Jeff Bridges Leaps From Screen to Recording Studio With Debut Album

By The Boot Editors Posted Jun 3rd 2011 07:10PM

"Music, for me, is like a weed that just keeps bringing up no matter how thick the concrete is. It just makes its way toward the light. I've been doing music since I was a young teen, and man I'm really digging the way the weed has popped through this concrete." -- Jeff Bridges

That "weed" sprouted particularly tall when Jeff Bridges won an Academy Award for his portrayal of fallen country star Bad Blake in the 2009 movie 'Crazy Heart.' In addition to adding such a tremendous accolade to his already-legendary acting resume, the film also planted the seed for more musical collaborations with its soundtrack producer, T Bone Burnett. The fellow Oscar winners have been friends for more than 30 years.

"'Crazy Heart' was an amazing experience," says Bridges. "When that movie was over, I found that I had quite a few songs that didn't get to make that film, and those are some of the songs that are here on this album."

That was the starting point for the actor/musician's self-titled debut album, due August 16 on Blue Note Records. Then, Bridges and his natural choice of producers, Burnett, recruited more old buddies to help complete the project. The late Stephen Bruton, who co-produced the 'Crazy Heart' soundtrack with Burnett, has songwriting credits on two of Bridges' album tracks, with one of them featuring guest vocals by another Oscar winner for his song in the film, Ryan Bingham. John Goodwin, whom Bridges has known since the fourth grade, penned three tracks for the project. And the album's namesake wrote or co-wrote four songs himself. Additional guest vocalists include Rosanne Cash, Sam Phillips and Benji Hughes, making for a who's-who list of credits inside the 'Jeff Bridges' CD cover.

"There are some songs we maybe only recorded once," says Bridges. "Everybody in the same room playing together ... everybody gets inspired by everybody and it becomes another entity [that] no one could have expected. Then, of course, it's all handed over to T Bone and he performs his magic."

Jeff Bridges premiered the cover art (above) for his self-titled CD exclusively on The Boot.

Get more at The Boot >>

Tags: Jeff Bridges

Comments

(7)

Friday 03 June

By Jim DeJim

Vote down Vote up Report this

I like Jeff Bridges as an actor...but let's face it, if he didn't have the friends he has, and the acting career he has had, this record would have never been heard, except in his head.....I can't wait for Bill Wyman to announce he is starring in Tron 3.

By dsag

lets go◎★◎

believe you will love it.

====( w w w )( jordans forking )( c o m )

BEST QUALITY GUARANTEE!!

By Oakland Rich

Not sure anyone else remembers, but Jeff Bridges did the voice for the prince in an animated movie 'The Last Unicorn' many years ago and did some really, really bad singing.

Saturday 04 June

By DJParker

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I really enjoyed "Crazy Heart", and saw it 3 times. I am really looking forward to his Album. Should be good!

By terry

Give me a brake Jeff,I have most of your movies, im going to have to tell Kurt Russell maybe he will be reminded about The Deadly Tower, and do a little shooting again when all you do is sit around and now trying to hit it big singin with the guitar.you sound like your dad underwater. YOUR A GRATE GUY FAN

By Kookie

I remember quite a few years ago when he co-starred in a movie about musicians with his brother Beau. They are both good actors. And Jeff probably could be a good singer. Loved Crazy Heart.

Sunday 05 June

By DangerWoman

I think that Jeff Bridges singing should get him a Grammy Nod, being that he works real hard on doing music and singing and getting better at it.

I know that his father is watching him from above, knowing that he is doing good in his efforts.

Page 1 of 1