MORISSETTE AND BALLARD TOGETHER AGAIN FOR FOLLOW-UP TO HER `JAGGED LITTLE PILL'.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Alanis Morissette is recording again. The singer, whose ``Jagged Little Pill'' album broke records with sales of more than 30 million copies worldwide - and who has been out of the spotlight, keeping fans guessing about what she'll do next - is back at work with her ``Jagged'' co-writer-producer Glen Ballard.

``We're writing and recording as we go, sort of doing it all at once. We've done a substantial number of songs,'' Ballard says. He allows that they're ``probably'' feeling pressure to follow up their monster hit album, but ``we're trying to keep in the spirit of the first record, focusing on making sure that she makes herself happy creatively. ... Alanis has grown so much, as an artist and as a person.'' Ballard says the new album might be ready this year, ``but we won't know until we're done.''

Ballard, who was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers at this week's Pop Music Awards Gala, has numerous irons in the fire with his Java Records label. He's signed Terence Trent D'Arby and Billy Idol, both of whom are now recording and both of whom ``are moving into the next chapters of their careers.'' He also has several younger, unknown talents on his roster. And he has the much-anticipated ``Clubland'' music film he wrote and co-produced starring Lori Petty on the way for fall, featuring ``a whole fresh generation of talent.'' We'll see.

No doubt she will

Super-hot singer and Drew Barrymore look-alike Gwen Stefani reveals she's been ``reading scripts for eight months,'' looking for the right project to launch her as an actress. The No Doubt pop phenomenon - another ASCAP Awards recipient - has had no shortage of offers and would love to ``switch to acting if the right thing comes my way.'' So far, it hasn't.

Meanwhile, Gwen's soon to head to London to join her love of ``two years and three months,'' rock hunk Gavin Rossdale of Bush - and says the relationship is continuing to flourish. When she returns, it'll be back to work on the next No Doubt album, which she figures will be completed within the next few months.

After goodbye

Marilyn Bergman, who with husband Alan wrote such Frank Sinatra standards as ``Nice 'n' Easy'' and ``What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life,'' dedicated the ASCAP event to Sinatra's memory. ``It's been a terrible few days,'' Bergman told this column. However, the ASCAP president and chairman of the board says she found the words flowed easily when she was writing her remarks about the late singer: ``I can't think of anyone who respected songs and songwriters more.'' Right now, the Bergmans are dividing their time between writing for the soundtrack of the movie adaptation of the beloved ``Madeline'' children's stories - and contributing three new songs to Tony Bennett's next album. Bennett, says Bergman with a sigh, ``is the standard bearer now.''

The videoland view

Paula Abdul is certainly putting a lot of energy into joining the TV scene. Now, in addition to shepherding development of her prospective series - it's a sitcom about a dancer, she reveals - the newly divorced, multitalented dynamo tells this column she plans to produce a magazine-style TV show aimed at teens that may debut this fall. Abdul is also in the middle of recording her next album, with a first single to be released in September.

On the way

Fans of rock's Verve Pipe can look forward to the group's next album in October. That's according to lead singer Brian Vander Ark, whose ``The Freshman'' tune won ASCAP honors this week. Vander Ark's planning to start recording in June. Meanwhile, he has a tune called ``Blow You Away'' coming up on the soundtrack for ``The Avengers.''

Versatility is her style

ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Diane Warren (``Un-Break My Heart,'' ``Because You Loved Me,'' ``For You I Will'' and ``How Do I Live'') continues her prolific ways with a Celine Dion Christmas song for the songstress' in-the-works holiday album. And with ``Just to Hear You Say Love,'' a track for the upcoming ``Armageddon'' soundtrack performed by Aerosmith - and a 52-piece orchestra. ``It rocks,'' she says.

With reports by Stephanie DuBois.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1) Alanis Morissette

In the studio

(2) Paula Abdul

TV time

(3) Diane Warren

ASCAP honoree