O-Town News

(10/1/02, 1 p.m. ET) -- O-Town will release its sophomore J Records album, O2, on November 12. The group penned nearly half of the songs on the album. The entire group wrote the track "Suddenly," while singer Ashley Parker Angel co-wrote "From The Damage" and "Craving," and singer Erik-Michael Estrada co-wrote "Make Her Say" and "Been Around The World."

The group also collaborated with rapper Nelly on a track called "Favorite Girl."

Nelly recently told LAUNCH how he got involved with O-Town's latest project. "It was a case where I had this song I wrote, and Clive (Davis) heard it and he really wanted it for his group, you know, he really wanted his group to perform it. And I was, like, 'Cool, you know, I ain't got no problems with it,' you know, so they came down to St. Louis and they performed the song, recorded it, and stuff like that. They did a good job on it, too, for sure," he said.

"Everybody loves the name Nelly," O-Town's Jacob Underwood said of recording the track penned by the multiplatinum rapper. "They love his sound, and they love the vibe that he brings--the upbeat, just fun party vibe--and that's what this song is."

O-Town's first single from O2, "These Are The Days," impacted radio on Monday (September 30).

Steve Kipner (Christina Aguilera), David Frank, and Wayne Hector wrote the song. In addition, O-Town teamed with producers Jamie Houston (Macy Gray) and Damon Sharpe (Jennifer Lopez) on the album.

The band is planning to launch a tour in support of O2 next month. "We're spending some time in Europe, and Germany, and Asia promoting, but we're going to have a major U.S. tour planned for November," added Underwood.

O2 is the follow-up to the group's self-titled debut album, which made history when it entered the Billboard 200 album chart at Number Five in January of 2001. The album entered the chart at the highest position ever for a debut act and album.

-- Jason Gelman and Yves Erwin Salomon, New York

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