Goddess in the Doorway
Is the fourth solo album by Mick Jagger, released in 2001. The most recent offering from Jagger as a solo artist, it marked his first release with Virgin Records, whom he has been contracted with as a member of The Rolling Stones since 1991.
Following 1993's Wandering Spirit by Jagger, and The Rolling Stones' Bridges to Babylon in 1997 and the extended Bridges to Babylon Tour, he began to work on demo material in 2000, finally reaching the studio in the spring of 2001. Although Jagger would primarily work with Marti Frederiksen and Matt Clifford as producers, he also sanctioned the talents of Lenny Kravitz and Wyclef Jean to help create Goddess in the Doorway. And while the songs would largely be composed by Jagger, he endeavored to work with other collaborators, namely, Kravitz and Rob Thomas, lead vocalist of Matchbox Twenty. The recording sessions of several of the album's tracks were featured in the documentary Being Mick.
While recording was underway, many of Jagger's musician friends, including Bono, Pete Townshend, Thomas, Kravitz, Jean and Joe Perry all made contributions. Townshend, in fact, was the initiating force behind the album. After having heard some of Jagger's demos, he told him that they didn't sound like Rolling Stones songs and that Jagger should record them on his own.
By the end of the summer, Goddess in the Doorway was initially completed and the Kravitz-produced (and almost self-performed) "God Gave Me Everything" was put forward as the lead single that October. Although the song failed to become a significant hit, Goddess in the Doorway - with its hybrid of different styles—was released the following month to among the strongest reviews Jagger had received—including his tenure with The Rolling Stones—in years, with Rolling Stone's chief editor Jann Wenner bestowing a five-star instant classic rating upon the album. However, not everyone was as effusive. Keith Richards, never comfortable with Jagger's solo career since it began in 1985, mocked the album by calling it Dogshit in the Doorway.[1]
While the critical approval of Goddess in the Doorway was gratifying for Jagger, the album only reached #44 in the UK and #39 in the US.[citation needed]
Following this, he returned to work with The Rolling Stones on Forty Licks and A Bigger Bang and their respective worldwide Licks and A Bigger Bang Tours. Aside from his soundtrack work with David A. Stewart on Alfie in 2004, and the best of collection The Very Best of Mick Jagger released in 2007, Goddess in the Doorway remains Mick Jagger's latest solo release to date.
All songs by Mick Jagger, except where noted.
1. "Visions of Paradise" (Jagger, Rob Thomas, Matt Clifford) – 4:02
2. "Joy" – 4:41
3. "Dancing in the Starlight" – 4:06
4. "God Gave Me Everything" (Jagger, Lenny Kravitz) – 3:34
5. "Hide Away" – 4:31
6. "Don't Call Me Up" – 5:14
7. "Goddess in the Doorway" (Jagger, Clifford) – 4:56
8. "Lucky Day" – 4:51
9. "Everybody Getting High" – 3:55
10. "Gun" (Jagger, Clifford) – 4:39
11. "Too Far Gone" – 4:34
12. "Brand New Set of Rules" – 7:39
* Includes a hidden track of lounge music after the song concludes
