Blige Readies Summer "Love"

Grammy-winner Mary J. Blige's sixth album, tentatively titled Love and Life, is due this summer. Produced by P. Diddy, the set is the pair's first album-length collaboration since Blige's landmark 1992 debut What's the 411?.

P. Diddy plugs the upcoming album on Blige's current single "Hooked," available on her official Web site. The track, which hasn't been confirmed for the album, features Diddy rapping and Blige singing over the beat Dr. Dre initially laid down for 50 Cent's "In Da Club." 50 is among the guests rumored to appear on Love and Life.

Blige won a female R&B vocal Grammy last month for "He Think I Don't Know," from the 2002 expanded edition of her multi-platinum 2001 set No More Drama.

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

More Song Stories entries »

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