SMALL FACES: Despite widely printed reports to...

SMALL FACES: Despite widely printed reports to the contrary, Layne Staley has not left Alice in Chains. The Seattle band is currently writing songs with plans to record a new album after the New Year. . . .

Stevie Wonder has finally settled on the 13 songs that will make up his “Conversation Peace” album, now due in late February. One song, “Sensuous Whisper,” features guest performers Anita Baker and Branford Marsalis, while Take 6 and Sounds of Blackness guest on other tracks. Wonder starts a short tour on Dec. 27 in Washington, with a Jan. 14 date planned for the Universal Amphitheatre. . . .

Rap group Naughty by Nature has just finished its album “Poverty’s Paradise,” due in stores mid-March. . . . Producer Babyface is working with Michael Jackson on some of the new material for the latter’s greatest hits package, “History,” which now has a February release date--tentative, of course. . . .

With Natalie Merchant gone solo, the remaining 10,000 Maniacs have a new singer: Mary Ramsey, who has played violin on several Maniacs albums and tours. Ramsey had been in the duo John and Mary with Maniacs co-founder John Lombardo, who also has rejoined the group, which is scouting for a new record deal. . . .

Interscope has signed L.A.’s Sweet & Low Orchestra, an eclectic, acoustic group that features former Thelonious Monster members Zander Schloss and Mike Martt and Pogues co-founder James Fearnley.