Former Creed vocalist Scott Stapp will release his solo debut, "The Great Divide," due Nov. 22 via Wind-Up. The title cut has been tapped as the first single; a video for the cut was recently shot in an airport hangar in Los Angeles by director Paul Fedor.

Stapp worked on "The Great Divide" with John Kurzweg, who previously collaborated with him on Creed projects. The artist is planning to mount his first solo tour in March, with venue size to be determined.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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Ric Ocasek will play two shows in the coming days in support of his new solo album, "Nexterday," which is due Tuesday (Sept. 27) via his own Inverse imprint with Sanctuary. Backed by Inverse signees the Hong Kong, Ocasek will perform Sept. 29 at New York's CBGB, Oct. 6 on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" and Oct. 10 at Boston's Harper's Ferry.

Fans who purchase a copy of "Nexterday" at Tower Records' 692 Broadway outlet in New York will receive a free ticket to the CBGB show, which will double as a benefit for the embattled club. The same arrangement is in place for the Boston gig, with tickets only available at four area Newbury Comics locations.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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"They Got Lost," a They Might Be Giants rarities collection available only through the band's official Web site and at its shows since 2002, will receive wide commercial release Oct. 25 through Zoë /Rounder.

Unchanged from the self-released version on the band's own Idlewild label, the 21-song album collects such tracks as "I'm Sick (Of This American Life)" -- written and recorded quickly on a dare from Public Radio International's "This American Life" principal Sarah Vowell -- and concert favorite "I Am a Human Head," which was originally intended for the group's first kids album "No!," but deemed "too adult."

"They Got Lost" is TMBG's second such rarities compilation, following 1991's "Miscellaneous T" (Bar/None-Restless). The band has been feted with no less than four retrospectives: 1997's "Then: The Early Years" (Restless), 1999's "The Best of the Early Years" (BMG Special Products), 2002's "Dial-a-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants" (Rhino) and "A User's Guide to They Might Be Giants," released in May via Elektra/Rhino.

-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.