Robbie Robertson – Robbie Robertson / Storyville (Expanded Edition)

A founding member of The Band, Robbie Robertson took eleven years to begin his solo career on Geffen Records after his highly influential, rootsy rock group made its farewell in Martin Scorsese’s film The Last Waltz. That self-titled solo debut and its follow-up, Storyville, are the crux of this newly remastered collection on Select.

1987’s Robbie Robertson appears on the first disc here and became an instant classic, featuring guest stars such as U2 on “Sweet Fire Of Love.” Continuing the landmark Americana-esque direction of The Band’s music, the album garnered 4 and 5 stars reviews especially for its exemplary songwriting. For this release, we’ve added the rare tracks “Christmas Must Be Tonight” (from the movie Scrooged) and newly edited version of the 12-inch remix of “Testimony.”

The second disc is headlined by Robbie’s 1991 second Geffen album, Storyville, named after that legendary section of New Orleans. The music here is, in fact, a New Orleans derived song-cycle and features guest spots from the Big Easy’s favorite sons, Art and Aaron Neville. The bonus tracks here are the actual song “Storyville,” which is previously unreleased, and “The Far, Lonely Cry Of Trains,” which first appeared as a bonus track on the Japanese pressing of the album. (from Hip-O Select website)