Christmas in May? Benefit Album’s Stars in the Spirit

Karla Bonoff and Kenny Edwards were at The Studio in Kearny Mesa last Saturday, recording their contribution for the second annual “The Stars Come Out for Christmas” benefit album.

“Everybody’s Home Tonight,” which Bonoff and Edwards, the longtime Linda Ronstadt guitarist, co-wrote for the album, is the first completed track.

Producer Steve Vaus said he will record Kenny Rankin’s interpretation of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in June in Los Angeles.

Then, he’ll make two trips to Nashville to cut vocals for what he calls a country choir version of “Silent Night.” The choir includes the likes of Emmylou Harris, Ricky Van Shelton, Southern Pacific, the McCarter Sisters, Highway 101, Lacy J. Dalton, T. Graham Brown and Patty Loveless.

In July, Vaus said, recording will resume in San Diego with sessions by Nicolette Larson, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Beat Boys, the Commodores and Stephen Bishop. By then, Vaus added, he hopes to have received most of the half-dozen previously recorded submissions, including Ray Charles’ “Little Drummer Boy” and Johnny Cash’s “Joy to the World.”

“In addition,” Vaus said, “we expect several other contributions from major contemporary artists with whom we’re still negotiating.”

The album is to be released the day after Thanksgiving. The local beneficiary is the American Cancer Society. Last year’s album netted Children’s Hospital and Health Center more than $160,000.

Ah, the stuff that goes on behind the scenes. . . .

The folks at Bill Silva Presents, which is promoting the June 21 Cher concert at the San Diego Sports Arena, last week received a package of autographed posters from the company that markets the singer’s new line of perfume, Cher Uninhibited.

And judging from the hand-lettered note inside, the perfumers are real sticklers for details: “You are receiving a Cher Special Edition Poster Prepack containing 12 signed posters and 12 rubber bands. Roll each separate poster tightly, with the image to the inside, and band it with a rubber band.”

“I can’t wait to see the contract,” quipped Silva’s assistant, Julie Chapman.

Meanwhile, Jeff Gaulton reports that when Bob Weir played the Bacchanal in Kearny Mesa last Saturday night, for the third time in as many years, there was a break with tradition.

The Grateful Dead singer’s contract didn’t include the usual requirement for a masseuse.

LINER NOTES: The publishers of Endless Summer Quarterly, a Beach Boys fanzine with subscribers all over the world, have picked our fair burg as the site of their next annual convention. Beach Boys Convention ’90 will be held July 28 at the Stardust Hotel & Country Club in Mission Valley. There will be guest speakers, audio and video presentations and lots of collectibles--records, photos, posters and assorted memorabilia--for sale. . . .

San Diego bands Daddy Longleggs, Night Soil Man, Burning Hands, This Reality and Dark Globe will appear in Sunday night’s “Green for Ireland” benefit concert at Iguanas in Tijuana. The beneficiary is Scott Ireland, the lead singer-guitarist of local power trio the Pulltoys, who broke his neck during an April 29 video shoot. . . .

The Katydids are a hot new British pop group whose debut album, produced by Nick Lowe, will be released next month by Reprise Records. The band’s singer, Susie Hug, was raised in San Diego but moved to London in 1986 after graduating from the University of San Diego with a degree in fine arts and filmmaking. . . .

The Big Kitchen restaurant in Golden Hill is featuring live music on occasional weekend nights. The first show: local acoustic blues duo Small Change, on Saturday at 8 and 9:30 p.m.. . .

Tickets go on sale Thursday at 3 p.m. for the Fleetwood Mac concert June 9 at San Diego State University’s Open Air Theater. Opening the show will be Squeeze. . . . The Judds will appear July 27 at the Sports Arena, along with Lionel Cartwright. Tickets will go on sale June 16 at 10 a.m. . . .

This week’s concerts: Tribe After Tribe, tonight at the Casbah in Middletown; the China Club All-Stars, tonight at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach; Robyn Hitchcock with Dark Globe, Thursday at the Belly Up Tavern; Milli Vanilli with Young MC and D-Mob, Friday at the Sports Arena; Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs, Friday at the Casbah; Exene Cervenka, Friday at the University of California at San Diego gym; Nine Inch Nails with Dark Globe, Saturday at the Bacchanal in Kearny Mesa; Louise Mandrell, Saturday at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts; Agent Orange with the Angry Samoans, Saturday at Iguanas; Tracy Chapman with Johnny Clegg and Savuka, May 28 at SDSU Open Air Theater; Maria Muldaur, May 28 at Elario’s in La Jolla; Sinead O’Connor with Hugh Harris, May 29 at SDSU Open Air Theater; the Little River Band, May 29 at the Bacchanal.