Pink Floyd Regroups

FOUR MEMBERS of British rock band Pink Floyd will play together for the first time in 24 years at London’s Live 8 charity concert for Africa on July 2, publicists for the event said on Sunday.

Guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and keyboard player Richard Wright will be on stage with bassist Roger Waters for their first public performance since they played at London’s Earls Court in 1981.

Sheryl Crow new Albums

Sheryl Crow’s as-yet-untitled new album will arrive on Sept 27 via Inter-scope, and will be preceded a month before by the single Good Is Good.

According to the artist’s official web site, the new album will include 10 tracks and will be accompanied by a tour that is in the planning stages. Crow exclusively revealed in December that she was hoping to release two separate albums in 2005, one that she described as an “artist” record, and the other pegged as a “pop” record. But based on the Sept 26 release date, it appears unlikely that Crow would release a second set before year end.

The artist admitted her relationship with championship cyclist Lance Armstrong has made an obvious impact on her new material. “I am writing a lot more love songs because I’m really happy in my life, and I’m in a really positive relationship, but there’s also so much stuff to write about in the world,” she said. “It’s a really interesting time to be an artist.”

While working on her music, Crow has also recorded tracks for three upcoming tribute albums. Her rendition of For Free will appear on a Joni Mitchell tribute, while a cover of I Need Your Love So Bad is pegged for a BB King Collection and To Love Somebody is being earmarked for a Bee Gees’ cover set.

Jo Dee Messina makes a surprising comeback

Jo Dee Messina has had a career marked by ups and downs. But right now, she’s definitely on a professional high.

Her new Curb album, Delicious Surprise, spent two weeks at No 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums’ chart after its April 26 release.

Debuting at No 7 on The Billboard 200, the set was Messina’s first top 10 entry on that chart. The album has sold 174,000 copies in the United States in its first three weeks. In addition, her first single My Give A Damn’s Busted written by Joe Diffie, Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro and previously recorded by Diffie for his 2001 album In Another World was No 1 on the Hot Country Songs’ chart for two weeks, marking the sixth No 1 single of her career Delicious Surprise, Messina’s first non-holiday studio album in five years, marks a big comeback for her.

Since her last new album, she has made radical changes in her life.

Marian Carey rules the Roost at Billboard Top 100

Marian Carey is ruling the Billboard Hot 100 R&B charts, pushing Gwen Stetani to No 2 and Ciara to No3. Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’ nets a second week at No 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, and is again the chart’s greatest airplay gainer. The second single from her Island Def Jam album The Emancipation Of Mimi\s also No 1 for a second week on the Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Refusing to fade away is Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl.

The former Hot 100 No 1 is No 2 for a second week and maintains its chart-topping position on the Pop 100, Hot Digital Tracks and Hot Digital Songs charts. Also sitting tight on the Hot 100 are Ciara’s ‘Oh’ featuring Ludacris (No 3), 50 Cent’s Just A Lil’ Bit (No 4) and the Black Eyed Peas ‘Don’t Phunk, With My Heart’ (No 5). l
1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart for a fourth consecutive week. (more…)