Albums Set For Release Will Take Away The Chill

A long overdue album by Stevie Wonder, comebacks from Adam Ant and Linda Ronstadt, and tributes to Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley should thaw out music shops this month.

Here’s a list of some of the upcoming releases:

Tuesday

British new wave pop star Adam Ant peels off his Indian warpaint on “Wonderful” (Capitol). It’s awash in confident crooning and smooth tunes sparked by Morrissey’s guitarist Boz Boorer.

Vanessa Williams’ assumption of the title role warrants a second original cast album from “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Mercury).

Celebrate Eric Clapton career highlights with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos and solo on the 19-track “The Cream of Clapton” (Polydor.)

Also: Firehouse count “3” (Epic), Archers of Loaf float the nervy “Vee Vee” (Alias), Urban Dance Squad are “Persona Non Grata” (Virgin) and rocker Pat McLaughlin declares “Get Out and Stay Out” (doscq).

Mojo Nixon is “Whereabouts Unknown” (Ripe & Ready), Christopher Cross returns on “Window” (Rhythm Safari) as does Nancy Sinatra with “One More Time” (Cougar).

Blues bashers Little Charlie and the Nightcats pour it “Straight Up” (Alligator). Popa Chubby joins the time-warped Okeh Records blues brood with “Booty and the Beast.”

March 14

“Economium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin” (Atlantic) features the likes of Sheryl Crow (“D’yer Maker”), Hootie & the Blowfish (“Hey, Hey What Can I Do,”), Big Head Todd & The Monsters’ (“Tangerine”) and Zep’s Robert Plant, dueting with Tori Amos on “Down By The Seaside.” Blind Melon, Stone Temple Pilots, Duran Duran and the Rollins Band are on board, too.

Stevie Wonder returns with “Conversation Piece” (Motown), his first studio album in seven years (not counting the “Jungle Fever” soundtrack).

Legally-entangled rapper 2 Pac declares it’s “Me Against the World” (Interscope). Big L surveys the”Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous” cq (Columbia).

The low-fi, psychedelic song fragments of Guided By Voices earn broader exposure on the 28 track “Alien Lanes” (Matador). London indie rockers Sleeper flaunt “Smart” (Arista). Get dancing with the multinational “Londonbeat” (Radioactive) and Moby’s techno “Everything Is Wrong” (Elektra).

Singer/songwriters includes Graham Parker’s “12 Haunted Episodes” (Razor and Tie), Matthew Sweet’s “100% Fun” (Zoo), Chris Smither’s “Up On The Low Down” (Hightone) and Paul Geremia’s “Self Portrait In Blues” (Red House).

Linda Ronstadt warms up her country-pop pipes again with “Feels Like Home” (Elektra), featuring backup vocals by Emmylou Harris and Valerie Carter on Tom Petty’s “The Waiting” and Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush.” Country balladeer Doug Stone has “Faith in Me, Faith in You” (Columbia) and country-rocker Marty Stuart celebrates “Greatest Hits” (MCA).