The acclaimed 2008 concert collaboration of Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton will be chronicled this spring on both a 2-CD and DVD release. Titled "Live In New York", the live performances briefly reunited the two legendary musical figures who worked together forty years ago in the "supergroup" Blind Faith, an iconic band that released just one album in 1969.

Recorded over three nights at Madison Square Garden in February, the live shows - billed simply "Winwood and Clapton" - featured some classic Blind Faith songs ("Can't Find My Way Home", "Presence of the Lord"), some inspired Jimi Hendrix covers ("Little Wing", "Voodoo Child") and a number of interesting nuggets from each of the duo's individual catalog tracks. From Clapton, "After Midnight", "Forever Man" and "Crossroads"; from Winwood, a few Traffic gems ("Pearly Queen", "Dear Mr. Fantasy") as well as the solo track "Split Decision."

"Having two masters like Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood together created a rare, once-in-a-lifetime magical experience," wrote one critic, "comprised as much from loving brotherhood as from musical excellence."

"Working On A Dream", the new song that Bruce Springsteen debuted during the Obama campaign will also serve as the title of his new 12-track studio album now slated to arrived January 27. The album's title track also got a prime time premier during the November 16 Sunday Night Football game. The new project is again produced by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam), who handled duties on both "The Rising" and 2007's "Magic".

"Towards the end of recording 'Magic', excited by the return to pop production sounds, I continued writing," Springsteen says. "When my friend producer Brendan O'Brien heard the new songs, he said, 'Let's keep going.' Over the course of the next year, that's just what we did, recording with the E Street Band during the breaks on last year's tour. I hope 'Working on a Dream' has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end."

"Working On A Dream" features two bonus tracks: "The Wrestler", written for the new film starring Mickey Rourke and "A Night With the Jersey Devil", a song he offered on his website on Halloween.

Denver's The Fray follow up their two million-selling debut album "How to Save A Life" with a self-titled new project streeting February 3. Propelled by the long running hit "Over My Head (Cable Car)", The Fray dominated pop, rock and adult radio formats in early 2006 and drew comparisons to the piano-driven songs of Coldplay.

New album is kicked off with new song "You Found Me", hitting radio in early December as well as a performance on the American Music Awards on November 23. A video of a live acoustic concert performance by the band will be included in a deluxe 2-disc CD/DVD version of the new album.

Extraordinary U.K. soul/funk revivalist singer Alice Russell may not be well known in the U.S., but that may change with the release of "Pot Of Gold" arriving December 9 on the Six Degrees label. Known for her powerful vocal pipes and scorching live shows, Russell manages the twin feat of sounding both timelessly soulful and cutting edge modern. "Pot of Gold" represents her most cohesive and focused music yet.

In the vein of her earlier showstopping version of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army", "Gold" includes her own take on the uber-hit "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. Listen to new song "Got The Hunger" here.

Watch the "Pot Of Gold" EPK:

Former Mavericks singer Raul Malo will release his first album of new songs in seven years with "Lucky One", streeting March 3 via new label home Fantasy. Not that the versatile and acclaimed vocalist and songwriter has been taking it easy. Two exquisite albums of cover songs - "You're Only Lonely" and "After Hours" - have only added to Malo's reputation as one of the finest singers working. "Malo has an exceptional voice, a burnished tenor that harks back to Roy Orbison and the great Cuban singer Beny Moré," says The NY Times.

Working with producer Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Malo says that the new project has been a liberating experience. "I have been fighting my whole life against people who want to pigeonhole music. I feel like I've got no restrictions anymore." Focus track/single "Hello Again" leads the way at radio.

Jazz chanteuse Jane Monheit is back with her ninth album January 20: "The Lovers, The Dreamers, And Me," on Concord Record. "I wanted to do something different with this record," says Monheit, "and so I chose songs that meant a lot to me in many different ways and from a wide range of songwriters and genres - from female artists my age to celebrated legends."

