MADONNA has finally announced the tracklisting for her forthcoming new album. 'Confessions On A Dancefloor'. The twelve track album - said to feature samples from classic SEAL and ABBA tracks - will be released on November 14th, and will be preceded by a single 'Hung Up' on October 17th although the track will be available a ringtone in advance of that date.
INXS have named their new frontman, Canadian singer JD Fortune has won the chance to record an album with the legendary band and then tour with them via the TV reality show 'Rock Star: INXS'. The band have already recorded a single, 'Pretty Vegas', which will be sent to radio this week, and will start work on the album, already entitled 'Switch', immediately with a November 29th release date already scheduled.
NEW ORDER will headline a London concert to be held to celebrate the memory of the legendary DJ JOHN PEEL. The concert will take place at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on October 12th with THE FALL and Super Furry Animals also on the bill.
BANANARAMA will release their new album, 'Drama' - described as 'a luscious mix of electro beats, happy house, boogie nights and even the occasional ballad' - on October 24th. The album also features remixes of two classic tracks; 'Venus' remixed by SOFT CELL frontman MARC ALMOND, and the recent Solasso mix of 'Really Saying Something'... a new single 'Look On The Floor (Hypnotic Tango) follows on November 7th.
JAPAN's DAVID SYLVIAN and STEVE JANSEN will release 'Nine Horses' Snow Bourne Sorrow', an album in collaboration with Burnt Friedman, on October 10th. The album features a number of contributors including Sweden's Stina Nordstam and longterm Sylvian collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto.
SIMPLY RED singer MICK HUCKNALL has started to re-record his entire catalogue in order to sidestep attempts by his former label, Atlantic, to make money from his original masters through advertising and film licensing. Although the label own the original masters of his previous material Hucknall is recording new version of the songs in a style very similar to the originals so that he is able to administer his classic catalogue himself and to some extent control the way his recordings are used.
ABC will play a long-awaited London show at The Hippodrome on October 14th at RUSTY EGAN's clubnight 'Gold'.
SALT N PEPA will reunite for VH-1's second annual Hip Hop Honors ceremony in the US this week. The trio, who will also be honoured at the event, will perform their 1993 hit 'Whatta Man' with a reunited En Vogue. | ?? |
DURAN DURAN offshoot ARCADIA see the single version of 'The Flame' available on CD for the first time as part of a new compilation, 'Another Lost Decade - The 80s', from Time Life. The four CD set features songs grouped under the disc titles 'Second British Invasion', 'Romance', 'At The Movies' and 'Hard To Find Hits'. The release also features ABC's 'How To Be A Millionaire' on CD in it's 7" form for the first time as well as GO WEST's US single remix of 'Eye To Eye' and THOMPSON TWINS' US single version of 'Lay Your Hands On Me', both also available on CD for the first time. The 157-track(!) collection will be released on October 7th.
DAVID BOWIE will release 'The Platinum Collection' on November 7th featuring thirty-six of his best known tracks from his entire career, including four UK number one hits.
BLONDIE have requested suggestions from fans for the songs they play live during their forthcoming UK tour which kicks off in November.
SINEAD OCONNOR has announced a string of US and Canadian dates on her forthcoming tour with SLY & ROBBIE. O'Connor, promoting her 'Throw Down Your Arms' album of reggae covers, will play ten shows in nine cities.