SMALL FACES: Waterboys leader Mike Scott is...

SMALL FACES: Waterboys leader Mike Scott is at work in New York on his first record for Geffen, which outbid virtually everyone else in the industry for his services. No word yet on whether it will be billed as a Scott solo effort or as a Waterboys project. There’s also no word on whether he’s working in the folky style of recent Waterboys albums or returning to his earlier rock styles. . . .

Nona Gaye, the 17-year-old daughter of the late Marvin Gaye, has been signed by Third Stone Records, an Atlantic-distributed company owned by film actor-producer Michael Douglas. Gaye is set to work with several R&B; producers on an album planned for an August release. . . . Gross-out fantasy-rock band GWAR is getting ready for two releases: This week the group plans to premiere its film “Phallus in Wonderland,” which is based on the confiscation of leader Odorous Urungus’ stage prop after a show in North Carolina last year. A new album, “America Must Die,” is due March 31. . . .

Coming April 14 is the debut by Arc Angels, the Austin band made up of singer-guitarists Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall II and former Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble rhythm section Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon. Little Steven produced. . . . XTC has finished work with former Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon on the new album “Nonsuch,” scheduled for an April 28 release. . . .

Jethro Tull is making the most of Metallica’s Kirk Hammett’s thank-you to Tull for not releasing an album in 1991 when accepting this year’s heavy-metal Grammy, a reference to Metallica’s losing to Tull in the hard rock/metal category in 1987. A new Tull press release concludes, “To Metallica’s distress, Jethro Tull plans a new LP and tour for late ’92.” By the way, Kirk, Tull did release an album in ‘91, titled “Catfish Rising.”