UPDATE - 7/30@9:38AM: The tracklist has been revealed and Rush's contribution will be Hope. See this post for details.

A couple of weeks ago we learned that Rush and several other prominent artists would be featured on a new album designed to help bring awareness to the plight of the Tibetan people. The album is titled Songs for Tibet - The Art of Peace and was organized by the Art of Peace Foundation. According to the official press release from last week, the album will be released on iTunes on August 5, three days before the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. It will then be available through other outlets the following week. From the press release:

... This album will focus people's attention on the importance of Tibet, the gifts of its culture, and the crisis the Tibetan people are facing today," said one of the album's organisers, Michael Wohl. ... Wohl, from the Art of Peace Foundation, said the timing of the release was deliberate.

"We wanted to express our support for the Tibetan people and their message of peace through music, a fundamental means of expression, at a time when the eyes of the world are on China," he said.

Many groups critical of China's rule of Tibet are seeking to use the Olympics to highlight their concerns and express their support for the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

One group is urging athletes at the Olympics to make a simple T hand signal to indicate support for the Tibetan cause. ...

There is no news on the exact tracklist yet but the product description at Amazon states that it will include ... acoustic recordings - some original for the project and some acoustic recordings of previously released songs .... The cover art is also now available. Thanks to Power Windows for the heads up.

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