After fighting for free agency, it seemed unlikely that Courtney Love would take up with a major-label conglomerate ever again, but for her comeback as a solo artist Ms. Love is getting in bed with Virgin Records.

Love had previously been with Geffen, but she and the label's parent company sued each other for breach of contract, which resulted in her being released from the label (see [article id="1457846"]"Courtney Love, Universal Music Reach Settlement; Nirvana Material Freed Up For Release"[/article]). This time around, Love signed a three-album worldwide deal that includes co-ownership of her masters and no usage in record clubs.

Love began work on her forthcoming album, America's Sweetheart, in the South of France, recording 32 songs in all. Most of them were written during Los Angeles sessions with hitmaker Linda Perry (Pink, Christina Aguilera), while a few others were born of out of collaborations with her former manager and onetime boyfriend Jim Barber and producers Josh Abrahams and Matt Serletic. (In addition to handling albums by Matchbox Twenty and Collective Soul, Serletic is CEO of Love's new label.)

"There's one song about a fictional boy who saves fictional rock and roll in a fictional town," Love told Billboard of the album, due October 28. "Other than that, it's a lot of God and a lot of sex. Some rebirth, stagnation and death and some hope."

One of the songs recorded was a cover of Kim Carnes' 1981 hit "Bette Davis Eyes," but there's no word yet which tracks will make the final cut, as the songs are still in the mastering phase. "It's all still a work in progress," Love spokesperson Jill Fritzo said.

No touring band has been selected yet, either. Love canceled appearances at the August U.K. Reading and Leeds festivals, opting to dedicate the time to her album. She issued an open casting call this spring for touring musicians, asking for bassists and guitarists who sport the "Lolita Goth" look (see [article id="1471654"]"Wanted: Band For Courtney Love; Only Goddesses Need Apply"[/article]).

Love is expected to make the final selection on her bandmates by the end of the month. A tour is in the works for the fall, but dates have yet to be locked in, her spokesperson said. The tour would likely start in Australia and Japan, then continue in the United States.