BETTER RED THAN DEAD

RED Distribution has scored a trio of choice clients in Trauma Records, Aimee Mann's Superego label and Transparent Records, co-owned by Herbie Hancock, manager David Passick and Chuck Mitchell.

Mann's superb "Bachelor #2," which the acclaimed artist has been selling on her ARTISTdirect-run Web site, aimeemann.com, hits traditional retail via RED next Tuesday (5/2). The third official solo album from the former 'Til Tuesday frontwoman comes close on the heels of the commercially solid "Magnolia" soundtrack album (Reprise), which featured nine Mann songs and generated Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her.

"We are thrilled to be working with Aimee Mann and Superego, and have immediately begun taking orders for ‘Bachelor #2' that are exceeding our expectations," said RED President Ken Antonelli with what sounded like genuine enthusiasm. "The initiative Aimee has taken in furthering her career, and the independence and creativity she and manager Michael Hausman have shown are qualities we respect and make them great partners for RED." Antonelli then took a breath before continuing. "With our network of services, we can now help them take things to the next level and beyond in a unique way that most companies are unable to offer."

The Trauma deal gives RED, the largest indie distributor, an established hit act in Bush, along with The Flys, The American Girls, Bree Sharp and Noogie, not to mention a field staff and in-house promotion department. That's a good thing, cuz The Flys and Noogie, the first two releases under the RED deal, will need all the help they can get.

The plum of the Transparent arrangement is a Hancock solo LP produced by Bill Laswell (who produced "Rockit," Hancock's biggest hit), due this fall. In the interim, RED will distribute an album by jazz guitarists Mark Whitfield and JK (6/6), followed by the final recorded work from the late Beach Boy great Carl Wilson, a collaborative effort with America's Gerry Beckley and Chicago's Robert Lamm (6/20).