blues.

Chimes of Freedom Chimes of Freedom is produced by Jeff Ayeroff and Julie Yannatta, who have stated “This album is a powerful fusion of the music community’s respect for Amnesty’s life-affirming work and for Bob Dylan’s enduring brilliance.” Karen Scott, Amnesty International’s Manager of Music Relations, comments:

Bob Dylan’s music endures because he so brilliantly captures our heartbreak, our joy, our frailty, our confusion, our courage and our struggles. His words convey a depth of meaning that few artists can equal, inspiring us and always moving ahead of our expectations. We at Amnesty International are deeply grateful to this legendary musician and to all of the artists who have contributed to this project.