Michael Jackson [ tickets ]
"Invincible" (Epic)

The enigmatic "King of Pop" returns with his first studio album in six years, for which he turned to some of today's top producers and stars for assistance.

The album's first single, "You Rock My World," was produced and written by Jackson and Rodney Jerkins (Destiny's Child, 'NSync, Britney Spears), and features an opening monologue by comedian Chris Tucker. A short promotional film for the track was directed by Paul Hunter (D'Angelo's "Untitled," TLC's "Unpretty").

Among Jackson's other collaborators for the album were R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Missy Elliot and David Foster. Carlos Santana lends a guitar solo to one track.

On Nov. 13, CBS-TV will air a two-hour special featuring highlights from two concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden that celebrated Jackson's 30 years as a solo artist.

Jackson recently completed the recording of a charity single that features contributions from more than two dozen recording stars. No release date has been announced for the single, titled "What More Can I Give," and the charities that will benefit from the release have not yet been revealed.

VH1 will air a Michael Jackson marathon on Monday (10/29) from 9 p.m. to midnight Pacific and Eastern times.

Lenny Kravitz [ tickets ]
"Lenny" (Virgin)

Kravitz's sixth album of new material follows last year's triple-platinum "Greatest Hits" compilation, which includes the previously unreleased track "Again," a song that garnered Kravitz his third Grammy award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

"Lenny" features Kravitz's latest single, "Dig In," as well as the autobiographical "Bank Robber Man," his account of an incident last year during which he was detained and cuffed by police who mistook him for a robbery suspect.

A streaming sample of the "Dig In" music video, as well as streaming-audio samples of all 12 of the new album's tracks, can be found at the musician's official website. The full-length version of the "Dig In" video will be posted on Tuesday (10/30), according to the website.

In addition to writing, producing and singing on "Lenny," Kravitz also plays electric and acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and drums throughout the album.

Kravitz will mark the release of his new album with a Tuesday night (10/30) performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and a Nov. 5 performance on MTV's "TRL: Spankin' New" program.

A world tour in support of "Lenny" is planned for next year, according to Kravitz's publicist.

Backstreet Boys [ tickets ]
"Hits--Chapter One" (Jive)

Good news for Backstreet Boys fans that want the boy band's biggest singles on one disc. "The Hits" contains the chart-toppers, including "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "I Want It That Way" and "Larger Than Life," from Backstreet Boys' first four years. A new song, the slick ballad "Drowning," is also included.

The U.K. and Asia versions of the disc contain three bonus tracks--"We've Got It Goin' On," "Anywhere for You," and "Get Down (You're the One for Me)"--that aren't available on the U.S. release. Streaming audio of "Drowning" is available at Jive Records' official website.

Erick Sermon
"Music" (J Records)

The E in EPMD, the famed rap group, releases his first album for Clive Davis' fledgling record label.

The album, originally to be titled "The Sermon," was renamed with the same title as Sermon's recent single, which contains prominent samples of Marvin Gaye singing; the song initially appeared on the soundtrack to the film "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" "Music" contains ten songs, featuring, among other guests, rappers LL Cool J and Scarface.

MTV News has reported that a new EPMD album, featuring Sermon and partner Parrish Smith, is in the works.

Sermon is recovering from injuries he sustained last month.

John Williams
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" (Atlantic)

The composer-conductor responsible for blockbuster scores such as "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "E.T." and the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series is back, and his new "Harry Potter" score will likely not be his last. Based on the success of the popular J.K. Rowling novels, "Potter" may well become the first major film franchise of the new millennium.

The score's first pressing will include an exclusive 8-panel fold-out color "Harry Potter" poster, and a limited edition "Downloadcard" that will give users access to certain secure areas of the official "Harry Potter" soundtrack website.

Streaming samples of all of the album's tracks are also available at the soundtrack website.

Steve Vai
"The Secret Jewel Box" (Light Without Heat)

The virtuoso rock guitarist releases a box, along with the first three of ten CDs that the box was designed to contain.

Vai, best known for his work with Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth, is collecting 10 CDs that represent his decades of music activity. The first three CDs, which come with the box, include an overview of his film music ("Crossroads," "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey"), the full album "Disturbing the Peace" (from the band Alcatrazz, of which he was a member) and selections from his work with Zappa.

According to a Vai spokesperson, "Only 10,000 boxes will be manufactured. Those who purchase the box will be notified when the remaining seven CDs--which may be purchased separately upon their completion--are ready."

Barbra Streisand "Christmas Memories" (Columbia)
Various artists "MTV TRL Christmas" (Lava/Atlantic)
Various artists "A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 5" (A&M)

Three albums poised to capitalize on the looming holiday season hit the shelves simultaneously this week. Streisand's "Christmas Memories" is the follow-up to her 1999 platinum release, "A Love Like Ours," and is the singer's first holiday collection since 1967's "A Christmas Album." The album features both traditional and non-traditional Christmas songs.

A horde of MTV's "Total Request Live" regulars deliver their versions of holiday staples on the 17-track "TRL Christmas." Artists appearing on the album include 'NSync, Christina Aguilera, P.O.D. and Weezer.

And finally, the fifth volume in the "A Very Special Christmas" series--which started with a 1987 edition that included Run D.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis" and U2's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"--also surfaces this week. The latest installment includes acts such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks, Jon Bon Jovi, Macy Gray and Wyclef Jean. Proceeds from the album benefit the Special Olympics.

Other new releases:
Ashby - "Power Ballads" (Caroline)
Benzino - "The Benzino Project" (Motown)
Chris Botti - "Night Sessions" (Columbia)
Broadway Project - "Compassion" (ESL)
Eagle Eye Cherry - "Present Future" (MCA)
Slaid Cleaves - "Holiday Sampler (EP)" (Universal)
Alana Davis - "Fortunte Cookies" (Elektra)
Joe Diffie - "In Another World" (Monument)
Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston - "The Lucky Sperms" (Jagjaguwar)
Flaming Stars - "Ginmill Perfume" (Alternative Tentacles)
Flaw - "Through the Eyes" (Universal)
Jon Wahl and the Amadans - "Sour Suite" (Birdman)
Nusrat Ali Khan - "The Final Moment" (Birdman)
Masta Ace - "Disposable Arts" (Jcor/Interscope)
Pilote - "Do It Now Man" (Domino)
Collin Raye - "Can’t Back Down" (Epic)
Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen - "Running Wild" (Rounder)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - "Slim Cessna’s Auto Club" (Alternative Tentacles)
Sunroof - "Bliss" (VHF)
Tomahawk - "Tomahawk" (Ipecac)
Various artists - "Good Rockin’ Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records" (London/Sire)

Soundtracks and scores:
Three 6 Mafia - "Choices" (Loud)
"Bears" (Silver Wave)

Compiled by Jon Zahlaway with Rob Evans, Scott Henkemeyer and Marc Weidenbaum.