Robbie Robertson (album)

Robbie Robertson
Studio album by Robbie Robertson
Released	October 27 1987
Recorded	1987
Genre	Rock
Length	44:19
Label	Geffen Records
Producer	Daniel Lanois & Robbie Robertson
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (C+) link Rolling Stone (not rated) link
Robbie Robertson chronology
Robbie Robertson (1987) Storyville (1991)

Robbie Robertson is the self-titled solo debut by Robbie Robertson, released in 1987. The album won the Juno Award for "Album of the Year", and producers Lanois and Robertson won the "Producer of the Year" Juno award, both in 1989 as there were no Juno Awards held in 1988. The album is notable for the contributions from the members of U2 and Peter Gabriel, both of who were also working with producer Daniel Lanois at the time. U2 was recording The Joshua Tree and Gabriel was recording So. U2's contribution is heard in the song "Sweet Fire of Love" which is a duet of sorts between Robertson and U2 lead singer Bono. The other track featuring U2 is "Testimony", again with vocals from Bono. Gabriel's contributions are heard on the song "Fallen Angel". In addition, Tony Levin and Manu Katché, who were recording with Gabriel, are featured prominently on this record.

Contents 1 Inspiration for "Somewhere Down that Crazy River" 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3.1 Additional personnel 4 Charts 5 Certifications 6 References

Inspiration for "Somewhere Down that Crazy River"

When asked about the inspiration for album's single "Somewhere Down The Crazy River", Lanois commented:“Robbie Robertson was describing what it was like to hang out in Arkansas with Levon Helm in his old neighbourhood. He was telling me about the hot nights and fishing with dynamite, and was asking someone for directions for someplace somewhere down the crazy river. ... I had presented him with this toy instrument that Eno introduced me to called the Suzuki Omnichord, like an electric autoharp. He found a little chord sequence with it that was sweet and wonderful. As he was developing his chord sequence I recorded him and superimposed his storytelling, which I was secretly recording, on top. That was the birth of 'Somewhere Down The Crazy River.' It's kind of like a guy with a deep voice telling you about steaming nights in Arkansas.” ^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Robbie Robertson except as indicated.

1. "Fallen Angel" (Robertson, Martin Page) – 5:52
2. "Showdown at Big Sky" – 4:43
3. "Broken Arrow" – 5:17
4. "Sweet Fire of Love" (Robertson, U2) – 5:08
5. "American Roulette" – 4:46
6. "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" – 4:44
7. "Hell's Half Acre" – 3:45
8. "Sonny Got Caught in the Moonlight" – 3:45
9. "Testimony" – 4:45

Personnel

• Robbie Robertson – vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Manu Katché – drums on 1 2 6 7 8, percussion on 1 7 8
• Bill Dillon – guitars on 1 2 5 6 7 8 9, backing vocal on 2
• Tony Levin – Chapman Stick on 5 7, bass on 6 8
• Daniel Lanois – percussion on 2 3 4 8, backing vocal on 2 3 4, Omnichord on 5, guitar on 5 8

Additional personnel

• Michael Johnson – bass on 1 5
• Martin Page – drum programing on 1
• Garth Hudson – keyboards on 1 5
• Peter Gabriel – keyboards on 1 3, vocal on 1, drum program on 3
• Larry Klein – bass on 2
• BoDeans (Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann) – backing vocals on 2 5
• Sammy BoDean (Sam Llanas) – backing vocal on 6
• Terry Bozzio – drums on 3 5
• Abraham Laboriel – bass on 3
• Larry Mullen Jr. – drums on 4 9
• Adam Clayton – bass on 4 9
• The Edge – guitar on 4 9
• Bono – vocals, bass on 4, backing vocal on 9, guitar on 9
• Hans Christian – bass on 5
• Maria McKee – bacing vocals on 5
• Cary Butler – backing vocal on 8
• Ivan Neville – backing on vocal on 9
• Gil Evans Horn Section – horns on 9
• Rick Danko - backing vocal on 8

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1987	Billboard 200	38

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	"Showdown at Big Sky"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	2
1987	"Sweet Fire of Love"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	7
1988	"Showdown at Big Sky"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	21
1988	"Somewhere Down the Crazy River"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	24

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – USA	Gold	October 21 1988

References