Although the first quarter of 1996 brings an intriguing mix of albums and tours by the hip (Afghan Whigs, Lush) and hip-replacement crowd (Rod Stewart, Pavarotti), the spring's biggest stories will likely be last year's news — the rebirth of the Beatles (Anthology 2 is due soon) and the love affair between America and Hootie & the Blowfish, whose new Fairweather Johnson may sort out just how many fair-weather friends they have.
ALBUMS: A POP-POURRI
STEVE EARLE
I Feel Alright
With his heroin troubles a
memory, Earle has a solid new album, his own record label, and a
tour that begins March 13. ''It might all fall apart,'' he warns,
''but right now it feels great.'' March 5
STING
Mercury Falling
Haven't heard from the yoga and
Amnesty International enthusiast since 1993's Ten Summoner's Tales, but Sting makes his current concerns immediately clear
with the first single, ''Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot.'' March 12
AFGHAN WHIGS
Black Love
Having survived the dreaded leap to
a major label with 1993's Gentlemen, the smug former Sub Pop
quartet returns with more of its haunting, acclaimed guitar
rock. March 12
7 YEAR BITCH
Gato Negro
No way. The riot grrrls on a major
label and singing about broken hearts? Way. ''Things change,''
says bassist Elizabeth Davis. ''If someone would have told me
seven years ago we'd be on Atlantic [Records], I'd never have
believed them.'' March 12
THE BEATLES
Anthology 2
Moving into the Sgt. Pepper era,
we'll hear John unmistakably utter ''cranberry sauce'' instead of
''I buried Paul'' at the end of ''Strawberry Fields Forever.'' March
19
SONGS IN THE KEY OF X (MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE
X-FILES)
An all-star spookfest with R.E.M.-William S. Burroughs
and Brian Eno-Elvis Costello collaborations, as well as
appearances by Sheryl Crow, Meat Puppets, Danzig, and Screamin'
Jay Hawkins. March 19
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
still untitled
Two years after their
breakthrough, Purple, and one year after lead singer Scott
Weiland's drug bust, the L.A. grungemeisters have a lot riding
on their third full-length disc. March 26
LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
Pavarotti & Friends: Together for the Children of Bosnia
One heck of a well-connected opera singer,
Pav assembles maximum- cool ''friends'' Bono, The Edge, Brian Eno,
and others for this benefit. April 2
LIONEL RICHIE
Louder Than Words
For his first album of
all-new material in a decade, the once-given-up-for-lost
balladeer has brought in a variety of hit-making honchos,
including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. April 16
GEORGE MICHAEL
Older
Ironically, one of the spring's most
hotly anticipated albums might not make its release date.
Michael continues to toil in the studio, as the album's first
single, ''Jesus to a Child,'' begins to fade on pop radio. April 16
PAUL WESTERBERG
Eventually
From the godfather of
alternative rock: an apt title for an album fans have waited
nearly three years for. April 23
HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH
Fairweather Johnson
At 12 million, Cracked Rear View was last year's top seller, making this maybe
the most daunting follow-up since Peter Frampton's I'm in You.
April 23
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