Editing Robbie Robertson (section)

==Solo career==
===Geffen Records period (1987–1991) ===
'''''Robbie Robertson'' (1987)'''

Robertson began work on his first solo album, ''[[Robbie Robertson (album)|Robbie Robertson]]'', in July 1986 after signing to [[Geffen Records]]. Robertson chose fellow Canadian [[Daniel Lanois]] to produce the album. Much of the album was recorded at The Village Recorder in West Los Angeles, California. He recorded at Bearsville Studios near Woodstock, New York, and also in [[Dublin, Ireland]], with U2, and in [[Bath, England]], with [[Peter Gabriel]]. He employed a number of guest artists on the album, including U2, Gabriel, [[the Bodeans]], and [[Maria McKee]].<ref name=musician_9-87/><ref name=rr_87_cr/> Garth Hudson and Rick Danko also made appearances on the album. Robertson wrote one track, "Fallen Angel", in honor of Richard Manuel,<ref name=rr_87_cr/> after his death in March 1986.<ref name=band_bio/>{{rp|384}} Released on October 26, 1987,<ref>{{cite web|title=Albums Released This Week (October 26 – November 1)|url=https://drrockblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/albums-released-this-week-october-26-november-1|website=Dr. Rock's Blog & Roll|publisher=Strategic Planning Advisors LLC|access-date=July 4, 2016|date=October 26, 2015}}</ref> ''Robbie Robertson'' peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard 200, remaining on the top 40 for three weeks.<ref name=billboard_book/>{{rp|260}} The album charted even higher in the UK, peaking at No. 23 on the UK Albums Chart and remaining on the chart for 14 weeks.<ref name="official_charts_rr">{{cite web|title=Robbie Robertson|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25020/robbie-robertson|website=Official Charts|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 12, 2016}}</ref> ''Robbie Robertson'' received overwhelming critical acclaim at the time of its release,<ref name=gq_10-91/> being listed in the Top-Ten Albums of the Year by several critics in ''Billboard'' magazine's 1987 "The Critics' Choice" end of the year feature.<ref name="billboard_12-26-87">{{cite magazine|last1=Dupler|first1=Steven|display-authors=etal|date=December 26, 1987|title=The Critics' Choice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|volume=99|issue=52|pages=Y17–Y53|issn=0006-2510|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref> The album was No. 77 in ''Rolling Stone'''s 1989 list, "100 Best Albums of the Eighties".<ref name="rr_rs_best_80s_77">{{cite web|title=77 – Robbie Robertson, 'Robbie Robertson'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/robbie-robertson-robbie-robertson-20110329|website=Rollingstone.com|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|access-date=July 4, 2016|date=November 16, 1989}}</ref>

