Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins contribute to Cy Coleman tribute

Coleman was part of the group of Great American Songbook composers including Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and George & Ira Gershwin. The tribute CD, "The Best Is Yet To Come: The Songs of Cy Coleman," drops Sept. 15 on New West. Griffin sings the title track, while Watkins sings Too Many Tomorrows.

Fiona Apple contributes two songs, her first new music in five years, along with Missy Higgins, Madeleine Peyroux, Jill Sobule and Nikka Costa. Coleman's music will be showcased this fall in two special concerts in New York and Los Angeles, although details were not announced.

All tracks were newly arranged by producer/pianist Dave Palmer at the suggestion of Chrysalis Music's Kenny MacPherson and Jamie Cerreta, in conjunction with Damon Booth, a veteran A&R man, who took over the running of Notable Music, Coleman's publishing company, in 2006. The friends were determined to spotlight the 2,000-song catalog of the composer.

Coleman was responsible for timeless songs such as "Witchcraft," "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Big Spender" and "The Rules Of The Road" made famous by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Barbara Streisand, Dusty Springfield, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.