An eclectic cast is contributing tracks to...

An eclectic cast is contributing tracks to a tribute album for Johnny Thunders, the former New York Dolls guitarist who died last year. Among those performing Thunders songs are Los Lobos, Chrissie Hynde, the Ramones and fellow ex-Dolls David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain and Arthur Kane. Ex-MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer is producing the project, which will benefit Thunders’ four children. No release date or label has been set. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal’s only road trip in the coming months will be around the NBA with the Orlando Magic, not a concert tour supporting his debut album “Shaq’s Diesel,” which comes out Oct. 26. There had been reports that the basketball-star-turned-rapper would be doing U.S. shows, but he will keep his focus on the court. . . .

The first single from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ greatest-hits album, due Nov. 9, will be a new song, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” The release will be previewed with a national Westwood One radio broadcast by the band performing Nov. 4 in its hometown of Gainesville, Fla. . . .

Annie Lennox is the latest to record a song for a Greenpeace benefit album, “Alternative NRG.” Among those already done are concert or live-in-the-studio tracks by U2, R.E.M., James, PM Dawn, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden with Brian May, the Jesus and Mary Chain and L7--all recorded using Greenpeace’s solar-powered mobile recording truck. . . .

The Grateful Dead will likely record only its fourth studio album since 1980 early next year. The group’s been previewing new material in recent concerts, including a collaboration between Bob Weir and late bluesman Willie Dixon titled “Eternity.” The Dead has also been performing the new “Easy Answers,” a song written by Weir and Neil Young for an upcoming album of trios anchored by pop-jazz bassist Rob Wasserman. . . .

Also on the Dead front, Grateful Dead Records will release “Upper Limbo,” a new album by “word jazz” creator Ken Nordine. Half the album was recorded in San Francisco with mandolinist David Grisman, the rest in Nordine’s native Chicago with a full band.