In addition to standards from Cole Porter ("Get Out of Town") and Leonard Bernstein ("Lucky To Be Me"), Monheit also covers songs from Fiona Apple ("Slow Like Honey"), Corinne Bailey Rae ("Like A Star") and Paul Simon ("I Do It For Your Love"). Monheit's 2007 album "Surrender" debuted at #1 on the Bilboard Jazz chart.

Winner of the prestigious U.K. Mercury Prize in 2005, New York's eclectic Antony + The Johnsons return with their third album "The Crying Light" on January 20. The new project is said to see a lyrical shift to focus more on the "natural world" while composer Nico Muhly has added symphonic arrangements to back up Antony Hegarty's haunting, tremulous quiver of a voice.

Hegarty and his backing band, named after a legendary NY drag queen, received enormous international acclaim for their 2005 album "I Am A Bird Now". A five-track EP "Another World", featuring previously unreleased songs and the the new title-track single, was released in early October.

Matchbox 20 leader Rob Thomas is back with his second solo release now scheduled for April release. Tentatively titled "Cradle Songs", the new project follows up the #1 charting "Something To Be", an album that has now sold more than three million units worldwide.

Christina Aguilera is said to be going the "electronica" route for her next "futuristic" project, hooking up with artists such a Sia (Furler), Goldfrapp and Ladytron for potential collaborations. "I'm not exactly sure what we're gonna get when we get in the studio together," she says, "but (as) with all great things I'll go in and there's probably magic to be had."

Robyn Hitchcock will release a new project "Goodnight Oslo" on February 17 via the Yeproc label. On board this time around, members of The Venus 3: Peter Buck and Bill Reiflin of R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows.

Audioslave singer Chris Cornell has seen his new Timbaland-produced solo album pushed back to a February 3 street. Look for a new single in early 2009.

Jazz chanteuse Diana Krall is on the schedule for a new album February 10. No details yet - stay tuned.

Ciara's upcoming "Fantasy Ride" has been pushed back from a late fall to March 3 release with the first single still to be determined. In a break from a traditional CD release, Ciara plans on releasing "Fantasy" as a packaged bundle of three different "themed" discs, each with five or six tracks.

M.I.A. pop/rock troubador Howie Day is wrapping up his third album and first since 2003's "Stop the World Now." The as-yet-untitled project, penciled in for a March street date from Epic, has had a few songs leaked on the internet and Day posted a new song "Everyone Loves To Love a Lie" recently earlier this year on his myspace page. The Maine singer has had his share of controversy in the past few years, resulting in a short rehab stint.

Amy Winehouse is said to be in the "demo stage" on new recordings for her first album since her 2005 breakout album "Back to Black." "I've heard some demos," says Lucian Grange, Chairman and Chief Executive of Winehouse's label, Universal Music Group. "I've heard some simple acoustic songs that she's played me in my office on acoustic guitar, and what I've heard has been sensational."

New Michelle Branch album "Everything Comes and Goes" is now officially scheduled for February 10 release. Available as a regular release and as a deluxe CD/DVD 2-disc set, "Everything" is a self-described "break-up" album after the wreck of The Wreckers, the best-selling country/pop duo she formed with Jessica Harp. Branch says that the new project will continue her modern Nashville sound.

Kelly Clarkson's forthcoming, as-yet-untitled album has been pushed again from a February release to March with the first single scheduled to hit radio in early 2009.

Singer/songwriter and critical darling Eleni Mandell follows up her 2007 release "Miracle of Five" with a new album "Artificial Fire" arriving February 17. First single "Right Side" exemplifies the new project's "more direct, full-band sound." Listen here.

Country star Dierks Bentley is back with his fourth studio album February 3. The as-yet-untitled album is being led by new single "Feel That Fire."

Philly singer/songwriter Melody Gardot has wrapped her second album of contemporary pop/jazz with producer Larry Klein. "My One and Only Thrill" drops March 31 via Verve. Details to come - stay tuned.

