November 12, Atlantic Records will release Phil Collins' first new solo album in six years. The 51-year-old artist says Testify includes some of the best songs he's ever written. Collins will launch its release with a live, one-hour radio concert, which will air on 150 stations via Premiere Radio Networks. The first single from Testify is called Can't Stop Loving You. On November 13, Collins will be honored with City of Hope's Spirit of Life Award. He'll perform at the event, and proceeds will go to City of Hope, a California-based center for research and treatment of life-threatening diseases.
TLC's final album featuring the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes will be released on November 12. The trio was working on 3D at the time of Lisa's death. She was killed in a car accident in Honduras last April.
November 12, Reprise Records will issue a four-CD box set by new age artist Enya. Only Time The Collection includes her hit songs, such as Only Time, Orinoco Flow and Book of Days, plus many tracks that were previously unavailable in the U.S.
As expected, the soundtrack to rap star Eminem's new motion picture, 8 Mile, debuts at Number One on this week's (week ending November 16) Billboard Top 200 chart. It sold more than 700,000 copies its first week of release. 8 Mile, loosely based on the Eminem's life, opened in theaters on November 8. The soundtrack includes three new songs by the rap star, plus tracks by Jay-Z, Nas, Xzibit, Rakim and others.
November 12, Universal Records will release Elton John's double CD anthology Greatest Hits 1970-2002. The 34 digitally remastered tracks include 22 of Elton's Top 10 songs. He plans to launch a "Greatest Hits Tour" in 2003.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES / NOV. 12:
MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:
The Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) will present Emmylou Harris with its Patrick J. Leahy Humanitarian Award on November 12. Emmylou was chosen as this year's recipient for her efforts to ban landmines. She'll receive the honor at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. Many of Emmylou's friends, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, Patty Griffin, Buddy & Julie Miller, Jamie O'Hara and John Prine will perform at the event. Proceeds will go to the VVAF for its post-war assistance programs.
November 13, "Stormy Weather 2002 A Benefit for Walden Woods" will take place at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Scheduled to appear at the fundraising event are Michelle Branch, Sheryl Crow, Reba McEntire, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Susan Tedeschi, Trisha Yearwood and others. Don Henley founded the Walden Woods Project in 1990. Since then, he's raised $30 million for the conservation organization.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
The 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards will be presented on November 14 in Barcelona, Spain. This year's top contenders are Kylie Minogue, Eminem, Pink, Shakira, Coldplay and Enrique Iglesias. Each received four nominations. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will host the event, which will feature performances by Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Robbie Williams, plus many of the leading nominees.
LOOK WHO'S GOING ON TOUR!
Peter Gabriel will kick off his Growing Up Live tour on November 12 in Chicago, Illinois. The outing was delayed for a week due to technical problems with the show's production. Gabriel will be promoting his new album, Up North American dates are currently scheduled through December 18.
November 14, former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, now performing as The Other Ones, will begin a U.S. tour in Roanoke, Virginia. They'll perform 17 concerts through December 6.
November 15, Country legend Dolly Parton will begin her first tour of the U.K. and Ireland in 19 years. Shows begin in Manchester, England. Parton will also perform in London on November 18 and 19; Belfast on November 23; Glasgow, Scotland on November 26 and 27 and Dublin, Ireland on November 29.