Autumn Albums The Recording Industry Is Busy Releasing Plenty Of New And Varied Music Just In Time For The Christmas Rush

To the rest of the world, the months between Sept. 21 and Dec. 21 constitute fall. For the recording industry, however, that time is considered the Christmas Rush.

This year is no exception. Big new albums are already out by Fleetwood Mac, Mariah Carey, Puff Daddy, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Jane’s Addiction. Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, Shania Twain, Babyface, Barbra Streisand and Metallica are just a few of the acts who will be vying for the top of the pops in the coming months.

Here are some of the highlights. Release dates are based on information available at press time and may be subject to change.

Tuesday

Janet Jackson, “The Velvet Rope” (Virgin): In interviews, Jackson has described this as her most personal album to date. Indeed it is, delving so deeply into issues of desire and sexual identity that even devoted fans may be surprised. “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” the Joni Mitchell-inspired first single, barely hints at what lurks behind the rope.

Everclear, “So Much for the Afterglow” (Capitol): Like Frank Black, Everclear understands that it is possible to fold punk rock aggression into the sort of sonic wonderworlds Brian Wilson created for the Beach Boys.

Pixies, “Death to the Pixies” (Elektra): Speaking of Frank Black, this anthology looks back at his incredibly influential first band, the raging, tuneful Pixies.

Oct. 14

LL Cool J, “Phenomenon” (Def Jam): Rap’s elder statesman at the tender age of 29, LL will continue the genre’s longest unbroken winning streak with album No. 8.

Aaron Neville, “To Make Me Who I Am” (A&M): Taking a tip from Ronald Isley, Neville updates his sound with a smattering of slick, soulful ballads. But there’s still enough of the usual touches to please older fans.

Oct. 21

Bobby Brown, “Forever” (MCA): Will this be the comeback his work with the reunited New Edition promised? Or will he continue to be known as Mr. Whitney Houston?

Oct. 28

Salt-N-Pepa, “Brand New” (London): Their first album since breaking away from producer Hurby “Love Bug” Azor, this is where hip-hop’s first ladies make it clear that they’re nobody’s studio creation.

Phish, “Slip, Stitch and Pass” (Elektra): Another jam-heavy live album. This one comes even closer than the last to capturing the band’s onstage magic.

Simon & Garfunkel, “Old Friends” (Columbia/Legacy): A boxed set including all the duo’s original recordings, as well as 15 previously unreleased tracks.

The Doors, “The Doors” (Elektra): The long-awaited boxed set, packed with rarities and previously unreleased live tracks.

Nov. 4

Shania Twain, “Love Gets Me Every Time” (Mercury): Teamed again with husband Robert John “Mutt” Lange, whose hook-heavy production helped “The Woman in Me” sell 12 million copies, this album promises more of the same, only spunkier.

Various, “Tibetan Freedom Concert” (Capitol): The Milarepa Fund to aid Tibet has become rock’s hippest cause, and this triple-CD set documents the most recent benefit shows. Performances are by U2, Beck, the Beastie Boys, Alanis Morissette, the Fugees and other equally hip acts.

Nov. 11

Led Zeppelin, “Live at the BBC” (Atlantic): As with the Beatles’ “Live at the BBC,” this double-CD unearths live material most Zep fans didn’t know existed. It’s the first new unreleased material from the rock legends in 15 years. Need we say more?

Will Smith, title to be announced (Columbia): Sure, rapper and actor Smith may have been deemed a lightweight back when he was still teamed with Jazzy Jeff as the Fresh Prince. But as “Men In Black” made plain, he still has such stuff as hits are made of.

Nov. 18

Babyface, “Unplugged” (Epic): He may be the most successful songwriter and producer in pop music today, but he has yet to have the same impact as a performer. The smart money says this album will change that. Look for guest spots by Eric Clapton and others.

Celine Dion, “The Reason” (550 Music): Look for a lot of collaborations this time out, as Dion joins forces with Carole King and George Martin on the title track, sings pop with Luciano Pavarotti and puts those Oscar-feud rumors to rest by doing a duet with Barbra Streisand.

Metallica, “Reload” (Elektra): More material from the sessions that produced “Load,” the band’s most mainstream effort yet. Whether that’s a good thing depends on how heavy you like your metal.

Paul Simon, “The Capeman” (Warner Bros.): Unlike his recent worldbeat-influenced material, the songs Simon has written for his first Broadway musical are grounded in the sound of early New York rock. This album stresses the composer’s - as opposed to the original cast’s - take on the tunes.

Barbra Streisand, “Higher Ground” (Columbia): No word on what, exactly, La Streisand is up to on this album, but it should be safe to assume that the title is not taken from the Stevie Wonder funk classic.

Unscheduled, but on the way

Various: Princess Diana Tribute (V2): Remember “We Are the World”? Say hello to “We Are the Commonwealth.” Numerous British bigwigs, plus a few Americans, pitch in to raise money for the Princess Diana charity.

Hanson Christmas Album (Mercury): Please tell me it doesn’t include “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

Spice Girls (Virgin): Presumably the soundtrack to their movie. Listening to it has to be better than watching them act, right?