Music News: Sugababes Offer Catfights And Spotlights, Levi Stubbs, Leon Jackson, Labelle, Beyoncé

Robbie Daw presents a weekly pop music update here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own site called Chart Rigger.

Well, it was only a year ago last week when I pondered here on Towleroad whether U.K. pop trio the Sugababes could ever cross over in the States. So far that's a "no," but their new CD, Catfights And Spotlights, arrived in the mail today via Amazon, and all is right in the world.

Catfights... is the 'babes' sixth studio album, and was released in England on Monday. It contains the single "Girls" (see video below), which recently peaked at #3 on the U.K. singles chart (held back from the top spot by Pink's "So What"). But that one is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the catchy, pop-hook greatness that lies waiting here.

A large portion of the album was written and produced by Klas Åhlund, who collaborated with Robyn on her most recent set and wrote and produced Britney Spears' "Piece Of Me." Max Martin co-wrote the track "Unbreakable Heart" with Åhlund.

TWO HIGHLIGHTS: The Motown-infused "You On A Good Day" and the slow-burning R&B jam "Side Chick."

Someone at Universal here in the States needs to get on the stick and get these gals over here.

Order Catfights And Spotlights here. Catch the video for "Girls" below.

A few music clips for the week:

1. Four Tops, "Reach Out, I'll Be There": I was crushed by the passing of Levi Stubbs, 72, on Friday. Not only was the Four Tops' frontman one of the most memorable voices of Motown, he was able to convey a powerful sadness like no other in the rock era. Stubbs was also the voice of Audrey II in the film Little Shop Of Horrors. Just an all around classy performer.

2. Sugababes, "Girls": The lead single off the Brit girl group's new album.

3. Leon Jackson, "Don't Call This Love": Following in Leona Lewis' footsteps, Jackson won Simon Cowell's U.K. talent program The X Factor last year after being mentored by Dannii Minogue.

4. Guns N' Roses, "Chinese Democracy": Well, there might be a reason heavy metal died at the hands of Nirvana in 1991...

THE WEEK'S NEW RELEASES:

New singles from Beyoncé ("If I Were A Boy"), MGMT ("Kids [Soulwax Remix]") and Björk featuring Thom Yorke ("Nattura").

The reunited Labelle's (Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendrix, Sarah Dash) Back To Now, their first album since splitting 32 years ago. Back To Now features production from Lenny Kravitz, Philly soul legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, and Wyclef Jean.

The High School Musical 3: Senior Year soundtrack.

Paul Van Dyk's Hands On In Between.

Music News: Spice Girls Make Headlines As New Single Leaks, Plus Patti LaBelle, Kylie Minogue, Kurt Cobain, Jay-Z, David Gest

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)," the new single from the Spice Girls, has leaked weeks ahead of its official release. Have a listen and see (or, rather, hear) what you think:

It's pleasant in that "2 Become 1" way, but after all the hype, isn't this new Spice track missing that certain zig-a-zig-ah?

"Headlines" will be included on the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits. Last week it was reported that the British fivesome had signed a deal  with Victoria's Secret for the upcoming CD to be sold exclusively in the lingerie chain's U.S. stores beginning November 13. The compilation will also be available on iTunes. Otherwise, there won't be a wide retail release in American outlets until January.

Meanwhile, tabloids are reporting that the video shoot for "Headlines," which happened on Friday, almost collapsed under the fivesome's "diva demands": "Things were very delayed. The director was tearing his hair out and threatened to walk. The girls were so tired and Emma [Bunton] was crying as the shoot just went on and on."

Additionally, Sony Home Entertainment is reissuing the 1997 film Spice World in a "special edition" DVD on November 27, a week ahead of the Girls' world tour.

   Four tracks from Kylie Minogue's upcoming album are available now for free.

   Illegal download site OiNK busted by international police.

   Liza's ex, David Gest, has found his inner indie rocker: "I could have given it up for a happy marriage, but I'd rather go for a drink, go dancing in Camden, listen to the Kaiser Chiefs."

   Patti LaBelle (pictured right) shocks Sugababes fans at Fashion Rocks in London this past weekend.

   Despite all her drama, Britney Spears' Blackout (out next week) is getting great reviews.

   Jay-Z is on the road again.

   Universal Pictures is adapting Chris Cross' Kurt Cobain biography, Heavier Than Heaven, into a film, with Courtney Love and her lawyer exec producing.

   TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan's Hourglass.

Idol Carrie Underwood's sophomore album, Carnival Ride.

La Vida Es Un Ratico, from Latin superstars Juanes.

Raising Sand, a collaboration between a subdued Robert Plant and Nashville singer Alison Krauss.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Music From The Motion Picture The Assasination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

Music News: Can Sugababes Cross Over? Plus Rufus Wainwright, The Smiths, Nas, Buffy, Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

This week, pop/rock/electro trio (as they're billing themselves these days) Sugababes celebrate the triumph of having both the #1 single ("About You Now") and #1 album (Change) on the official U.K. charts. It's no small feat, as the 'babes have been around long enough to issue five LPs and the ubiquitous greatest hits, and have surpassed the typical sell-by date that sees most pop acts reduced to subpar reality show stints.

But "About You Now" -- written by Cathy Dennis (yes, that Cathy Dennis, who had the early '90s green-bodysuit solo career and later penned Britney's "Toxic" and Kylie's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head") -- actually marks the Sugababes' sixth British #1. In their home country, they've had more hits than the Spice Girls, and this year they became the first pop act to play the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival.

So where's the love for the curvy threesome in the States? In recent years, urban-heavy American radio has warmed up again to British acts, such as Coldplay, Natasha Bedingfield, James Blunt and Amy Winehouse. Sugababes (aka Keisha, Heidi and Amelle) write a majority of their own material, and certainly their R&B-tinged pop merits them being a shoo-in for at least a hit or two on these shores.

Granted, the gals don't play their own instruments, but then again, you never saw Beyoncé or Kelly Rowland shredding a whammy-bar-kickin' guitar solo, either. It just seems that in a land where the only thing passing for fun pop on the American charts these days is Britney Spears, surely we should welcome the Sugababes with open arms.

Here's the video for "About You Now":

Rufus Wainwright does Judy! Judy! Judy! on CD and DVD this December.

Morrissey performs a new track on Last Call With Carson Daly while Johnny Marr goes back to school and receives top honors.

British pop star and X Factor winner Shayne Ward (pictured left) turns 23.

Rapper Nas chooses yet another eyebrow-raising album title.

Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel to headline South African HIV/AIDS benefit concert for Nelson Mandela's 46664 campaign. Lennox writes about her involvement with the campaign as a 46664 ambassador in the November issue of Instinct magazine.

U2 to reissue four different versions of The Joshua Tree in November for the set's 20th anniversary.

The successful life and quick death of the nationwide Buffy The Vampire Slayer sing-alongs: "I was under the impression that everything we were doing was completely legal and had been cleared by the appropriate people," says Buffyoke organizer Clinton McClung.

Post-rehab, Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty record a song together.

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

The Killers' new single, "Shadowplay" -- a Joy Division cover featured on the Control soundtrack as well as the forthcoming Killers' collection of B-sides and rarities, Sawdust (due November 13).

Thirty years after its initial release, iTunes adds Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols.

Soul singer Angie Stone's The Art Of Love And War, from the newly relaunched Stax label.

The album/DVD combo R.E.M. Live.

Jimmy Eats World's Chase This Light, exec-produced by Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins producer (and Garbage member) Butch Vig.

Ultimate Santana, featuring the guitar legend's greatest hits and new tracks with Chad Kroeger and Jennifer Lopez.