Robertson had his single largest hit in the UK with "[[Somewhere Down the Crazy River]]", which features his spoken word verses contrasted with singing in the choruses.<ref name=rr_87_cr/> The song reached No. 15 in the UK Hit Singles chart, and remained in the chart for 11 weeks.<ref name=official_charts_rr/> The video for "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" was directed by Martin Scorsese, and features Maria McKee in an acting role.<ref name="scorsese_virgin_film">{{cite book|last1=Sangster|first1=Jim|title=Scorsese: Virgin Film|date=2002|publisher=Virgin Books|location=London|isbn=9781448133277|edition=E-Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=St92xkypjk0C&q=Martin+Scorsese+Somewhere+Down+the+Crazy+River+Maria+McKee&pg=PT233|access-date=September 12, 2016}}</ref> In the U.S., ''Robbie Robertson'' produced several hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts, with "Showdown At Big Sky" coming in the highest (#2) and "Sweet Fire Of Love" the second highest (#7).<ref name="rr_billboard_msr">{{cite web|title=Artists: Robbie Robertson. Chart History (Mainstream Rock Songs)|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/365543/robbie-robertson/chart?f=376|website=Billboard.com|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> The album was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for "Best Rock / Vocal Album",<ref name="en_native_music">{{cite book|last1=Wright-McLeod|first1=Brian|title=The Encyclopedia of Native Music|date=2005|publisher=University of Arizona Press|location=Tucson, Arizona|isbn=0816524475|page=[https://archive.org/details/trent_0116405745989/page/168 168]|url=https://archive.org/details/trent_0116405745989|url-access=registration|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref> and was certified gold in the United States in 1991.<ref name="gq_10-91">{{cite magazine|last1=Fried|first1=Stephen|date=October 1991|title=Rocker of Ages|magazine=GQ|location=New York|publisher=Condé Nast|pages=133–36}}</ref> In Canada, Robertson won Album of the Year, Best Male Vocalist of the Year, and Producer of the Year at the [[Juno Award]] ceremony in 1989.<ref name="junoawards.ca">{{cite web|url=http://junoawards.ca/awards/?from-year=1970&to-year=2016&nomination-category=&wins-only=no&artist=Robbie%20Robertson|title=Awards|publisher=junoawards.ca}}</ref> In 1991, [[Rod Stewart]] recorded a version of "[[Broken Arrow (Robbie Robertson song)|Broken Arrow]]" for his album ''[[Vagabond Heart]]''.<ref name="allmusic_rs_vh">{{cite web|title=Rod Stewart: Vagabond Heart|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vagabond-heart-mw0000691766|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> Stewart's version of the song reached No. 20 on the Billboard 100 chart in the United States<ref>{{cite web|title=Artists: Rod Stewart. Chart History (Billboard 100)|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/367145/rod-stewart/chart?page=2&f=379|website=Billboard.com|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> and No. 2 on the Billboard Top Canadian Hit Singles chart in Canada.<ref name="ml_ca_rod_stewart">{{cite web|title=Rod Stewart – Hit Songs and Billboard Charts|url=http://musiclegends.ca/rod-stewart-greatest-hits|website=Musiclegends.ca|date=May 29, 2014 |publisher=Jason Saulnier|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> "Broken Arrow" was also performed live by the [[Grateful Dead]] with [[Phil Lesh]] on vocals.<ref name="gm_fam_disc_ba">{{cite web|title=Broken Arrow|url=http://www.deaddisc.com/songs/Broken_Arrow.htm|website=The Grateful Dead Family Discography|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref>

'''''Storyville'' (1991) '''

''[[Storyville (album)|Storyville]]'' was released on September 30, 1991.<ref name="deriso_storyville">{{cite web|last1=DeRiso|first1=Nick|title=Robbie Robertson was again sparked by America, old friends on Storyville|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2015/09/30/robbie-robertson-storyville|website=Something Else!|access-date=July 4, 2016|date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> Robertson headed to [[New Orleans]] to collaborate with some of the city's natives like [[Aaron Neville|Aaron and Ivan Neville]] and the [[Rebirth Brass Band]]. Once again, Robertson brought in Band alumni Garth Hudson and Rick Danko as contributors.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/dress-rehearsal-19910905|title=Robbie Robertson: Dress Rehearsal|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=David Wild|date=September 5, 1991}}</ref> The album reached No. 69 on the Billboard 200 chart.<ref name="rr_billboard_200">{{cite web|title=Artists: Robbie Robertson. Chart History (Billboard 200)|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/365543/robbie-robertson/chart|website=Billboard.com|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref> ''Storyville'' received numerous positive reviews, with ''Rolling Stone'' giving it 4 1/2 stars out of 5,<ref name="rs_10-31-91">{{cite magazine|last=DeCurtis|first=Anthony|date=31 October 1991|title=Robbie Robertson: The Saga of Storyville|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|issue=616|page=87}}</ref> and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' awarding it 3 stars out of 4.<ref name="latimes_9-29-91">{{cite web|last1=Willman|first1=Chris|title=Album Review. Robbie Robertson: "Storyville", Geffen|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-29-ca-4489-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times: Collections|publisher=Timothy Ryan|access-date=July 5, 2016|date=September 29, 1991}}</ref> Two tracks from the album, "What About Now" and "Go Back To Your Woods", charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts at No. 15 and No. 32 respectively.<ref name=rr_billboard_msr/> The album was nominated for Grammy Awards in the categories "Best Rock Vocal Performance (solo)" and "Best Engineer".<ref name=en_native_music/>

