In April, a collaborative project called “7 Inches For Planned Parenthood,” was announced. The project is a curated series of vinyl and digital releases whose entire proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood is non-profit organization dedicated to providing high quality and affordable health care, and access to free sex education. They provide basic health services such as STD tests and treatment and birth control. Panned Parenthood advocates safe sex instead of abstinence. This policy has made them become quite controversial in Washington. The organization has been shrouded by a scarlet letter, and under attack since Donald Trump’s entrance to the White House. The creators of the project feel that Planned Parenthood is a vital organization that needs to be kept alive. In order to raise both money and awareness for the organization, a group of talented artists, musicians, comedians, producers and spokespeople have come together to create “7 Inches.” The group believes, “…health care is a public good that should be fiercely protected.” The playful title does not only play on an obvious innuendo, but also conjures the powerful history of protest music that 7 inch vinyls have been a continual vehicle for since the 60s.

The digital version will be available October 20th, and the boxset will be available November 17th. The album will be a pastiche of comedic acts, spoken word, and music. there will be live songs, studio songs, covers and duets. Three songs/videos have already been made available as well: “Lovin’ You,” a cover by John Legend, St. Vincent and Zach Galifinakis, “Down Side of Me,” a live performance by CHVRCHES, and “Woman’s World,” by Estelle. Now, the tracklist for the project has been released as well.

There will be clips from comedians like Jenny Slate, Zach Galifinakis, Tig Notaro, Janeane Garoffalo, Pete Holmes, Aparna Nancherla, Sarah Silverman and Margaret Cho. It also has spoken word bits from Margaret Atwood, Laurie Anderson, Heather McGhee, Dream Hampton, Dr. Willie Parker and the president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards. For music fans, there will also be performances from Nico Muhly, Mitski, Elliott Smith, Matt Berninger & Jon Brion, Helado Negro, Marry Lattimore & Meg Baird, Bryce Dessner, Björk, Feist, Sharon Van Etten, Sleater-Kinney, Bon Iver, Common, Mary J. Blige and The Foo Fighters. Some are older songs but others like Sleater Kinney’s “Here We Come,” and The Foo Fighters’ “Soldier,”  will be never released tracks. The Foo Fighters recently released their album Concrete and Gold, and are returning from a recent performance at their curated festival, Cal Jam. Common is coming off of a recent Emmy win which puts him one Tony away from being the 13th person to achieve EGOT honors (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Awards).

The project follows in the footsteps of many other artists who have recently held benefit concerts, and released singles in honor of Planned Parenthoods. Artists are in arms about this issue and are taking a stand through both figurative lyrics and literal action.

Tracklist:
Cecile Richards – Intro
CHVRCHES – Down Side of Me (Live)
Estelle – Woman’s World
dream hampton – Casey
Björk – Come to Me (Live)
Margaret Atwood – Blackberries
Nico Muhly – Uneven Cycles
John Legend & St. Vincent – Lovin’ You (Live at Largo)
Tig Notaro – My Ideal Exchange with a Stranger (Live at Largo)
Mitski – I’m A Fool To Want You
Heather McGhee – We the People
Elliott Smith – Pretty (Ugly Before) [Live at Largo]
Margaret Atwood – Oh Children
Matt Berninger & Jon Brion – Learning (Live at Largo)
Pete Holmes – Untitled (Live at Largo)
Bon Iver – 45 (Live at the Philharmonie de Paris)
Dr. Willie Parker – Life’s Work
Sharon Van Etten – Passion and Love
Feist – Born to Bond
Laurie Anderson – Birth of Lola
Helado Negro – Beber
Zach Galifianakis – Untitled (Live at Largo)
Margaret Cho – Asians In Hollywood (Live at Largo)
Sleater-Kinney – Here We Come
Aparna Nancherla – History Has Its Sighs On You (Live at Largo)
Mary Lattimore & Meg Baird – Fair Annie
Sarah Silverman – Untitled (Live at Largo)
Janeane Garofalo – Untitled (Live at Largo)
Jenny Slate – Untitled (Live at Largo)
Bryce Dessner – For Marsha P. Johnson
Common – Love Star (feat. Marsha Ambrosius and PJ)
Mary J. Blige – Strength of a Woman

photo credit: Raymond Flotat