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These week’s new releases are designed to make country music fans shout, teenage girls squeal and nerds swoon.

On the CD list, country legend George Jones releases “Burn Your Playhouse Down,” featuring previously unreleased duets with his daughter Georgette Jones, ex-wife Tammy Wynette, rocker Keith Richards and Oklahomans Vince Gill and Leon Russell.

Also, Glen Campbell covers Tom Petty, Green Day, Foo Fighters and other rockers on the disc “Meet Glen Campbell,” which both my colleague George Lang and I gave shockingly glowing reviews last week.

For the tween/teen girls, this week’s list of new DVDs features the formidable pairing of the Jonas Brothers’ Disney Channel Original Movie “Camp Rock” and Miley Cyrus’ smash hit concert movie “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds.” Just for good measure, the first season of recent six-time Teen Choice Award-winning soapy series “Gossip Girl” is also new on DVD.

In the “books for nerds” category, Sean Williams offers “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed,” based on the upcoming video game, which is set for Sept. 16 release.

Plus, the fourth edition of the Dungeons & Dragons “Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide” also hits real and virtual shelves.

Here are the complete list of new CDs, DVDs and books from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

CDs

George Jones, “Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets.”

Staind, “The Illusion of Progress.”

Ice Cube, “Raw Footage.”

Glen Campbell, “Meet Glen Campbell.”

Dandy Warhols, “Earth To the Dandy Warhols.”

DVDs

“6 Films To Keep You Awake”
“An American Crime”
“Camp Rock”
“Deal”
“Dexter: The Second Season”
“George of the Jungle: The Swingin’ 1st Season”
“Gossip Girl: The Complete First Season”
“Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds”
“House: Season Four”
“The Life Before Her Eyes”
“Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”
“Prom Night”
“Recount”
“The Scorpion King 2″
“Street Kings”
“Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Season 1″
“Transformers Animated: Season One”

Books

“Being Elizabeth” by Barbara Taylor Bradford.
“Man in the Dark” by Paul Auster.
“Mike’s Election Guide” by Michael Moore.
“Rough Justice” by Jack Higgins.
“Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” by Sean Williams.
“Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, 4th Edition” by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims and Philip Athans.

-BAM

The song that has been on my brain the most this week:

- “No More Tears,” Ozzy Osbourne, the title track from his 1991 solo album.

For more than seven minutes, this hit perfectly balances powerful, grinding heavy metal with lush  orchestration. Ozzy’s voice is as strong and evocative as ever.

The whole effect is so fascinating, it’s actually fairly easy to overlook the song’s theme and lyrics. It’s about a serial killer.

-BAM

Country crooner/guitarist Glen Campbell includes excellent covers of two of my favorite Tom Petty songs, “Walls” and “Angel Dream,” on his new album “Meet Glen Campbell.”

The album, which will be released Tuesday, has Campbell covering several rock ‘n’ roll songs, including Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These,” U2’s “All I Want Is You” and Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” His back-to-back Petty covers stand out as the highlights of the disc.

But the whole album is stunningly great. These are classy, classic-sounding country songs with clean production values. Campbell’s voice sounds as smooth and strong as ever.

He gets help on the album from some talented performers, including Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen, who left a lasting impression at last month’s Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey show at Zoo Amphitheatre.

After starting out as a session musician for numerous pop, rock and country acts, Campbell rose to stardom as a solo artist in the late 1960s. Among his biggest hits of that era were ones penned by Oklahoma songwriter Jimmy Webb: “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “Wichita Lineman,” and “Galveston.”

“Meet Glen Campbell” is a great re-introduction to the singer, particularly to younger generations who may know him only for his disheveled appearance in that infamous 2003 mug shot.

I highly recommend “Meet Glen Campbell,” as does my colleague, George Lang, who reviewed the CD for today’s Weekend Look section. To read his review, click here.

-BAM

Elvis Presley fans will flock to Memphis, Tenn., this weekend to mark the 31st anniversary of The King’s death. Presley died Aug. 16, 1977, of heart disease and drug abuse.

Since this year also marks the 40th anniversary of Presley’s 1968 comeback TV special, Legacy recently released a four-CD box set of all the music from what’s affectionately known as “The ‘68 Special.” According to the Amazon.com product description, the set features music from the rehearsals and finished show, including eight previously unreleased tracks.

The special, especially noted for Presley’s informal jam session, originally aired Dec. 3, 1968, on NBC.

Since we’re on the subject of December, the Associated Press reports that high-tech wizardy will let several current country music stars to sing along with The King on the upcoming album “Elvis Presley Christmas Duets.”

Among Presley’s duet partners: Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Wynonna Judd, Sara Evans, Amy Grant and Anne Murray.  

The new album will be released Oct. 14.

Sony BMG is releasing the CD in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. The company told the AP the album is Presley’s first duets album and the first Christmas compilation of its kind.

