SMALL FACES

Meredith Brooks takes a different tack from her sassy 1997 hit “Bitch” for the first single from her upcoming album “Deconstruction.” She’s remade “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” the 1970 gospel-based hit by Melanie. Brooks’ version features Queen Latifah and the Crenshaw High School Choir. . . .

Following his Mayan Theatre concert last Wednesday, Robbie Williams was scheduled to head for Ocean Way Studios to record new tracks expected to appear as B-sides and bonus tracks on future single releases. . . .

Elliott Smith is starting work next month on the follow-up to his acclaimed 1998 major-label debut, “X/O,” with the Bong Load Records team of Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf returning to produce. . . .

Dance remixes of Aaliyah’s “One in a Million,” Ice Cube’s “Bend a Corner” and tracks by N.W.A, Mack 10, Jungle Brothers, Jeru tha Damaja and Luniz are featured on “Urban Jungle,” a mix album by deejay Aphrodite, due from Swedish Egil’s Egil Music label July 27.*