(RockAndMetal.com) (10/08/04)

Edited By Michael Bennett

LONDON, UK - ROLLING STONES frontman MICK JAGGER made a significant musical contribution to the soundtrack for the upcoming new film "Alfie," which features original songs written and performed by Jagger and former Eurythmic Dave Stewart, with guest appearances that include singers Joss Stone, Sheryl Crow and Nadirah "Nadz" Seid.

The duet version of 'Old Habits Die Hard' with Jagger and Sheryl Crow partnering up is also the first single and video off "Alfie - Music From The Motion Picture" (which was also produced by both Jagger and Stewart), which is set for release in North America on October 19th via Virgin Records.

Elsewhere on the soundtrack album, R&B flavored tracks such as 'Blind Leading The Blind' feature Jagger's unmistakable lead vocals, while blues-inflected instrumental tracks like 'New York Hustle' and 'Standing In The Rain" feature the legendary Jagger showing off his skills on the harmonica.

Regarding the creation of the music to "Alfie," Dave Stewart commented: "We worked as a team."

"Jude Law, who plays Alfie would come in to the sessions at Abbey Road to hang out, and we'd talk about his character."

"As with the original 'Alfie,' there's a lot where his character addresses the camera directly, and there's this weird instrumental thing that Mick and I did and Jude was going 'You shouldn't have me talking, this says much more about the scene than me talking.'"

"Unlike a lot of Hollywood movies, where nobody meets each other until the premiere, we all worked together very closely over the period of a year, and I know Mick really enjoyed that."

Indelibly stamped by many as the lead singer of the greatest Rock 'N' Roll band in the world, Mick Jagger's film career stretches back to 1969.

But, despite his past on-screen performances -- not to mention The Rolling Stones' songs having been featured in over 60 previous movies -- "Alfie" is the very first soundtrack Jagger actually had a hand in composing.

"I've had songs on soundtracks before," Jagger confirmed, "but this is my first full soundtrack."

"What Dave and I did, which is something I've never done before for a movie, was to write lyrics that helped a particular scene along, without describing the scene and making it too obvious."

Besides being a founding member of Eurythmics, Dave Stewart has undertaken his fair share of film scores over the years, but "Alfie" was different.

"When I've worked on soundtracks before, you're like a hired hand."

"You're in a room somewhere, and you keep getting given loads of hard drives or tapes with different edits, and everybody keeps ringing up, saying 'have you finished yet?'"

From the very beginning though, "Alfie" proved to be a far more rewarding and collaborative experience.

"I was approached by the director Charles Shyer, while they were still finalizing the script and once I knew they'd updated it to 2004 and that Jude Law was playing the Michael Caine role, I started to get really interested."

The songs for "Alfie," which first began to take shape at Jagger's house in Mustique, were recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in Northwest London.

And, from the very beginning, Jagger's contributions have electrified listeners.

"Alfie - Music From The Motion Picture" is highlighted by a delightful new rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's classic title song, 'Alfie,' performed by 17-year-old soul sensation Joss Stone.

The two singers duet on the new holiday-themed Jagger/Stewart original, 'Lonely Without You (This Christmas).'

In addition, Stone performs on a reggae-flavored take on 'Alfie,' dubbed 'Wicked Times,' that sees her sharing the microphone with acclaimed Jamaican rapper Nadirah "Nadz" Seid.

"Alfie is such an epic song. tt's been recorded so many times, and it's a classic Bacharach/David melody," says Stewart.

"But all the versions have got massive orchestrations, so I thought the only thing to do is strip it to almost nothing and have a soul type of singer interpret it."

Stewart added, "Joss is an amazing talent."

"She's only 17 years old, and we had her duet with Mick, live at Abbey Road, all in one take. Amazing."

"She sings incredibly, and it fits perfectly with the rest of the music."

Jagger was also impressed: "Joss Stone was really good. She's very quick to pick up on what we had in mind, and Alfie is a difficult song."

You only ever remember the first bit of it, but actually, if you have to sing the whole thing, it's quite convoluted. But she got it pretty easy."

A stylish reinvention of the 1960's classic, Paramount Pictures' "Alfie" is a humorous, sexy, and often touching tale of a philosophical womanizer who is forced to question his seemingly carefree existence.

The new version of the film sees Jude Law ("Sky Captain & The World Of Tomorrow," "Cold Mountain") leading an all-star cast, including Academy Award-winners Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking," "Thelma & Louise") and Marisa Tomei ("My Cousin Vinny," "Anger Management"), as well as Omar Epps ("Love & Basketball," "The Wood"), Sienna Miller ("Keen Eddie"), and Nia Long ("Big Momma's House," "The Best Man)."

"Alfie" arrives in theaters across North America on October 22nd.

"Alfie - Music From The Motion Picture" Track Listing:

1. Old Habits Die Hard - Mick Jagger/Dave Stewart
2. Blind Leading The Blind (Live Acoustic Version) - Mick Jagger/Dave Stewart
3. Lonely Without You (This Christmas) - Mick Jagger/Joss Stone
4. Let's Make It Up - Mick Jagger/Dave Stewart
5. Jack The Lad
6. Darkness Of Your Love - Gary "Mudbone" Cooper/Dave Stewart
7. New York Hustle
8. Wicked Times - Nadirah "Nadz" Seid/Joss Stone
9. Oh Nicky
10. Blind Leading The Blind - Mick Jagger/Dave Stewart
11. Standing In The Rain
12. Counting The Days
13. Old Habits Reprise
14. Alfie - Joss Stone
15. Old Habits Die Hard - Mick Jagger/Sheryl Crow

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