Billboard Bits: Tracy Chapman, Ween, Homebake Festival

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Singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman's seventh studio album, "Where You Live," will be released Sept. 13 via Elektra/Atlantic. First single "Change" features Red Hot Chili Peppers principal Flea on bass and is No. 12 this week on Billboard Radio Monitor's Triple-A chart. The album was co-produced by Chapman with Tchad Blake (Pearl Jam, Peter Gabriel).

"Where You Live" is the follow-up to Chapman's 2002 effort "Let It Rain," which reached No. 25 on The Billboard 200. A brief U.S. tour is set to begin in early October, with a more extensive round of dates being eyed for 2006.

Here is the track list for "Where You Live":

"Change"
"Talk to You"
"3,000 Miles"
"Going Back"
"Don't Dwell"
"Never Yours"
"America"
"Love's Proof"
"Before Easter"
"Taken"
"Be and Be Not Afraid"

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

After a long break from the road, Ween has confirmed a handful of fall tour dates, including a previously announced Oct. 30 appearance at the Vegoose Festival in Las Vegas. Although the group's official Web site says the itinerary isn't yet finalized, the first show on tap is Oct. 25 in Albany, N.Y.

Ween has also begun recording material for its first new album since 2003's "Quebec" (Sanctuary). In the meantime, the group's own Chocodog imprint recently released the album "Shinola," featuring 12 previously unreleased tracks that span Ween's career.

In related news, Ween guitarist Mickey "Dean Ween" Melchiondo will be on tour this fall with his side band, Moistboyz, whose new album, "Moistboyz IV," is due Aug. 30 via Sanctuary. The roadwork gets underway Aug. 26 in Ween's New Hope, Pa., home base.

Here are Ween's tour dates:

Oct. 25: Albany, N.Y. (Northern Lights)
Oct. 26: Atlantic City, N.J. (House of Blues)
Oct. 27: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Oct. 30: Las Vegas (Vegoose Festival)
Dec. 1-2: Boulder, Colo. (Boulder Theatre)

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.