Details are scant, but Track hears an archival Elliott Smith release will happen sooner than later. Sources say the project will be culled from previously unreleased material the late singer/songwriter recorded between his 1997 album "Either/Or" and the following year's commercial breakthrough, "XO." It is understood that some tracks were produced by longtime collaborator Rob Schnapf. The beloved Smith, who committed suicide in 2003, was posthumously saluted with the 2004 Anti- album "From a Basement on the Hill," featuring material he was working on prior to his death.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Politics and music can make uncomfortable bedfellows. Just ask Gordon Brown, Britain's chancellor of the exchequer and prime minister-in-waiting. In the final act of the Nov. 14 U.K. Music Hall of Fame ceremony in London, Brown graced the stage to induct legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin. Brown's reception, however, was a world away from the delighted screams that accompanied Bon Jovi, James Brown and the other artists honored earlier that night. Instead, the parliament member was greeted with a round of boos and catcalls. After the din dimmed, Brown went on to describe Martin as the man who "made the Beatles the most successful group in history." Earlier the crowd collectively giggled when former President Bill Clinton offered a taped message of congratulations to his "friends" Bon Jovi. Despite the brickbats for Brown, he got off lightly compared to his colleague John Prescott, the deputy prime minister. At the 1998 BRIT Awards, a member of British group Chumbawamba dumped a bucket of ice water on Prescott's head.
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
How did an upstart label secure two "American Idol" finalists for its just-released holiday collection, "Breaking for the Holidays"? In the case of New York-based indie Breaking Records, you look no further than Billboard's own Fred Bronson, who worked with the record company's president Bernadette O'Reilly to bring "AI" season four dynamo Vonzell Solomon and season three favorite Jon Peter Lewis to the mic. Solomon sings "It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas," an overseas hit from the '70s, while Lewis contributes the original Beach Boys-inspired "California Christmas." Bronson has been featured on "Al," telling contestants about the history of The Billboard Hot 100. Other artists on "Breaking for the Holidays" include Chaka Khan, "Rockstar Supernova" finalist Jill Goia, Ben Jelen and Sandra Bernhard.
A MILESTONE SONG
eMusic is about to reach its 100 millionth download, which is pretty amazing considering that it took two years (November 2003 to December 2005) to reach the first 50 million and will have taken less than a year to reach the next 50 million. Furthermore, Barenaked Ladies will write and record a song specifically about the 100 millionth downloader, and the winner will also receive a free premium subscription to the service for life.
The BNL song will be available as a free download from eMusic beginning in January. It will then be bundled with the band's upcoming album, "Barenaked Ladies Are Men," as a paid bonus track.'OUT' FOR A GAYLA EVENT
Celebrities were stacked double-file for Out magazine's larger-than-life "100 Most Influential People in Gay Culture" awards gala Nov. 10 at Manhattan's Capitale. Luminaries included Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes, Iman, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Patricia Field, Terrance McNally, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz and Amerie. The 12th annual listing is featured in the magazine's December issue, highlighted by artist of the year John Cameron Mitchell. The event was hosted by Justin Bond, with musical performances from Jive/Zomba pop/R&B diva Kelis and fabu Cordless Recordings musical duo Dangerous Muse.
MANDY ON THE MIC
After spending the past several years focusing on acting in films like "Saved" and "American Dreamz," Mandy Moore is finishing her first new album since 2003's "Coverage," her last for Epic. Now signed to management powerhouse the Firm's label, Moore is at Allaire Studios in upstate New York working with producer John Alagia. The album, due in April, sports co-writes from Moore on every track with the help of Lori McKenna, Rachael Yamagata and the Weepies.
REGIS AND THE REINDEER
If you're one of the 115,000 (!) people who purchased "The Regis Philbin Christmas Album" since its September 2005 release by Hollywood Records, you're familiar with the talk-show host's cover of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Now, Philbin has been transported to the North Pole via the same stop-motion animation from the evergreen "Rudolph" Christmas special as part of a new music video that premiered Nov. 16 on "Live With Regis and Kelly."
If you missed the clip, check it out on liveregisandkelly.com.
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