“This is an excellent example of the innovative ways in which we keep Elvis’ catalog fresh for new and existing fans,” John Ingrassia, president of the Sony BMG Commercial Music Group, told the AP.

Presley only recorded 20 Christmas songs, but his holiday albums have sold more than 25 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Released in 1957, “Elvis’ Christmas Album” is the top-selling seasonal release of all-time with 9 million in sales, according to Recording Industry Association of America information quoted by the AP.

The Jordanaires, the vocal group who sang backup on most of The Kings early recordings, are rerecording their parts for the duets album.

The new album is being worked up in RCA Studio B, where Presley himself recorded.

Tracks include “Blue Christmas” with McBride, “Here Comes Santa Claus” with Rimes, “Merry Christmas Baby” with Wilson, “White Christmas” with Grant and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with Underwood.

-BAM

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.  

Pop

Ernie Halter “Starting Over” (Rock Ridge Music)

With much of the attention paid to the neo-blue-eyed soul movement lavished on big-voiced British songstresses Duffy, Adele and Amy Winehouse, Californian Ernie Halter’s smooth vocals offer the potential for a welcome change of pace.  

Unfortunately, the soul tracks prove the weak points on “Starting Over,” Halter’s third album in three years.

Despite his supple voice, the singer/songwriter/musician doesn’t convey much passion with his ‘70s-inspired soul songs. “Different Lives” and “Try” center on relationship troubles, but he doesn’t adequately express sorrow, pain or regret. Recently divorced, Halter surely feels the emotions, but they don’t come across.

The funky bass line sets the tone for “Blue Dress,” but Halter doesn’t croon it with the sexy sense of mischief of the Commodores or a ‘70s-era Stevie Wonder.

Halter fares better when he switches to an acoustic approach on the sincere ballad “Pretty Girl” and the seductive and surprising stripped-down version of rapper Baby Bash’s “Cyclone.”

Other highlights include the playful come-on “Played,” which calls to mind Jason Mraz’s relaxed style, and the heartfelt piano ballad “Lighthouse,” a Billy Joel-esque arrangement that spotlights Halter’s great voice.

 - BAM

Country music star Brad Paisley is releasing his new album, a mostly instrumental collection, on Nov. 4, which is Election Day.

 Titled “Play,” the album includes 15 tracks; Paisley wrote or co-wrote 11 of them. Described in a news release as “an all-out guitar celebration,” it includes just four vocal tracks, which feature Paisley picking and singing with B.B. King, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner and the late Buck Owens.

The reigning Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association top male vocalist, Paisley indulges in a little joyful blues with the legendary King on “Let the Good Times Roll,” according to the release.

Paisley and Urban collaborate on the playful “Start a Band,” while he and Wariner co-wrote and perform “More Than Just This Song,” a tribute to the guitar heroes who gave them their start with a six-string.

Paisley joins his friend and idol Owens on “Come on In,” a previously unfinished track that Owens wrote and recorded.

He also pays tribute to guitar great Les Paul (”Les Is More”), his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley (”Kim”) and baby son William Huckleberry Paisley (”Huckleberry Jam”) on the album.

In keeping with tradition, the album includes a gospel classic, an acoustic rendition of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Paisley’s friend, frequent collaborator and “elder statesman” “Little” Jimmy Dickens also makes an appearance on the album, according to the release. Dickens plays the part of “Grandpa Paisley” in the comic “Pre-Cluster Cluster Pluck Prequel (Prelude).”

The prelude sets up the all-star guitar jam, “Cluster Pluck,” featuring guests Wariner, James Burton, John Jorgensen, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Oklahoma native Vince Gill.

Paisley, who has sold more than 10 million albums since his debut came out in 1999, won his first Grammy this year for Best Country Instrumental Performance. He also has been featured on the covers of Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar magazines.

-BAM

The original soundtrack to the Toby Keith-Rodney Carrington movie “Beer for My Horses” is among the week’s new entertainment offerings. Along with tracks from Keith and Carrington, it includes music from Ted Nugent, David Allan Coe and Mel Tillis, all music stars who appear in the film.

Also, this week’s new CDs include the latest album from the latest boy band - the Jonas Brothers - and a compiliation from my generation’s hot boy band - New Kids on the Block.

Here is the list of this week’s CD, DVD and book releases from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

CDs

Original soundtrack, “Beer for My Horses.”

Jonas Brothers, “A Little Bit Longer.”

Extreme, “Saudades de Rock.”

New Kids on the Block, “Greatest Hits.”

Hillsong, “This Is Our God.”

