Late Beatle George Harrison's final solo album, Brainwashed, will be in record stores on November 19. He was working on the collection at the time of his death last year. It marks his first new studio album since 1987's Cloud Nine, which included the Number One hit, Got My Mind Set On You. In other news, a George Harrison tribute album is planned for release on February 25. Songs From the Material World includes new versions of Harrison's songs performed by The Byrd's Roger McGuinn, Julian Lennon, The Kinks' Dave Davies, Todd Rundgren, and others. And, to mark the first anniversary of Harrison's death on November 29, many of his friends will perform a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Already scheduled to take part in the event are Tom Petty, Ravi Shankar and Paul McCartney, who will make a rare appearance with Ringo Starr.
On November 19, Atlantic Records will release the third album by rock group Matchbox Twenty. The first single from More Than You Think You Are is a track called Disease, written by the band's lead singer Rob Thomas and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
Rod Stewart's first five solo albums will be released as a 3-CD box set on November 19. Reason To Believe: The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings features digitally remastered versions of The Rod Stewart Album, Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells A Story, Never A Dull Moment and Smiler. They'll include several rare tracks from his 1995 import-only compilation Handbags & Gladrags.
Sting, Elton John, Ricky Martin, Alanis Morissette, Placido Domingo and Bob Dylan are some of the artists who contributed songs to the new charity album Voices of Hope. Set for release on November 19, the compilation will benefit the Sabera Foundation, which creates shelters, provides health care, and operates an orphanage for hundreds of girls in Calcutta. The children from the orphanage are featured on several of the tracks. The project was created by actress Melanie Griffith. Her husband, actor Antonio Banderas, recorded a version of John Lennon's Imagine for the album.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES /NOV. 19:
MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:
November 19, Australian rock group INXS will perform a benefit concert in New York to aid the victims and families of the recent terrorist attack in Bali. Most of the victims were Australians. The Australian Bali Relief Benefit will also feature some special guests. Next year, INXS will record a new album, the band's first since the 1997 death of lead singer Michael Hutchence.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
Rapper Eminem was the big winner at the 9th annual MTV Europe Music Awards, presented on November 14 in Barcelona, Spain. He was named Best Male Artist and Best Hip-Hop Artist, and also took home the Best Album award for The Eminem Show. Double winners at the ceremony included Kylie Minogue, Linkin Park, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
LOOK WHO'S GOING ON TOUR!
Rhythm-and-blues star Usher will perform three shows in South Africa this week. He'll be in Cape Town on November 20, Durban on the 22nd, and Johannesburg on November 23. Usher's latest album, 8701, has sold four million copies in the United States.