SMALL FACES: Emmylou Harris is exploring new...

SMALL FACES: Emmylou Harris is exploring new territory with her next album, produced by Daniel Lanois, whose ethereal style has shaped albums by such artists as U2, Peter Gabriel and Bob Dylan. Guests include Neil Young (who sings on his own composition, “Wrecking Ball”) and U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. The album is due in the fall. . . .

English band Love & Rockets is putting together plans for a benefit concert in L.A. next month to defray medical expenses incurred by Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV founder Genesis P-Orridge, who was injured while fleeing a recent fire in Rick Rubin’s Hollywood Hills studio where he was staying. L&R; was recording there and lost all the tapes for its next album. They’ll start again soon at Perry Farrell’s Malibu home studio. . . .

June 20 is looking like a really big day for Michael Jackson fans. Not only is Epic releasing his two-CD “HIStory” set, but Motown is also issuing a four-CD Jackson 5 anthology, “Soulsation: The 25th Anniversary Collection,” featuring 82 tracks, including one full disc of previously unreleased or rare recordings. . . .

X is set to release “Unclogged,” a collection of two new songs and semi-acoustic versions of such old ones as “White Girl” and “Burning House of Love,” through its own Infidelity Records label on June 13. The band is also talking with major labels about its next fully new album. . . .

Meanwhile, both X singers have albums of their own coming: John Doe has one due from Rhino on Tuesday, featuring background vocals by Sandra Bernhard on two songs, and Exene Cervenka has a spoken-word set coming soon from Henry Rollins’ 2.13.61 label.

AND ONE MORE THING: After the great reception Aussie teen singer-songwriter Ben Lee got on his whirlwind U.S. tour, which included shows in L.A. last weekend, his record label--the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal--is eager to get him back in the studio to record a new album with his touted band the Noise Addicts. They’re raring to fly producer Brad Wood, best known for his work with Liz Phair, down to the youngster’s home in Bondi Bay.

The problem is that they need to arrange for Lee and his mates to take a couple of weeks off from high school to make the record. But Grand Royal president (and Beastie) Mike D. notes that they have a well-placed ally who might help arrange it: Lee’s father is the president of the town council.*