This Just In: Musik Newz Item

Hot on the heels of his collaborations with NEIL DIAMOND and the late legendery JOHNNY CASH, superstar producer RICK RUBIN tells ILM his next hall of fame reclamation project will be none other than BARRY MANILOW. "People don't realize that Barry has solid rock & roll instincts underneath all the string sections and glitz," insists Rubin. "And he's also got an impeccable sense of rhythm, we actually sampled "At The Copa" on 'Paul Revere' on the first Beastie Boys album. And hey, don't forget he's from Brooklyn."

Like Rubin's other recent collaborations, the Manilow project --working title They Write The Songs will feature stripped-down mostly acoustic versions of songs not necessarily associated with Manilow's crowdpleasing MOR proclivities. Tentatively scheduled are cover versions of the Smiths ("William, It Was Really Nothing"), LL Cool J ("Jack the Ripper"), Billy Idol ("White Wedding") and The Backstreet Boys ("I Want It That Way")and at Barry Manilow's personal request, Nirvana. "I've loved that song ever since I saw the video in a boutique on Rodeo Drive," gushes Manilow. "I think I convinced Rick to do it by telling him I am the only singer who could make 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' sound like a underarm deodarnt commercial. That sealed the deal, Rick loves toying with people's expectations and I can't resist the challenge."

No release date has been set.