Always a star-studded affair, the Majic Miracle Music project has been a runaway success since its first release over half a decade ago. Now comes Majic Miracle Music Volume 6, the final offering of the series. Issued by WAJI Majic 95.1 and Sweetwater, this collection of acoustic songs benefits the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The effort has paid off; to date, the project has raised over $45,000 for Riley. Majic Miracle Music is truly a labor of love for the artists who played on it, the engineers who recorded it and the organizations that paid for its pressing: every penny earned from the CD goes to the hospital. Several of the numbers were recorded locally at Sweetwater Studios, while some of the tracks were donated by the artists. That said, it’s a cohesive listen all the way through and it offers the listener a chance to hear 17 songs stripped to their true essence and performed flawlessly. Sure, Majic Miracle Music Volume 6 is worth picking up because the proceeds go to a great cause. It’s great to know that 100 percent of the money is going to Riley. But you should buy this disc based on the sheer amount of talent gathered on one album – and for the chance to hear unique acoustic versions of a bunch of fantastic tunes. From David Cook’s passionate take on “Fade Into Me” to Hanson’s soulful “Give a Little” to “Beating My Heart,” an uplifting, piano-driven number from Jon McLaughlin, this iteration of MMM is full to bursting with great stuff. Kimberly Caldwell pours her heart in to the propulsive “Desperate Boys & Stupid Girls,” while Rachel Platten’s “1,000 Ships” balances her crystalline voice with dancing piano keys. Sparse percussion and acoustic guitars dance around Jason Reeves’ vocal on “Sticks and Stones,” while Kris Allen’s soaring live version of “The Truth” provides a fitting closer to this fine finale in the Majic Miracle Music series. I didn’t even mention great tunes from the likes of Jason Reeves, Phillip Phillips, Safety Suit, Finger Eleven, Chris Medina and Rob Bolin. 

The CD is available at all area CVS drug stores, Annie’s Hallmark and the Cookie Cottage. You can also find it at Sweetwater’s retail store located at 5501 U.S. Highway 30 W. in Fort Wayne. Grab this album, help Riley Hospital for Children and give your eardrums a treat.