POP MUSIC : SMALL FACES

Three of the star divas of the “Waiting to Exhale” soundtrack album are finishing their own new albums. Whitney Houston’s hits collection (with three new tracks and some remixes of old songs) is now due in March, as is Toni Braxton’s second album (with “Exhale” writer-producer Babyface, L.A. Reid, David Foster and R. Kelly, among the producers). Due in May is Aretha Franklin’s latest, with production by Sean (Puffy) Combs and Daryl Simmons. . . .

It looks like Minnesota native Bob Dylan will be singing Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” for the soundtrack to “Feeling Minnesota.” Also musically featured will be Spearhead (doing Sly & the Family Stone’s “Family Affair”) and Minneapolis’ Paul Westerberg, with an instrumental score by Los Lobos. Though the movie stars Keanu Reeves (whose band Dogstar recently got a deal) and has an appearance by Courtney Love, neither is contributing songs. . . .

Elvis Costello teamed with Brian Eno on a spooky track titled “My Dark Life” for David Was’ album of music inspired by “The X-Files,” joining confirmed contributions by R.E.M., Frank Black and Filter. . . . A live set by influential Seattle band the Melvins will be released in January as a boxed collection of five singles and then in March as one CD from Atlantic-distributed X-Mas Records.*