AND LEST WE FORGET:

After being on tour for ages, rap hot-shot Tone Loc has been in the studio working on a new album. Its tentative title? “Cool Hand Loc.” . . . Ted Nugent has formed a new band called Damn Yankees. The group, which will feature Styx’s Tommy Shaw and Night Ranger’s Jack Blades, is recording here in L.A., with hopes of a new album surfacing (via Warner Bros.) by mid-spring. . . . How’s this for an wacky New Age slogan. Epic Records’ ad campaign for pop songstress Basia features an alluring photo of the pop songstress, with the cutline: “For all who believe in her, the rewards are great.” . . . Our Hype of the Week award goes to Susan Blonde Inc., a New York publicity firm that sent us a release headlined: “Susan Blonde Inc. Jubilant Over Grammy Nominations and American Music Award Presentations.” That’s right--the firm not only touted its Grammy-nominated clients, but acts that were simply presenting AMA awards! . . . And on the comeback trail: J.J. Cale is releasing “Travel Log,” his first album in nearly six years. Meanwhile, gone-and-nearly-forgotten Adam Ant has an album due in April called “Manners and Physique.”