Featured Artists Include Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, The Who, R.E.M., and Melanie G. (a.k.a. Scary Spice)

LOS ANGELES, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, The Who, R.E.M., Melanie G., Green Day, Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello are just some of the confirmed artists contributing tracks to the simply smashing Maverick Recording Co. soundtrack "Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me,'' which will be in stores June 1. The highly-anticipated film hits theatres on June 11.

The premiere group of music cognoscenti that assembled this soundtrack collection generated excitement for all involved, including "Austin Powers'' star Mike Myers. "To have Danny Bramson, Madonna, Guy Oseary, and John Houlihan spearheading the music, represented a dream team for the production soundtrack,'' he commented.

Multi-platinum recording artist Madonna headlines this star-studded album with "Beautiful Stranger,'' a song she produced with U.K. beat master William Orbit. In addition to being recorded specifically for "Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me,''

"Beautiful Stranger'' is also the first collaboration between Madonna and Orbit since the duo's brilliant pairing on last year's Grammy Award-winning Ray of Light, which to date has sold 11-million copies worldwide.

Lenny Kravitz, a recent Grammy winner himself, is also featured on the soundtrack, performing an electrifying version of The Guess Who's "American Woman.'' "Beautiful Stranger'' and "American Woman'' will be the first two singles and videos off the album, followed by Melanie G. (a.k.a. Scary Spice), who does a sizzling Timbaland-produced cover of Cameo's "Word Up.'' In addition, "Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me'' boasts a line-up of new music that includes a never-before-released BBC version of The Who classic, "My Generation,'' R.E.M. (who covers the Tommy James classic, "Draggin' The Line''), and Green Day (the instrumental "Espionage''). The soundtrack also features an on-camera duet by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello (on the former's "I'll Never Fall in Love Again''), as well as Marvin Gaye's steamy "Let's Get It On,'' and Bill Withers "Just The Two of Us'' (performed on the soundtrack and in the film by Mike Myers as Dr. Evil).

"We're thrilled to be doing this soundtrack,'' says Guy Oseary, Co-Owner and Maverick partner and co-producer of the 'Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me' soundtrack. "Every major label wanted this album, but Maverick was on a mission and campaigned really hard to get it. We're all huge fans of the first 'Austin Powers' film and we used that enthusiasm to put together a truly great album.''

Adds Warner Bros. Records, Inc. Senior Vice President, Soundtrack Development Danny Bramson ("City of Angels,'' "Jerry Maguire,'' "Singles,'') who is both the soundtrack album's producer and executive music producer of the film, "Mike Myers completely raised the bar for this movie on all levels, and we wanted to do the same with the soundtrack. Our goal was two-fold -- to put together a collection of artists and songs that captures and represents the period, color and spirit of 'Austin Powers,' as well as producing a soundtrack that's fun to listen to as a whole.

"The avalanche of talent that we were able to attract to this soundtrack says volumes about the popularity and drawing power of Austin Powers,'' said Toby Emmerich, President of New Line Music. "We are thrilled to be re-teaming with Maverick as well as working with soundtrack veteran Danny Bramson on this project and we are equally excited to be delivering fans of these artists such a fun and eclectic collaboration.''

When we last saw Austin Powers, he had just foiled Dr. Evil's sinister plot, shagged and married Miss Kensington (but not in that order, bay-bee, behave!) and used his Swedish-Made Penis Enlarger® to defeat the deadly Random Task, evil handy man extraordinnaire. In the highly-anticipated sequel "Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me,'' the heinous Dr. Evil returns with a time machine, traveling back to the 60's to steal Austin's Mojo, thus rendering the International Man of Mystery "unshaggable.''

The New Line Cinema comedy stars Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Kristen Johnson, Seth Green, Rob Lowe, Robert Wagner and Michael York. The "Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me'' soundtrack marks the second collaboration between Maverick and New Line Cinema. Last year, the two companies joined forces for "The Wedding Singer,'' one of the most successful films of 1998.

Maverick Recording Company released the soundtrack to the film, Music From the Motion Picture "The Wedding Singer,'' and More Music From The Motion Picture "The Wedding Singer'' Volume 2, which was released in conjunction with the film's home video release. To date, the soundtracks together have sold in excess of five million copies worldwide. Additionally, Maverick is currently experiencing a runaway success with its soundtrack from "The Matrix,'' which has been the #1 soundtrack for the past three weeks.

"Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me'' is directed by Jay Roach and written by Mike Myers and Michael McCullers. John Houlihan serves as the film's music supervisor. The film is produced by Myers, John Lyons, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd, and the executive producer is Erwin Stoff.