Jeff Bridges Announces Release Date and Tracklisting for Self-Titled Debut Album

Back in April, I reported that award-winning actor Jeff Bridges had signed a record deal with Blue Note/EMI Records. Well, now I have official word on a release date, tracklisting as well as album artwork. This is pretty awesome, if I don't say so myself. Produced by Bridges collaborator on Crazy Heart, T Bone Burnett, his self titled album is due out on August 16th. Burnett, himself a multiple Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician and producer, is ready to take his 30 + year friendship with Bridges to the next level...and that next level is a professional singing career. Who would have thunk it? The "Dude" recording an album? I can tell you that I for one, am excited and thrilled.

The album was recorded in LA and Brooklyn and features songwriting from a whole slew of talented artists including the late Stephen Bruton and John Goodwin (both of whom collaborated with Burnett on Crazy Heart), as well as Greg Brown and Bo Ramsay. Bridges himself contributed several tracks to the mix, including "Falling Short," "Tumbling Vine," "I Will Wait" (co-written with Burnett and John Goodwin) and "Slow Boat" (co-written with Burnett and Thomas Cobb). As if a team of world-class songwriters wasn't enough, Burnett also managed to get a great band together and some terrific guest vocalists. Joining Bridges on the album are keyboardist Keefus Ciancia, guitarist Mark Ribot, bassist Dennis Crouch, pedal-steel guitarist Russ Pahl and drummer Jay Bellerose. Guests vocalists include Rosanne Cash, Ryan Bingham, Sam Phillips and Benji Hughes. Sounds like a world class lineup if I've ever heard one. No word yet on a single but you can check out the album artwork (ABOVE) and the tracklisting (BELOW) while you wait. Bridges recently appeared on the cover of Esquire Magazine's music issue so see if you can't track that down as well.

Tracklisting:

“What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do”
“I Will Wait”
“Falling Short”
“Maybe I Missed The Point”
“Tumbling Vine”
“Nothing Yet”
“Blue Car”
“Slow Boat”
“Either Way”
“Everything But Love”
“The Quest”

Check out Jeff Bridges on the web:

Official Site//Facebook//Twitter

Oscar-Winning Actor Jeff Bridges Signs with Blue Note Records

Now, this news definitely falls under the unexpected but not so unexpected category. Actor Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, True Grit) has signed with Blue Note Records/EMI Music Group and will release his major label debut album in late summer.  I say this news was "not so unexpected" because Bridges won the Academy Award for his portrayal of a down and out former country musician in the 2009 film Crazy Heart, in which Bridges actually sang.  It was only a matter of time before Bridges was going to release music of his own.  Well, now looks to be that time.

Inspired by their work together on Crazy Hearts, Bridges will collaborate once again with friend and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician and producer T-Bone Burnett.  Burnett is known for his extraordinary work with Allison Krauss and Robert Plant, Elton John and Leon Russell as well as Grammy-winning soundtracks to O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Walk The Line.  Their 30+ year friendship started during the making of the 1980 picture Heaven's Gate, when fellow actor/musician Kris Kristofferson introduced them.  Over the years the friendship has only strengthened so pairing together to record an album just sounds so organic.  Crazy Heart wasn't Burnett's first dabble in Hollywood, he also picked the songs that ultimately ended up on (one of my favorite movies) The Big Lebowski soundtrack.  On Crazy Heart, Burnett's role was larger and significantly more involved, co-writing several of the songs that appear on that film's soundtrack, including Oscar's "Best Original Song" in 2009, "The Weary Kind," co-written by Ryan Bingham.

Working with Bridges and Burnett on the album are a number of Burnett's repertory players including Keefus Ciancia, Mark Ribot, Dennis Crouch, and Jay Bellerose, and guest vocalists Rosanne Cash, Sam Phillips, and Benji Hughes. Not only that but Bridges will be contributing several of his own compositions to the album as well as performing songs written by Crazy Heart collaborators (the late) Stephen Bruton and John Goodwin. Also writing songs for Bridges on his debut, Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey, Tom Waits and others. This sounds like it's going to be amazing. Check out Bridges on PBS American Masters program from this past January, where Bridges talks about his "life-long passion for music." You can also check out Bridges on the cover of Esquire Magazine, the music issue, hitting stands April 26th.

Check out Jeff Bridges on the web: Official Site