Skip to content
Entertainment

'Idol's' Bice to release 2nd album in '08

NEW YORK - Season four "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice will release his second album, "See the Light," Oct. 23 exclusively via Wal-Mart stores through the indie StartArt label, Billboard.com has learned. First single "Witness" will hit U.S. radio outlets later this month.

    Daily News
    Published 

NEW YORK - Season four "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice will release his second album, "See the Light," Oct. 23 exclusively via Wal-Mart stores through the indie StartArt label, Billboard.com has learned. First single "Witness" will hit U.S. radio outlets later this month.

"See the Light" is the follow-up to Bice's lone RCA album, 2005's "The Real Thing." The artist told Billboard.com, "It's really me getting back to the roots of what Bo is, which is a Southern rock album and nothing more."

Recorded in Nashville, Tenn., with producer Frank Liddell, the album boasts more songwriting credits from Bice, who had little say the first time around. He also hand-picked all of his collaborators.

Elsewhere, Bice took cues from such '70s albums as Lynyrd Skynrd's "Second Helping" and Led Zepplin's "IV," with the goal being to create an overall cohesive effort rather than a CD packed with radio-ready singles.

"I'm not inventing Southern rock," Bice said of his influences. "I'm just passing it on to the next generation because I learned a lot from the best out there, and I'm proud to be a gracious copycat of great music."

As for his "Idol" past, Bice said even though he's been making music for more than 15 years, he's proud the show helped launch his public profile. "I wouldn't have a career if they hadn't put me out in front of 40 million people for eight weeks," he said.

Fat Joe makes 'Room'

for new album

Fat Joe is eyeing an early 2008 release for his eighth album, "The Elephant in the Room," via Imperial Records.

Besides longtime production collaborators Scott Storch, Cool and Dre, DJ Khaled, Danjahandz and the Runners, the album will also feature guest turns from from Diddy, Rick Ross and Fabolous.

"Elephant" is the follow-up to last year's "Me, Myself & I," Fat Joe's first project for Capitol Records' independent arm. The album has sold 206,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Its lead single, "Make It Rain," sold more than 1 million ringtones, earning platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. *

    Daily News