Elton John will be joined in the...

Elton John will be joined in the studio by Tammy Wynette soon to record “What a Woman Needs,” the first of four new tracks for an album of duets John will release later this year. Kiki Dee is also set to record a new song with John, and the two other partners are still being lined up. The album will be filled out with such past John duets as “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” with John Lennon, “Through the Storm” with Aretha Franklin and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Dee. . . .

What will be the big album of the fall? Probably whatever Garth Brooks releases. He’s in the studio now, laboring on tracks for an album that could be out as soon as late September. . . .

Prince (we’ll call him whatever we darn please) has been giving intimate, invitation-only solo concerts in Minneapolis for surprised patrons of his Glam Slam club. Members of Prince’s staff hand out cards at the club with the address of the concert to selected people. . . .

W. Axl Rose, author? Well, sorta. The singer has penned the foreword to “The Photographic History of Guns N’ Roses,” a collection of shots by the band’s longtime friend Robert John. The book’s due in stores on Aug. 1. . . .

Plans for a long-rumored En Vogue “unplugged” album apparently have been scrapped, or at least put on hold. But the funky divas are rehearsing for a fall-winter tour opening for Luther Vandross. . . . The Christmas album by Boyz II Men due in September will consist of mostly new holiday-theme tunes written by the Boyz. . . .

The Pet Shop Boys have recorded a Broadway-style version of the Village People’s campy “Go West”--with orchestra and chorus--for the duo’s first studio album in three years. Plans are for the Boys to do a few select live dates when the album comes out Sept. 28 and then mount a major tour next year. . . .

Business and music details are being worked out for First Bro’ Roger Clinton’s debut album for Atlantic. His manager, Butch Stone, says Clinton is selecting material and producers with an eye on starting recording in late July or early August. . . . Aaron Neville’s version of the George Jones song “Grand Tour” will be released as a country single next month--a first for a singer generally associated with New Orleans funk and ethereal pop. . . .

Depeche Mode has dumped the English group Spiritualized as the opening act on its European tour. Reportedly the reason is simply that the Modesters didn’t like the opener’s static, “shoe-gazing” performance style. . . .

English singer John Wesley Harding--who drolly claims to be the bastard son of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez--will host a Fourth of July tribute to Dylan on KCRW-FM (89.9) featuring rare recordings and various guest vocalists fronting an in-studio band on Dylan songs.