When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in August of 2005, Antoine "Fats" Domino was missing and feared dead, just another of those black people George Bush doesn't care about. Thankfully, Domino was later found alive. The singer and pianist is still very much an influence on pop music from New Orleans to Liverpool, Toronto, Pinner, and countless locales where rock ’n’ rollers sprung up in his wake. Goin' Home, which aims to raise funds for New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, opens with John Lennon's take on "Ain't That a Shame" from the Phil Spector-produced Rock 'n' Roll sessions. Paul McCartney and Allen Toussaint follow with "I Want to Walk You Home.” Here, McCartney sounds simultaneously like both Domino and himself, revealing Domino's influence on the former Beatle.

Like any tribute album, Goin' Home grapples with how true each performance should be to the original recordings. Tom Petty's "I'm Walkin'" and Elton John's "Blueberry Hill" are well-intentioned karaoke, undermined by their reverence. However, Goin' Home shines on two songs opening the album's second disc. Neil Young restrains his famously uncertain pitch against a sweet chorus and strings on "Walking to New Orleans," a historically appropriate rendition with ample room for Young's outsize personality. Venturing further out, Robert Plant follows with the Soweto Gospel Choir on "Valley of Tears," his voice drenched in a Sun Records echo over music evoking both the African and church-bound roots of rock ’n’ roll.

Tribute albums often offer performers a chance to break character. Ben Harper actually sounds like he's having fun with the Skatalites on "Be My Guest," and the track doesn't suffer when genuine Jamaicans Toots and the Maytals follow. Naturally, Louisianans Art Neville and Irma Thomas shine, though the Fat Man himself is absent. At 30 tracks, Goin' Home suffers from a bittersweet reversal of New Orleans' fortunes — too much care and attention — but clearly points to where respect is due.