Johnny cash cds

LEGENDS OF THE FALL

Whitney. Aretha. Etta. Johnny Cash. Bon Jovi. Santana. And a slew of today's hitmakers, too. What a colorful season.

By DAVE TIANEN dtianen@journalsentinel.com, Journal Sentinel

Friday, October 11, 2002

More than half the CDs released in a year come out in the three- month span that runs from early fall.

Even more than usual is riding on the holiday shopping season this year. CD shipments in the first six months of 2002 were down by 7% -- and that comes on top of a bad 2001 when shipments dropped 5.3%.

As always, there is no shortage of major artists riding to the rescue with new releases in the last quarter. And that list doesn't even include the reissues, greatest-hits collections, Christmas albums and box sets in the pipeline.

Here are some of the top releases that will be vying for attention at the top of the charts this fall and winter. Release dates are subject to change.

R&B and rap

It's a busy season for the divas. India.Arie's "Voyage to India" recently arrived in store's with a tour to follow, and a 2002 release date is still expected for Erykah Badu as yet untitled new album. Toni Braxton is going to be a mom again, but not before she delivers "Amplified," her new Babyface-produced album for Arista on Nov. 19.

Then there's an inundation of soul from Destiny's Child and family. After the summer release of newest member Michelle Williams' gospel solo debut, "Heart to Years," bandmate Kelly Rowland also steps out on her own with "Simply Deep" on Oct. 22, followed by lead- singer-turned-actress Beyonce Knowles' December release of "Dangerously in Love." If that weren't enough, Knowles' little sister Solange is slated to debut her "Solo Star" that month, too.

Mariah Carey attempts to rise from the ashes of "Glitter" with the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis-produced "Mariah" on Dec. 10. December also is launch time for Blu Cantrell's still-untitled new album.

Missy Elliott takes time off from all her guest appearances on other people's discs to release one of her own: "Under Construction," due Nov. 12.

The title and date are still unknown, but a new project from the diva's diva, Aretha Franklin, also is expected by year's end. Despite a canceled tour and reports of ragged appearances, Macy Gray is to release what might be considered her first comeback album by the end of the year.

Speaking of comebacks, a lot is obviously riding on "Just Whitney," Whitney Houston's first new album in four years, due Nov. 5. Lil' Kim returns to the fray on Nov. 26 with "Hollyhood."

Sequels are common in movies but unusual in the music biz. So it comes as a mild surprise that Foxy Brown reaches back to the title of her 1996 debut for "Ill Na Na Part 2: The Fever." That one is expected sometime before the end of the year.

They've changed the title a few times, but the latest word is that "All Eyez on Me" will be the title of Monica's third album, now slated for Nov. 5.

Tragedy often spurs sales, which is one reason why expectations are high for the new TLC release, "3D," due on Nov. 12. The CD includes vocals recorded by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes before her death in April in an automobile accident in Honduras; one song is a tribute to her. Also due in next month is a posthumous CD of new tracks and remixes by singer-actress Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in last August.

Men of R&B, rap are back, too

Of course, not all the attention will go to the ladies. Milwaukee native Eric Benet obviously has high hopes for "Better and Better," his new release expected before the end of the year on Warner Bros. Like Benet, Coolio does not seem to have a crisis of confidence on "El Cool Magnifico," which hits stores Tuesday.

Ginuwine has yet to settle on a title for his new project, slated for release Nov. 19. And anything less than multiplatinum would be a disappointment for "The Blueprint II: The Gift and the Curse," due from Jay-Z on Nov. 5.

Bobby Brown leads the slate of guests on "The Last Temptation," the Nov. 19 release from Ja Rule. They may want to rethink "Loveland," the title of R. Kelly's new album, due Nov. 5. LL Cool J gets back to music on "Ten," coming out Tuesday. "God's Son" is the title of the Nov. 19 release from Nas. The release date for "Prince of the South," the new disc from Mystikal, is uncertain but still projected for 2002.

