Phair and Blige Lead Summer’s Lively Beat

Summer is a notoriously fallow time for the music industry. While consumers are spending more time at the beach than at record stores, labels are busy gearing up for the fall, when they tend to roll out their A-list releases.

But this looks like a summer for retailers to remember--from indie-rock darling Liz Phair, who will finally put out a new album after a four-year hiatus, to R&B; forces Tony Rich and Mary J. Blige (both releasing albums in August) to country superstar Vince Gill, set to return with what promises to be his rootsiest album ever.

These collections are joined in this unusually strong season by a host of critical and/or commercial powerhouses. Here’s a list of the most anticipated albums of the rest of the summer:

LIZ PHAIR

Matador

Phair’s 1993 debut album, “Exile in Guyville,” is considered one of the seminal indie-rock albums of the decade. Both it and Phair’s so-so 1994 follow-up, “Whip-Smart,” recently passed the 500,000 mark in sales. But it’s been four years since “Whip-Smart,” leading many to wonder if Phair’s new “Whitechocolate-spacegg”--described as a strong return to form--will fare well in the marketplace. A few dates on the Lilith Fair tour this summer should help Phair generate some interest in the album. Release date: Aug. 11.

MARY J. BLIGE

MCA

The R&B; diva is set to release a live album taped at her Universal Amphitheatre shows last April featuring all of her signature hits and selected tracks from her three multi-platinum studio albums. Although live albums have been notorious slow sellers in the ‘90s, Blige, one of the decade’s best-selling female R&B; artists, hopes to buck that trend. July 28.

KORN

Immortal/Epic

The Los Angeles-based heavy-metal band’s “Follow the Leader,” the follow-up to its 1996 platinum album “Life Is Peachy,” features cameos from Ice Cube as well as Cheech Marin (who sings on a remake of Cheech & Chong’s “Earache My Eye”). Aug. 18.

GILLIAN WELCH

ALMO Sounds

The L.A.-based singer-songwriter garnered critical raves and decent sales (80,000, according to SoundScan) for her meditative 1996 debut album, “Revival.” With “Hell Among the Yearlings,” Welch hopes to build on “Revival’s” success, but it may be an uphill battle for her: “Yearling” is an even more modest album, with nothing but acoustic guitars and Welch’s mournful vocals. According to a label spokesman, Welch hopes to build word of mouth through extensive touring and press. July 28.

SNOOP DOGG

No Limit

The multi-platinum rapper (he’s dropped his “Doggy” middle name) severed ties with former label Death Row last year and signed with hip-hop impresario Master P’s No Limit for “Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told.” Given No Limit’s astonishing success rate over the past year, Snoop’s new alliance seems like a savvy career move. Not that he needs a leg up in the sales department: His last three albums have sold nearly 10 million copies. Aug. 4.

VINCE GILL

MCA Nashville

The veteran singer-guitarist is getting back down to the nitty gritty with his new album, “The Key.” Described by a label spokesman as “more traditional sounding” than Gill’s more recent efforts, “The Key”--whose first single, “If You Ever Have Forever in Mind,” is already a radio hit--features duets with Patty Loveless and Faith Hill. Aug. 11.

TONY RICH

LaFace

The suave R&B; singer sold more than a million copies of his critically acclaimed 1996 debut, “Words,” and industry insiders are confident that “Birdseye” will equal, if not surpass, that mark. Radio programmers are already predicting big things for the album’s Prince-like first single, “Silly Man” (featuring Eric Clapton on guitar). Aug. 11.

LAURYN HILL

Columbia

The member of the multi-platinum hip-hop act the Fugees wrote and co-produced her much-anticipated solo debut album. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” features duets with singers D’Angelo and Blige and an appearance by guitarist Carlos Santana. The record is described by a Columbia spokesman as “a deeply personal, very honest and confrontational album.” Aug. 25.

WILLIE NELSON

Island

The 65-year-old country legend has teamed up with producer Daniel Lanois, who won a Grammy and critical accolades for Bob Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind.” Recorded over four days in Lanois’ Oxnard studio, “Teatro” features a combination of old and new Nelson compositions, a few Lanois songs and a smattering of outside tunes. As usual, Nelson will be promoting the album--which is said to have a “live” feel--with a seemingly endless tour that will continue until the end of November. Sept. 1.