===Production and session work (1984–1992)===
Robertson co-produced the track "The Best of Everything", which was originally intended for the film ''[[The King of Comedy (film)|The King of Comedy]]'' but instead was included on the [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]] album ''[[Southern Accents]]''.<ref name="Billboard30 March 1985">{{cite magazine|title=Spotlight|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5yMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT149|date=March 30, 1985|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=97|issue=13|pages=149–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Robertson also worked on the horn arrangements for the track, and brought in Band alumni Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson as guests.<ref name="uncut_tp_sa">{{cite web|last1=Pinnock|first1=Tom|title=Southern Accents by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – An Uncut All-Time Classic|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/southern-accents-by-tom-petty-the-heartbreakers-an-uncut-all-time-classic-37789|website=Uncut Magazine Online|publisher=Time Inc. UK|access-date=July 2, 2016|date=April 27, 2012}}</ref><ref name="ucr_tp_sa">{{cite web|last1=Giles|first1=Jeff|title=The History of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Ambitious ''Southern Accents''|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tom-petty-southern-accents/|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|publisher=Diffuser Network|access-date=July 2, 2016|date=March 1, 2016}}</ref>

In 1986, Robertson appeared as a guest on the album ''Reconciled'' by [[The Call (band)|the Call]], playing guitar on the track "The Morning".<ref name="connolly_call">{{cite web|last1=Connolly|first1=Dave|title=Reconciled|url=http://www.connollyco.com/discography/call/reconciled.html|website=Progrography|publisher=Connolly and Company LLC|access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref>

Also in 1986, Robertson was brought on as creative consultant for ''[[Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll]]'' (1987), a feature film saluting [[Chuck Berry]].<ref name="geo_stroum_intv_2013">{{cite interview|last=Robertson|first=Robbie|subject-link=Robbie Robertson|interviewer=[[George Stroumboulopoulos]]|title=Robbie Robertson on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight: Interview|url=http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/videos/guest-interview/robbie-robertson|work=George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight|publisher=CBC|location=Toronto|date=November 25, 2013|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> Robertson appears on camera, interviewing Chuck Berry, and then playing guitar while Berry recites poetry.<ref name="cb_60_ann">{{cite web|last1=Dietmar|first1=Rudolph|title=Chuck's 60th Birthday Celebrations (1986)|url=http://www.crlf.de/ChuckBerry/60thbirthday.html|website=A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref>

In 1988, Robertson collaborated as a songwriter with [[Lone Justice]] lead singer [[Maria McKee]]. One of the songs they co-wrote, "Nobody's Child", was released on McKee's [[Maria McKee (album)|self-titled debut album]] in 1989.<ref name="rs_3-24-88">{{cite magazine|date=24 March 1988|title=Robertson Waltzes Again|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/173529391864312181/|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|issue= 522|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="band_m_mckee">{{cite web|title=Maria McKee: ''Maria McKee''|url=http://theband.hiof.no/albums/maria_mckee.html|website=The Band Website|publisher=Jan Hoiberg|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref>

In 1989, Robertson recorded and produced a new version of the Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight" for the ''[[Scrooged]]'' soundtrack. In 1990, Robertson appeared as a guest on the [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]] album ''[[Beauty (Ryuichi Sakamoto album)|Beauty]]'', playing guitar on the song "Romance". He also contributed to the [[world music]] video and album production ''[[One World One Voice]]''.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

In 1992, Robertson produced the song "Love in Time" for [[Roy Orbison]]'s posthumous album ''[[King of Hearts (Roy Orbison album)|King of Hearts]]''. "Love In Time" was a basic demo Orbison had recorded that was believed to be lost, but had just recently been rediscovered. Robertson set about augmenting Orbison's basic vocal track with new arrangements and instrumentation, with the intent of making it sound like the arrangements were there from the beginning instead of later additions.<ref name="abc_in_concert">{{cite AV media|people=Robertson, Robbie|year=1992|title=ABC In Concert Profile: Roy Orbison|medium=television clip|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAI-C85WQK4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122131018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAI-C85WQK4| archive-date=2017-01-22 | url-status=dead|access-date=July 3, 2016|time=1:21}}</ref>

