Goddess in the Doorway

Personnel includes: Mick Jagger (vocals); Bono, Rob Thomas (vocals); Marti Frederiksen (acoustic guitar, bass, background vocals); Wyclef Jean (electric & Spanish guitar); Lenny Kravitz (guitar, bass, drums, tambourine, background vocals); Pete Townshend, Joe Perry (guitar); Matt Clifford (piano, keyboards); Phil Spalding (bass); Kenny Aronoff, Ian Thomas, Jim Keltner (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Ruby Turner, Elizabeth Jagger, Georgia May Jagger (background vocals).
Producers include: Marti Frederiksen, Mick Jagger, Matt Clifford, Lenny Kravitz, Wyclef Jean.
Engineers include: Rich Chycki, Max heyes, Henry Hirsch.
Solo efforts by the voice of the Rolling Stones tend to be few and far between, so each one arrives with a certain degree of attendant fanfare and attention. GODDESS IN THE DOORWAY, Jagger's first footstep into the 21st century, is arguably the most deserving of all that attention. The outsized pop production of opening tracks "Visions of Paradise" and "Joy" suit Jagger's larger-than-life persona, and the hip-hop influenced beats of "Dancing in the Starlight" are representative of the old rocker's concessions to the modern world. Jagger's contemporary mode is further exemplified by the edgy buzz of "God Gave Me Everything," co-written with Lenny Kravitz, who plays most of the instruments on the track, and by the sharply funky "Hide Away," on which none other than Wyclef Jean contributes production and guitar. Elsewhere there are more contemplative nods to Jagger's blues and country roots, but in the main GODDESS proves that a seasoned veteran like Jagger can be completely in tune with the times without sacrificing his identity.