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"Friends With Money" Soundtrack Featuring the New Single "Circle In The Sand" by Rickie Lee Jones Available May 9 on Rykodisc/Commotion

NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 26, 2006 -- Rykodisc in conjunction with Commotion and Sony Pictures Classics is pleased to announce the May 9th release of "Friends With Money Original Motion Picture Soundtrack." The soundtrack features new songs by Rickie Lee Jones and marks her debut writing music for film. Other featured artists include score composer Craig Richey ("Lovely & Amazing," "Journey Into Night"), Neil Halstead, The Weepies and Big Red Button. Says "Friends With Money" executive producer Tracy McKnight, "Director Nicole Holofcener's film is a wonderful expression on the enduring beauty and importance of friendships in life as they unfold -- Rickie Lee Jones captured that essence in her songs -- a perfect fit for the film."

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack and Catherine Keener, "Friends With Money" is about the unexpected challenges of being an adult -- about taking responsibility for your place in the world, confronting complex issues with friends and lovers, and learning how to care for yourself. The result is a painfully hilarious examination of modern life that manages to be both brutally honest and ultimately uplifting. Producer Anthony Bregman says, "The soundtrack to 'Friends With Money' came together brilliantly. As its backbone, Nicole worked with her longtime collaborator Craig Richey, who contributed a beautiful and sweet score to match the film's emotional underpinning. Nicole then brought in Rickie Lee Jones to interlace score cues and contribute two original songs. The combination created a musical quilt that perfectly matches the movie's complex spirit."

"Friends With Money" marks Jones' first new material since her 2003 release "Evening Of My Best Day" and features the single "Circle In The Sand" and the remarkably jangly "Hillbilly Song." She says of collaborating with director Nicole Holofcener, "Nicole's directing is intimate and straightforward, and this is a very good match for my music... I could not have had a better film to write for, especially my first time out. Writing for film," she says, "required operating from a different point of reference, you are starting from a picture on the screen rather than your imagination. It was very brave of Nicole to allow me to do this, for her to use music she had not intended to use from the outset. Most directors would have shut down, said 'this is not what I had in mind.' But she took her time, and eventually used musical ideas she had not considered before. It was wonderful for me."

Nicole Holofcener comments on being intimately involved in the musical process: "I loved working with Craig Richey on 'Lovely & Amazing' and wanted to repeat the experience with 'Friends With Money.' His score embodies the bittersweet quality I was hoping to communicate, and it helped shape the movie from the very beginning." She goes on to add about the new relationship with Rickie Lee Jones, "Working with Rickie Lee Jones was a dream come true. When I first heard 'Circle In The Sand,' I wasn't sure it would work. Rickie Lee was absolutely confident that it would and in the end, she was right. Her voice and her music are such an integral part of this movie, I couldn't imagine the film without her."

Track Listing: 1. Circle In The Sand - Rickie Lee Jones
2. Free Sample Dance - Craig Richey
3. The Escalator Waltz - Craig Richey
4. Seasons - Neil Halstead
5. You Need Some Sunshine - Craig Richey
6. Hillbilly Song - Rickie Lee Jones
7. Finding Resolution - Craig Richey
8. Leaving Home - Big Red Button
9. Circle In The Sand (Instrumental) - Rickie Lee Jones
10. World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
11. Allargando And Nostalgic Waltz - Craig Richey
12. Rolling C - Craig Richey
13. Allargando Reprise - Craig Richey

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