Featuring brand new recordings by Bono, Sting, Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed, Richard Thompson, Lucinda Williams, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, and a host of other maverick artists.

While working on two massively successful Pirates of the Caribbean films, director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp became fascinated with the lore and fable of the pirates and sailors who ran the high seas. The idea for Rogue's Gallery originated when Verbinski and Depp were working on Dead Man's Chest. "I slowly became fascinated by the idea of a contemporary reinterpretation of the sea chantey," explains Verbinski. "I imagined the artists that I listen to and respect doing their take on this age-old music: the song of the sea."

Verbinski then "described the project in detail to my old friend Brett Gurewitz (owner of Epitaph and Anti) who immediately understood its wondrous and strange potential. I also asked Johnny Depp if it might be something that he would like to be involved with. He has a great musical aesthetic, and as my partner in the films, his opinion is one I value. I've always believed Johnny is a musician first and the actor thing is just his day job. We met with Brett and put together a list of artists that we intended to go after." Once legendary producer Hal Willner got involved, all bets were off, as Willner brought his knack for matching maverick musicians with extraordinary material to the project—shown on his bestselling Disney tribute Stay Awake, as well as luminous tributes to Kurt Weill, Charles Mingus, Nino Rota, and others.

From these auspicious roots comes Rogue's Gallery: Sea Songs, Chanteys, and Pirate Ballads, a two-CD set featuring a who's who of the most important voices in popular music offering unique readings of classic sea songs. From Bill Frisell's languid, haunting take on the classic "Spanish Ladies," to Sting's hoary growl on the worksong "Blood Red Roses," Rogue's Gallery offers a look at the hardships, the horrors, the lusts and lurid depths, and the crystal beauty that led men down to the sea in ships for hundreds of years.

Verbinski adds, "I think the sailors of the time were dancing with death, and these were their tunes."

Click on this to hear samples of some of the songs.

Here's what ye gets (click on the links below to hear samples):