DVDs

“American Mall”
“The Art of War II: The Betrayal”
“Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club”
“Caroline in the City: The First Season”
“CJ7″
“Dave’s World: The First Season”
“DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures”
“Felon”
“How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer”
“The Killing Gene”
“The Love Boat: Season 1, Volume 2″
“Prison Break: Season Three”
“The Secret”
“Smart People”
“South Park: The Complete Eleventh Season”
“The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season”

Books

“Smoke Screen” by Sandra Brown.
“Confessions of a Contractor” by Richard Murphy.
“The Mercedes Coffin” by Faye Kellerman.
“Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Creatures” by Ernest Drake.
“Off Season” by Anne Rivers Siddons.

-BAM

The song that has been on my brain the most this week:

- “Epistle to Derroll,” by Donovan, from the 1967 double album “A Gift from a Flower to a Garden” and the single album “For Little Ones.”

My apologies for the lateness of posting this week’s featured track. I’ve spent much of the day at the hospital providing moral support for my sister, who is hard at work bringing my nephew into the world.

In honor of this momentous occasion, I dedicate this week’s FFT to her. My parents owned ”For Little Ones” when we were girls, and our dad often talks about playing the singer/songwriter/guitarist’s creative collection of acoustic children’s music for us.  

Shortly after my younger son, Gabe, 20 months, was born, I bought “A Gift from a Flower to a Garden,” the two-disc set that includes the albums “For Little Ones” and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”

“Epistle to Derroll,” the final song on “For Little Ones,” tells the lovely, fantastical tale of a man who asks a group of starfish to bring him news of a long-distance friend, the banjo man with the tattoo on his hand.

The song always helped lull Gabe to sleep, making it a favorite for his worn-out parents.

-BAM

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.  

Soundtrack

Original soundtrack ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2′ Soundtrack (Warner Bros. Records)

With its surprisingly diverse mix of pop, indie rock and country, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2″ soundtrack not only suits the film’s divergent characters, it also offers the perfect mood music for a summer drive.

The 11-track disc features the obvious contributions from female singer-songwriters, including Missy Higgins’ pretty love song “Warm Whispers.” Michelle Branch offers the lone original track, the fittingly inspirational ballad “Together.”

But the album offers an unexpected slate of atmospheric alt-pop ballads, such as Jack Savoretti’s “No One’s Aware,” Mute Math’s “You Are Mine” and Aqualung’s “Strange & Beautiful (I Put a Spell on You).”

Deep-voiced country crooner James Otto also provides a mellow track with “Sunset Man.”

The CD gets upbeat with Cyndi Lauper’s ’80s hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” a no-brainer choice. Eric Hutchinson’s breezy “Rock & Roll” and Craig David’s funky “Friday Night” give two more bursts of energy.

The album gets a welcome and unanticipated indie rock edge with Hot Hot Heat’s “5 Times out of 100″ and the Noisettes’ “Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit).”

Unfortunately, the CD doesn’t include the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Suck My Kiss,” which is spotlighted in one of the film’s funniest moments.

- BAM

Country singer Keith Anderson, who was born and raised in Miami, Okla., is among the diverse lineup of recording artists releasing CDs this week.

Other notable CDs include the latest live comedy disc from acerbic comic Lewis Black, and the newest set of songs from Carla Bruni, who is now first lady of France.

On the DVD side, “The Counterfeiters,” the 2008 Oscar winner in the foreign language film category, drops today.

And if you missed the chance to see Heart live last month at the Zoo Amphitheatre, a new live performance DVD is available from the Wilson sisters and company.

There’s also “Nim’s Island” for the family crowd, “Lonesome Dove” for the Westerns crowd and “Rogue” for the man-eating crocodile crowd.

In books, “The Last Theorem,” the final book by sci-fi legend Arthur C. Clarke, who died in March, is among this week’s releases. Clarke wrote the book with Frederik Pohl.

Here’s the list of what’s new from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

CDs 

Keith Anderson, “C’mon.”

Randy Newman, “Harps & Angels.”

Carla Bruni, “Comme Si de Rien N’Etait.”

The Faint, “Fasciinatiion.”

Lewis Black, “Anticipation.”

DVDs

“Back at the Barnyard: When No One’s Looking”
“Ben 10: The Complete Season 4″
“Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest”
“The Counterfeiters”
“Family Ties: The Fourth Season”
“Garfield’s Fun Fest / Garfield Gets Real”
“Get Smart: Season 1″
“Little Einsteins: Flight of the Instrument Fairies”
“Lonesome Dove”
“Nim’s Island”
“Robin Hood: Season Two”
“Rogue”
“Soundstage Presents: Heart Live”
“Soundstage Presents: REO Speedwagon Live In The Heartland”
“Starship Troopers 3: Marauder”

Books

“Acheron” by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
“Alfred and Emily” by Doris Lessing.
“The Assassin” by Stephen Coonts.
“Forced Out” by Stephen Frey.
“Foreign Body” by Robin Cook.
“The Gargoyle” by Andrew Davidson.
“The Last Theorem” by Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl.
“The Way of the World” by Ron Suskind.

-BAM