Robbie Robertson releases his sixth solo album today (Friday).
Titled Sinematic, he says it was inspired by his decades of creating and composing music for film. “I was working on music for [director Martin Scorsese's upcoming film]The Irishman and working on the documentary [Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band], and these things were bleeding into each other. I could see a path. Ideas for songs about haunting and violent and beautiful things were swirling together like a movie. You follow that sound and it all starts to take shape right in front of your ears. At some point, I started referring to it as ‘Peckinpah Rock',” a nod to the late director Sam Peckinpah.
One of the album's 13 songs, "Once Were Brothers," is a tip of the hat to his days in The Band.
Robbie Robertson on the song "Once Were Brothers.":
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Sinematic is available in numerous configurations, including a deluxe edition that is limited to 1,000 copies and will follow on October 25th. It contains a CD, two vinyl discs and a 36-page hardcover book of artwork Robertson created for each track. Four of the images he created are available for purchase as framed canvas prints in a limited run of 100 each. Ten canvas prints of the album’s cover art will be signed by Robertson with proceeds benefiting the American Indian College Fund.
SInematic is his first album since 2011’s How to Become Clairvoyant.
This Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of The Band releasing their self-titled second album. Containing such classics as "Up on Cripple Creek," "Rag Mama Rag" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," it was recorded in Sammy Davis Junior's pool house in Los Angeles.
Robbie Robertson on the Los Angeles home owned by Sammy Davis Junior where The Band recorded their second album.:
A 50th anniversary deluxe issue of The Band will be out in the fall.