Marianne Faithfull
Photo: Island

Marianne Faithfull spent last week with Billy Corgan in a Chicago studio where the duo recorded three songs for her upcoming album.

The grand dame of rock 'n' roll, who last appeared on Metallica's "The Memory Remains," wrote the lyrics to two of the tracks, while the former Smashing Pumpkins singer wrote the music and produced them, Faithfull's manager, Francois Ravard, said. The third song is an obscure cover Ravard said they wanted to keep a surprise.

On March 22, Faithfull and Corgan performed Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" and the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" together at the Third Waltz Benefit in Chicago (see "Billy Corgan, Marianne Faithfull Glide Through Third Waltz"). Although Faithfull told local reporters she and Corgan were considering recording a Dylan cover, Ravard said they did not record one.

Several other notable artists, including Beck and the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, have also recorded with Faithfull for the as-yet-untitled album, which Ravard said would likely be released in October.

Faithfull recorded two songs with Beck in a Los Angles studio more than a year ago. She also recorded two with Stewart, one each with English bands Blur and Pulp and one with French singer Etienne Daho. Ravard said all of the tracks are originals, but he would not release song titles.

After finishing the album, Faithfull is expected to mount a fall world tour, Ravard said.

Known as the former lover of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, Faithfull, 54, scored a hit in 1964 with her debut single, the Jagger/Keith Richards-penned "As Tears Go By." She spent much of '70s battling drug addiction, but reemerged in 1979 with the acclaimed Broken English. Her latest album, Vagabond Ways, was released in 1999.

• Marianne Faithfull
• The Smashing Pumpkins

Billy Corgan
Photo: Virgin Records

Billy Corgan's post-Pumpkins career is kicking off with something entirely new to the alt-rock marvel — a waltz.

The former Smashing Pumpkins frontman will join Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Marianne Faithfull and a host of others at the Third Waltz, a benefit show for a Chicago charity that assists homeless children.

The Jayhawks' Gary Louris, Cheap Trick's Bun E. Carlos, Ivan Neville, Sonia Dada and Otis Clay will also be performing at the fund-raiser, set for March 22 at the Metro.

All of the guest musicians will be performing one or two songs with the Nicholas Tremulis Band, organizers of the event since its 1999 inception. The First Waltz was inspired by the Band's famous farewell concert, the Last Waltz, which brought together musicians from an array of genres.

Corgan and his father, Billy Corgan Sr., Bob Mould, Chris Whitley, the BoDeans' Sammy Llanas, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen and Corey Harris have performed at past Waltz benefits, which have been heavy on collaborations.

The Nicholas Tremulis Band has released two critically acclaimed soul albums on Island Records, and has worked on albums by Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, Marianne Faithfull, Ivan Neville, Joe Cocker and Maceo Parker.

Third Waltz performers are donating their services, according to organizers, and all profits will be donated to the Heartland Alliance's Neon Street Program for Homeless Youth. Tickets are $30 and go on sale Saturday. Additional information is available at www.thewaltz.com.

Celtic fiddle legend Liz Carroll, the J. Davis Trio's Julio Davis, Jon Langford, Alejandro Escovedo, composer David Amram, harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy, and Frisbie's Steve Frisbie and Liam Davis also will be performing.

Corgan, a Chicago native, last took the Metro stage in December for the Smashing Pumpkins' final show (see "Pumpkins Circus Folds Up With Epic Show").

• The Smashing Pumpkins
• Wilco
• Marianne Faithfull

Beck
Photo: MTV News

LOS ANGELES — After bringin' the funk on his last album, Beck will put away the vocoder and dust off his acoustic guitar for an upcoming tribute to late folk revivalist Harry Smith.

The eclectic rocker will join vets Elvis Costello and Marianne Faithful to play excerpts from Smith's influential Anthology of American Folk Music on April 25 and 26 at UCLA's Royce Hall, a spokesperson for UCLA Performing Arts said.

Canadian singer/songwriters Mary Margaret O'Hara and Kate and Anna McGarrigle are also among the night's performers, who will play their favorite tunes from the collection. All of the artists announced thus far will perform both nights, and more acts are expected to be added.

The event, dubbed Hal Willner's Harry Smith Project, was held in London and New York in 1999 with different performers, including Lou Reed, Sonic Youth and Nick Cave.

In 1952, Smith released the three-volume Anthology of American Folk Music, which is credited with helping spark the folk-music revival and inspiring the careers of Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and others. The collection was reissued on CD in 1997.

The "secret" fourth volume, which he compiled at the same time as the others, was released last year. The set contained pioneers in several facets of roots music — songs by folk musicians like Clarence Ashley and Uncle Dave Macon, blues artists such as Blind Willie Johnson and Henry Thomas, country artists like the Stoneman Family, as well as Cajun performers and gospel singers.

Smith died in 1991 at age 68.

• Beck
• Elvis Costello
• Marianne Faithfull