http://www.billboard.com/...id=2011966


A new song by Annie Lennox is among the tracks on the soundtrack to "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," due Nov. 25 from Reprise/WMG Soundtracks. Along with the 2002 Billboard Century Award honoree, "Into the West" also features the talents of soprano Renee Fleming and Irish flautist Sir James Galway.

The rest of the set comprises 19 selections of Howard Shore's score from the film, the third and final installment of the "Lord of the Rings" films based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

"It has been a fascinating experience to be a very small part of this vast jigsaw puzzle," Lennox says. "The dedication and commitment to the project is awesome in every way. The song 'Into the West' is hauntingly beautiful and emotional, which befits the final scene of the trilogy."

A deluxe edition of the soundtrack will boast an exclusive DVD with a second Lennox song, "Use Well the Days." It will also include the 20-minute documentary "Use Well The Days: A Behind the Scenes Portrait of Howard Shore," a trilogy "supertrailer," a photo gallery of the recording sessions, film stills and poems and lyrics from "The Return Of The King." Another version of the CD/DVD package available only to online buyers will boast additional "Rings" extras, while a special-limited edition package will contain the soundtracks to all three installments of the "Rings" films.

Both 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" and the following year's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top Soundtracks chart. The first hit No. 29 on The Billboard 200, while the second topped out at No. 43. Respectively, they have sold 861,000 and 392,000 copies in the U.S, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

A New Line Cinema film, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is slated to open Dec. 17 in U.S. theaters. Directed by Peter Jackson, the film stars Viggo Mortensen, who with Galway and Fleming is featured on the soundtrack's title track. The cast also includes Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen.


-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.

You know I'm there.