OutKast ended up multiplatinum and Grammy nominated after 2000's "Stankonia," so they're hoping to replicate the magic with a yet- untitled double disc set for release before the end of the year. Shaggy is using his own multiplatinum status to snag high-profile guests like Chaka Khan on "Lucky Day," his new disc set for release on Oct. 29. Famous hired help also abounds on "Paid Tha Cost to Be Tha Boss," the new album from Snoop Dogg. Priority has that one penciled in for Nov. 26.

Oct. 29 is the expected street date for "Thug World Order," the new set from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Busta Rhymes will take time off from his TV commercial duties to deliver a still-untitled new disc on Dec. 3. And The Roots hope to keep the buzz growing with "Phrenology" their new disc set for Nov. 26.

Pop

The video for her latest single suggests career possibilities that aren't specifically musical, but Christina Aguilera certainly hopes you'll like the music, too, when "Stripped" hits stores on Oct. 29. Eric Clapton already has several live albums, but another is on the way. Look for the double disc "One More Car, One More Rider" to hit stores on Nov. 5.

Singer David Gray's popular audience hasn't quite caught up with his critical admiration, but that may change with "A New Day at Midnight," set to enter stores after midnight on Nov. 5.

Jennifer Lopez hopes to keep things platinum with "This Is Me," due out Nov. 26. Ricky Martin is actually planning two albums by the end of the year, one in English and the other in Spanish. On Nov. 19, 'N Sync fans will begin to find out if Justin Timberlake has a plausible career as a solo artist with "Justified." Backstreet Boy rival Nick Carter takes the solo plunge on Oct. 29 with "Now or Never."

Rock

Eccentric sprite Tori Amos returns to the scene Oct. 29 with "Scarlet's Walk." Bon Jovi is already on the road in support of "Bounce," which came out Tuesday. There's still a chance that the new Everclear CD, "Daydream," may reach stores this year. Not surprisingly, similar questions surround "Chinese Democracy," the long-anticipated Guns N' Roses disc.

Oct. 22 is the target date for the new Foo Fighters disc, "1X1," but the date for Jane's Addiction's "Hypersonic" is still unresolved. Mick Jagger is among those lending a hand on "More Than You Think You Are," the new matchbox twenty disc due Nov. 19. Neither a title nor a date has been set for the new Metallica. Pearl Jam, on the other hand, has both a title and a date: "Riot Act," due Nov. 12.

The new 3 Doors Down disc, "Away From the Sun," is scheduled for Nov. 12. Fred Durst is among the guests on "Crystal Baller" the new Third Eye Blind disc coming Nov. 5. Both the title and date for the new Train disc are being worked out. Nor is there a date for the Rob Zombie soundtrack project, "House of 1,000 Corpses." The Wallflowers have penciled in Nov. 5 as a "Red Letter Day." That's when they're set to release their new album of the same name.

Country

Nashville's two reigning pop beauty queens, Faith Hill and Shania Twain, go head to head with new albums this fall. Hill is first out with "Cry," set for a Oct. 22 release. Twain returns from an extended hiatus on Nov. 19 with "Up."

There is no title yet for Clint Black's new album expected out Nov. 5. Nor have they come up with a name for Vince Gill's new disc planned for Oct. 29.

Despite fragile health and his 70 years, Johnny Cash continues to record and has a new album called "American IV: The Man Comes Around" in the hopper for Nov. 5.

TV actor Billy Ray Cyrus still keeps one foot in the music business with "Time Flies," coming this fall at a still-undetermined date. Rounder Records launches a major Alison Krauss project with the double disc "Live" on Nov. 12. Tim McGraw hopes to keep pace with Mrs. McGraw, Faith Hill, with the Nov. 26 release of "Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors." The older country demographic gets some unexpected attention on Oct. 22, when Anne Murray's double disc set of classic country covers hits stores.

An all-star lineup including Sheryl Crow, Ryan Adams, Toby Keith and Keith Richards are on board for "Willie Nelson and Friends: Stars and Guitars," coming Nov. 5.

One of young country's most vibrant acts, Trick Pony, returns Nov. 12 with "On a Mission." Australian hunkster Keith Urban tries to win some attention amid the late fall flood with "Golden Road," due Nov. 5.

Legends