Cash on the Barrelhead

Call 1988 the Year of the Tribute. We’ve just had pop collections which pay homage to a pair of American folk legends (“Folkways: A Vision Shared--A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly”) and Walt Disney (Hal Wilner’s “The Disney Project,” due next month from A&M;). What’s next? Would you believe . . . Johnny Cash? Titled “Til Things Are Brighter,” the Cash tribute is only available in England--at least for the time being--on the Red Rhino label. But the compilation is loaded with so many odd couplings that a trip to the import racks sounds in order. Participants include members of Gaye Bikers on Acid, the Mekons, Cabaret Voltaire, That Petrol Emotion as well as Michelle Shocked, Pete Shelley and Marc Almond. Our favorite cut: Gaye Bikers’ Mary Mary (who is a man ) performs a new version of “A Boy Named Sue”. . . . U2’s Bono has written a new song, “She’s A Mystery to Me,” which will appear on Roy Orbison’s upcoming solo album, due out early next year. Orbison hopes to include a new tune from Bruce Springsteen as well. . . . Bonnie Raitt, who croons a gorgeous version of “Baby Mine” on that Disney collection, is at work on a new album, for Capitol, with Don Was at the production helm. . . . And the Babys (remember them!) are getting back together--though expect to see them re-form using a new moniker. Several original members, including John Waite and Jonathan Cain, have been rehearsing in San Francisco during the past few months.