As last summer's hottest tour, the Lilith Fair seems like it would have a lot to prove with the release of its compilation "A Celebration of Women in Music," due out Tuesday. Instead, the two-disc live set is a modest collection of rare performances that make listeners feel like they're at the festival all over again.

Opening with Paula Cole's sweltering "Mississippi," the set picks performances that convey the essence of the artist rather than the latest hit single. Take the Cardigans' gritty "Been It," for instance, or Meredith Brooks' "Wash My Hands" with its shades of Patti Smith.

Women elders are evident elsewhere on the album, including a cut from Emmylou Harris ("Going Back to Harlan"), and Shawn Colvin's shimmering performance of "Trouble." Bonnie Raitt can be heard in Patty Griffin's "Cain" and Susanna Hoffs offers a nod to her years with the Bangles in a bare-bones rendition of "Eternal Flame."

International ladies are honored as well, with the French Canadian Autour de Lucie's "Sur Tes Pas" and the yearning flamenco tones of Lhasa's "El Payande." The a capella "Lama Dorjie Chang," delivered by Yungchen Lhamo, is completely arresting.

"A Celebration of Women in Music" won't please folks who were dismayed by the tour's one-sided lineup, but for those who enjoyed their time at Lilith, the discs are a perfect companion.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle.