MISSING IN ACTION: By his own chest-thumping...

MISSING IN ACTION: By his own chest-thumping projections, singer-songwriter Terence Trent D’Arby-- was going to be the star of the ‘90s. But so far in this decade, you only hear his name mentioned when people ask, “Whatever happened to. . . ?”

D’Arby’s 1987 debut, “Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby,” sold more than 2 million in the United States (7 million worldwide) and put him among the rising stars with its catchy mix of soul and rock styles. But the follow-up, “Neither Fish Nor Flesh,” broke the rookie artists’ golden rule--never put out a second album that’s radically different from a successful debut. The album was a bit hard to get a handle on, like some of Prince’s more esoteric efforts, and was a commercial flop.

D’Arby hasn’t worked much in the ‘90s, only performing at the big Rio rock festival two years ago and singing the title song from the romantic comedy “Frankie & Johnny,” featuring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

There was talk around the industry that if and when D’Arby made his next album, it wouldn’t be for Columbia Records, due to conflicts with top executives Don Ienner and Tommy Mottola. But D’Arby is still on the label. Without going into details, his manager Tony Dimitriades reports, “Whatever differences there were have been ironed out.”

And it’s no longer if: D’Arby has been working on a third album in Los Angeles and London. And as for when, a late summer release is expected from a man his manager says is “a lot more humble.”