The Black Crowes are recording in an...

The Black Crowes are recording in an L.A.-area studio for a new album due in late August. The band has already finished 24 songs and there’s talk of a double-CD or a possible second album to be released in mid-tour after the band hits the road in the fall--or a collection of the “extra” songs to be issued only through the band’s fan club. . . . Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval guests on the first single from the Jesus and Mary Chain’s upcoming album. Sandoval and the band’s Jim and William Reid just shot a video for the song in the Arizona desert, directed by Sophie Muller, who did recent clips for Hole and Bjork. There’s talk of a fall tour pairing the Mary Chain and Mazzy. . . .

Stevie Nicks’ “Street Angel” album is now due June 7 and includes one song about Greta Garbo, another about Jane Goodall and a version of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman”--with the lyrics changed to make it a first-person narrative and Dylan himself on guitar and harmonica. The album also has appearances by David Crosby and Heartbreakers Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell. . . .

A deal is in the works to get R. Kelly on the soundtrack for “Dirty Lowdown Shame,” the Keenen Ivory Wayans movie due in November. And Kelly raps on the upcoming debut album by 15-year-old singer Aaliyah--which he also produced. Meanwhile, Kelly’s “12 Play” album has been banned in Singapore due to the sexual nature of some songs, so he’s releasing a “5 Play” EP with only the tamer titles--but he says he’ll perform the naughtier numbers when he tours there this year.*