Brandy is at work with Babyface in his Hollywood studio this week. The two are composing and recording a couple of songs for the R&B singer/actress's next album and follow-up to 1998's Never Say Never. The new album is tentatively scheduled for release November 20th.

"We'll sit down and write together and try and get two songs down. We have to do that quick because I'm doing other things," says Edmonds, whose own album, Face 2 Face, is due September 11th.

Babyface, who has produced everyone from TLC to Madonna to Boyz II Men, worked with Brandy once before on the track "Sittin' Up in My Room" for 1995's Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, which he produced and coordinated.

She was already a teen star following the multi-platinum sales of her 1994 self-titled debut, produced by Darryl Williams, which spawned such hits as "I Wanna Be Down," "Baby" and "Brokenhearted." Brandy released "Missing You," from the 1996's Set It Off soundtrack, but took a breather from making another album, by accepting a starring role in the television sitcom Moesha and title role of the 1997 Disney television movie, Cinderella. For Never Say Never, her eventual second album, she called upon producers/writers Rodney Jerkins and Dallas Austin.

Jerkins returns for the third album, joining Warryn Campbell, Mike City, the Neptunes and Babyface.

KAREN BLISS
(July 24, 2001)