Luther Vandross, having paired with Frank Sinatra...

Luther Vandross, having paired with Frank Sinatra on “The Lady Is a Tramp” for Ol’ Blue Eyes’ recent “Duets” album, is finally finishing his own long-discussed album of standards. The collection is due in the spring. . . .

Bonnie Raitt is set to follow the March 22 release of her “Longing in Their Hearts” album with a European tour beginning in May and an extensive North American swing starting in July. . . . Lou Reed has a guest guitarist role on the upcoming Smithereens album, due in April. Among the song titles on the Don Dixon-produced collection: “Everything I Have Is Blue,” “Miles From Nowhere” and the grunge-mocking “Sick of Seattle.” . . . Just months after the release of their “Very” album, the Pet Shop Boys are following with a U.S. release in March of “Very Relentless,” a double-CD, previously available only as an import, that adds six extended dance tracks to the “Very” material. And word is that chances are slim that the Boys will tour this year. . . .

Siouxsie & the Banshees are in France working on a new album due in April or May. . . . The new Sonic Youth album, “Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star,” due in April, is said to feature a darker, more haunting sound than the band’s recent albums. . . . And Sonic fans might be interested in guitarist Pat Metheney’s upcoming “Zero Tolerance for Silence” album, inspired by the experimental wall-of-guitars sound associated with the likes of Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca. . . .

British pop-soul singer Tasmin Archer’s album due in March is in part a tribute to one of her heroes--Elvis Costello. Half of the songs are old Elvis tunes--”Shipbuilding,” “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror,” “All Grown Up” and “New Amsterdam.” The other four tracks are live versions of old Archer tunes. . . .

Underground music-oriented Option magazine will debut a new fashion supplement called UHF in an issue marking its ninth anniversary. It hits the stands on Feb. 25.