Dashboard Snag "Spider-Man"

Dashboard Confessional didn't plan on recording new music this summer. Then the producers of Spider-Man 2 came calling. "I'm a comic-book fan and a movie guy," says Dashboard singer Chris Carrabba, who knocked out a new track, "Vindicated," in one afternoon.

He's in good company: Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Jet and Fefe Dobson are releasing new songs for movies this summer. Here's how they got involved:

Spider-Man 2 (soundtrack due out June 22nd)
Who's on it: Hoobastank, Jet
Key song: Dashboard Confessional's "Vindicated"
Story behind the song: "It's not like it's about [Spider-Man's alter ego] Peter Parker," says Carrabba. "For me, it's about something universal: the emotions of being a young adult."

Shrek 2 (due out May 11th)
Who's on it: Tom Waits, Dashboard Confessional, Joseph Arthur
Key song: Counting Crows' "Accidentally in Love"
Story behind the song: DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg instructed Crows singer Adam Duritz to be "'uplifting, uplifting, uplifting.' I was like, 'Who gave you my number? Because that's not exactly my thing,'" Duritz says. "I surprised myself. I was falling in love at the time, and that sensation was perfect for the movie."

De-Lovely (due out June 15th)
Who's on it: Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Robbie Williams
Key song: Alanis Morissette's "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)"
Story behind the song: The Cole Porter biopic has the stars performing cameos in character. "People won't realize who it is immediately," says Glen Brunman, president of Sony Music Soundtrax. "Alanis performs her song and dances."

Raising Helen (due out May 25th)
Who's on it: Liz Phair, Fefe Dobson
Key song: Joan Osborne's "Stand Back"
Story behind the song: Christina Aguilera was set to do this Carole King/Paul Williams composition, but star Kate Hudson intervened. "She has nothing against Christina," says soundtrack co-producer Mitchell Leib. "It was Kate going, 'Can't we get groovy and get out of the pop bag?'"

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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