Mos Def will drop his new album "The Ecstatic" on February 9 via new label home Downtown. New single "Life in Marvelous Times" hits radio and digital retail November 4.

The next Rufus Wainwright project will be a more intimate affair, the singer tells BILLBOARD. "I'm planning at the moment - and I really want to stick to this - that the album will just be a solo piano/voice, just sitting in the studio alone and making it about the music."

Broadway observers are already clucking over the projected runaway costs for the upcoming "Spiderman" musical from director Julie Taymor (Lion King, Across the Universe) and a musical score from U2's Bono. Lavish set and costume expenses won't deter the show from it's projected 2009 launch, however.

Black Eyed Peas are in the final stages of their fifth album "The E.N.D." in London, according to member and producer Wil.i.am. No set release date, but the album could be slid into the final weeks of 2008. The Peas' last album, 2005's "Monkey Business", has now surpassed the 4 million sales mark in the U.S.

Colbie Caillat's (pic) upcoming November 11 expanded version of "Coco" will feature eight additional songs including covers of songs by Lauryn Hill ("Tell Him"), Bob Markey ("Turn the Lights Down Low") and Dusty Springfield ("Brand New Me"). Also on board, an acoustic version of her hit "Bubbly" and "Somethin' Special", a new song penned for an Olympics compilation.

Green Day is reported to be working on a new album with Garbage-man Butch Vig, the producer of both Nirvana's classic "Nevermind" and Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream." Meanwhile, Garbage looks to continue to be on hold as frontwoman Shirley Manson wraps her solo album and has a recurring support role on TV's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

Soundtrack to the third release in the Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus phenomenon is scheduled for January 13 in a CD/DVD combo pack. New collection is imaginatively titled "Hannah Montana 3."

Multi-platinum seller Akon follow up his 2006 bestseller "Konvicted" with "Freedom" dropping November 25. First single "Right Now (Na Na Na)" is at radio now.

Death Cab for Cutie celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album "Something About Airplanes" with a new deluxe edition arriving November 25. Included will be new liner notes, reworked cover art and a bonus CD of the band's first Seattle show from 1998.

Britney Spears will release her new album "Circus" on December 2. First single "Womanizer" represents a style that Spears' says is "more urban." Last year's "Blackout" album has scanned 900k copies. A deluxe version of "Circus" will feature two non-album bonus tracks as well as a 20-minute documentary and some "behind the scenes" footage of the video "Womanizer."

Hugely popular Canadian mainstream rockers Nickelback follow up their 8x platinum '05 bestseller "All The Right Reasons" with "Dark Horse" a new studio album arriving November 18. Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Shania Twain) produced the new project and is the famed soundman's first project in six years. First single "If Today Was Your Last Day" hits radio at the end of September.

Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver alum Scott Weiland will release his second solo album "Happy" on November 18. The singer, who recently completed a summer STP reunion tour, says "Happy" has many different musical influences like rock, punk, r&b as well as an eclectic blend that we've come up with over the years."

TheIndigo Girlswill release their forthcoming new studio album in two different versions: full production style and then a stripped down acoustic version. The new project, the duo's first without a major label, is as yet untitled and due tentatively in February of next year.

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco says the band is ready to record the follow up to 2007's "Sky Blue Sky" with an eye toward a spring 2009 release. Tweedy says he's looking forward to "using the studio as another instrument" hinting that the new project will be more heavily sonic-layered and overdubbed. Two new songs - "One Wing" and "Sunny Feeling" - have been getting previewed at recent live shows.

Innovative Brit jazz/pop singer Jamie Cullum is wrapping his newest project with string and big band overdubs in New York in L.A. No set release date, but a tentative schedule calls for a spring 2009 street. Since the release of his last album, '05's "Catching Tales," Cullum recorded the title theme to the 2007 movie "Grace Is Gone."

