YOKO Ono believes John would have been proud of this album of Lennon covers in which assorted artists speak out in an attempt to save the desperate people of Darfur.

Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan knows many will buy Instant Karma for the music alone, but hopes the recordings will become linked with resolving the latest African outrage.

It is appalling that in human terms, songs written to illustrate the savage cruelty of war and human suffering more than 35 years ago strike the same chords today, but Lennon's songbook is immortal. Younger acts such as Snow Patrol, Christina Aguilera, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Flaming Lips join ranks with rock's heavyweights REM, U2 and Aerosmith on a bewildering tour through Lennon's post-Beatles catalogue, which is of great interest, if not nearly as rewarding as the originals.

Many have noted that in partnership with Paul McCartney, Lennon's work was usually lighter, jollier and, let's face it, more accessible.

The Beatles' catalogue is without doubt the most robust and adaptable of songbooks, lending itself to every genre of modern music.

It almost goes without saying that Judy Collins's spiritual folk readings of Blackbird, Penny Lane and Norwegian Wood could be nothing less than exquisite.

This senior social activist and stunning soprano's coffee-table LP hardly breaks new ground, but is a lovely collection of perhaps the prettiest folk songs of the last century.