The elusive Maxwell will tour this fall for the first time in six years, hopefully previewing some new, long-awaited songs from his forthcoming multi-disc epic "Black Summers Night". Still no word on a release date.

Rising rockers Paramore will release a live CD/DVD package in time for the holidays: a tentative schedule pegs it for November 25. The band received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist this past year but lost out to Amy Winehouse. A new studio album is now being planned for summer '09 release

Ex-Maverick lead singer Raul Malo has signed with Fantasy Records and will release his first album of original material, produced by Steve Berlin, in early 2009.

Ever wonder what happened to that "Bad Day" dude? Well, singer-songwriter Daniel Powter has completed his sophomore album "Under The Radar" with legendary producer Linda Perry and release is expected this fall in Europe, where "Bad Day" was an even bigger hit than the U.S., and then stateside March 3.

American Idol's 2008 champ David Cook will release his major label debut November 18 via Arista/J. Produced by veteran Rob Cavallo (Daughtry, Green Day) the album is being led by first single "Time of My Life" as well as a TBD second track hitting radio in late September. Collaborating songwriters on the project include Collective Soul's Ed Roland, Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida, and Kara DioGuardi (Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne).

Country star Trace Adkins returns with "American Man" for a Thanksgiving week release on Capitol Nashville. New single "Muddy Water" is at radio now.

For more news, check the HOT LIST page.

Canadian singer Serena Ryder may be only 25, but her commanding voice and charismatic live performance is summed up succinctly by one critic as "Pipes. Presence. Potential." Armed usually with just an acoustic guitar, Ryder live is simply a force of nature, her tough/tender, bluesy/jazzy vocals and rhythmic, hip-shaking playing laying claim to the stage with dynamic certainty. After an indie release and an acclaimed album of covers released in Canada and Australia, Ryder has teamed with indemand producer John Alagia (Dave Matthews, John Mayer) for an album she sums up as a "pretty stripped down" affair. "I'm really into doing a very direct, really organic sound..."

Read more about Serena Ryder and check out a video at the ON THE RADAR page.

Norah Jones may be on a self-announced solo career hiatus, but that isn't stopping her from performing around New York with another musical side project. In what may be a nod to female triple threat The Dixie Chicks, Norah along with Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper has been hitting some local clubs under the moniker Dixie Fried. Not surprisingly the "Fried" menu consisted of some slightly twangy acoustic country/rock and some tasty covers including Johnny Cash's "Cry Cry Cry." No word on whether this project will end up in the studio, a la Jones' side startup "The Little Willies." Stay tuned.

Check out more pics and a write up here.

M. Ward, fresh off his work with actress/chanteuse Zooey Deschanel and the duo's "Him and Her" project, is readying his fourth solo album "Hold Time" for a February 17 street. The acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarists first project since 2006's "Post War" also boasts some stellar backing help, including support from Lucinda Williams, former Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle, DeVotchKa's Tom Hagerman, and the previously noted Ms. Deschanel.

Meanwhile, it looks like there will be a "Volume II" of the Deschanel Him and Her collaboration. Details to come.

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo is one busy dude. Just months after the June release of his band's "The Red Album" and a year after his "Alone: The Home Recordings" comes "Alone: Volume II", due November 25 on Geffen.

Taken from from nearly 15 hours of demo recordings, the 19-track "II" includes a Beach Boys cover ("Don't Worry Baby") as well as the prized three-song mini suite from "Songs from the Black Hole." Some songs date back to the pre-Weezer period of the early 90's while some were recorded in 2006 and 2007 prior to the recording of Weezer's "Red Album". "I was really surprised how great it was," Cuomo tells Pitchfork. "It makes me wonder if I have more good stuff on my hard drive than I thought I did. This one is not a step down in any sense."

Listen to "I Want To Take You Home Tonight" from "II" here.

Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Jason Bonham and...Myles Kennedy? (pic) BILLBOARD is reporting that a Robert Plant-free Led Zeppelin reunion may be in the works with singing duties going to the current vocalist of the mainstream hardrockers Alter Bridge. Plant, who has garnered considerable acclaim (and sales) with Alison Krauss on their "Raising Sand" project, has "no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years". Sources close to the Led Zep camp confirm that Kennedy has rehearsed with the remaining members of the band. No word on whether the "New Zep" would or could be called Led Zeppelin for marketing purposes.

Alter Bridge, a band founded by former members of the band Creed, may also find a diversion as word that a reunion of Creed with singer Scott Stapp may also be in the works.

Jamie Foxx is readying his third solo album for December 16 release: a conceptual project titled "Intuition." Hitting radio November 11 is first single "Just Like Me" featuring T.I.

The theme of "Intuition", says Foxx, is about "what women want" and "what does a man have to do?" He adds, "we go from there and build the story and the songs. In this city it's all about the heat. It's the LA world."

Foxx's last album, the 2005's "Unpredictable", scanned 600k copies its first week out and went on to sell more the two million units.

"Spectacle: With Elvis Costello...", a 13-part weekly hour long interview and music series will launch December 3 on the Sundance Channel. Elton John, who also serves as one of the series' executive producers, will be Costello's first guest for "Spectacle"'s debut. Guests will not only chat, they'll also perform stripped down versions of selected songs.

Upcoming guests will include Herbie Hancock, Lou Reed, Jenny Lewis, The Police, Rufus Wainwright, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp, former President Bill Clinton (!), his wife Diana Krall (interviewed by Elton), Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett and James Taylor.

In what she calls the idea of "creating three separate and shorter journeys that would interact with each other," Danish singer/songwriter Tina Dico will release her fifth album as a three-EP box set on January 27: "A Beginning, A Detour, An Open Ending." Recorded in three different sessions with producer Dennis Ahlgren over a two year period, the three mini-albums contain a total of 20 songs, most recorded in what she terms "a much more raw and naked sound" than her recent studio releases.

"All my life I've been waiting to 'arrive' somewhere and 'lock into' my life. This new album is me coming to terms with the fact that life is one long messy string of beginnings, detours and open endings and that I"m never going to 'arrive' anywhere." Dico originally made the EP's available only at shows on her recent tour in support of her album "Count To Ten."

Watch Tina perform the song "You Know Better Than Me" from "Count To Ten":

Neil Young continues the release of vintage archival live concert performances with the 40th anniversary release of "Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House" on November 25. The CD/DVD package was recorded over a two day stint at an Ann Arbor, Michigan club in November, 1968, just six months after Young had departed from Buffalo Springfield for the beginnings of a solo career.

Coming in 2009 is the release of "Toast", a "dark" Young collaboration with Crazy Horse recorded in San Francisco in 2000 but never released. Also coming after a year long delay is another live collection: "Harvest Moon Live." Both titles scheduled for a March 31 release via Reprise.

Post-grunge California rockers Hoobastank will return with their fourth studio album "Fornever" on January 27. The band is currently picking among 17 tracks recorded at the "Fornever" sessions to determine which tracks make the final cut. First single "My Turn" is at rock radio now. Listen here.

2006's "Every Man for Himself" album was considered a commercial disappointment for the band, yielding gold status with over 500k units sold but far below their double platinum (2 million) success with 2003's "The Reason." Vocalist Doug Robb says they've "set the bar very very high" for "Fornever."

With progressive bluegrass trio Nickel Creek now on indefinite hiatus, fiddler and singer/songwriter Sarah Watkins is following fellow bandmember Chris Thile with her own solo career and side projects. First up is a new solo album, a self-titled release set for February 24th via Nonesuch and produced by friend and musical admirer John Paul Jones, the legendary Led Zeppelin bassist.

Jones, a frequent collaborator with Watkins in recent years, suggested the production idea and, says Watkins, "I wasn't sure if it was gonna be one of those situations that just floats away in the wind and you never see it again." She adds, "but we stayed in touch and I was delighted working with him."