=== Later solo albums (1994–2019) ===
'''''Music for the Native Americans'' (1994) '''

In 1994, Robertson returned to his roots, forming a [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] group called the Red Road Ensemble for ''[[Music for the Native Americans]]'', a collection of songs that accompanied a television documentary series produced by [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]]. Like his songs, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Acadian Driftwood", he touched on history that connects to his life and family. The [[Battle of Wounded Knee]] and the near-extinction of the [[bison]] are outlined in the song "Ghost Dance".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/04/24/across-the-great-divide-robbie-robertson-ghost-dance-from-the-native-americans-1994|title=Robbie Robertson, "Ghost Dance" from The Native Americans (1994): Across the Great Divide|website=Somethingelsereviews.com|date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> He won a [[Juno Award]] for Producer of the Year.<ref name="junoawards.ca"/> The international success of "Mahk Jchi (Heartbeat Drum Song)" inspired a concert in [[Agrigento]], Italy. He headlined the festival of Indigenous musicians and portions appeared in a [[PBS]] documentary.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

'''C''ontact from the Underworld of Redboy'' (1998) '''
 
On ''[[Contact from the Underworld of Redboy]]'', Robertson departed from his typical production style and delved deep into a mix of rock, native, and electronic music. He employed the services of [[Howie B]], [[DJ Premier]], and producer [[Marius de Vries]] (Björk, Massive Attack). Through the songs on the album, he took a close look at native traditions like [[Peyote]] healing of the [[Native American Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com/2008/03/robbie-robertson-hollywood-interview.html|title=Robbie Robertson is making some noise|first=Alex|last=Simon|website=The Hollywood Interview|date=1 December 2012|access-date=5 September 2024}}</ref> The album's opening track, "The Sound Is Fading", samples a recording of a young [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] singer from the 1940s that Robertson got from the [[Library Of Congress]], and the song "Sacrifice" includes parts of an interview from prison with [[Leonard Peltier]] set to a soundscape produced by Robertson and de Vries. The racial epithet in the album's title comes from an experience Robertson had where some bullies referred to him as "Red Boy" while he was playing with his cousins.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album 4 out of 5 stars,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robbierobertson/albums/album/200028/review/5945987/contact_from_the_underworld_of_redboy|title=Robbie Robertson: Contact From The Underworld Of Redboy|date=January 2, 2008|publisher=rollingstone.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102134246/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robbierobertson/albums/album/200028/review/5945987/contact_from_the_underworld_of_redboy|archive-date=January 2, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and Robertson received a [[Juno Award]] for Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording.<ref name="junoawards.ca"/>

'''''How to Become Clairvoyant'' (2011) '''

Released on April 5, 2011, ''[[How to Become Clairvoyant]]'' was Robertson's fifth solo release. It arose from impromptu demo sessions in Los Angeles with Eric Clapton<ref>[http://blog.masslive.com/playback/2011/04/robbie_robertson_interview_new.html "The Robbie Robertson interview: New solo album, the Band, Levon Helm, Eric Clapton and more"]. ''Mass Live – blog'' Kevin O'Hare, on April 01, 2011</ref> and features him, [[Steve Winwood]], [[Trent Reznor]], [[Tom Morello]], [[Robert Randolph (guitarist)|Robert Randolph]], [[Rocco Deluca]], [[Angela McCluskey]], and [[Taylor Goldsmith]] of [[Dawes (band)|Dawes]]. Robertson performed "He Don't Live Here No More" on ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'', then "Straight Down The Line" with Robert Randolph and [[the Roots]] on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/robbie-robertson-straight-down-the-line-on-fallon-20110610|title=Robbie Robertson and the Roots on Fallon|publisher=rollingstone.com|access-date=April 28, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902232910/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/robbie-robertson-straight-down-the-line-on-fallon-20110610|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''How to Become Clairvoyant'' was also released as a deluxe edition containing five bonus tracks (four demos and the exclusive track "Houdini", named after the magician [[Harry Houdini]]). It debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, marking the highest debut and highest chart position for his solo work. He teamed with painter and photographer [[Richard Prince]] to produce a limited collector's edition. The 2,500 LP-sized boxes came with an art book, a numbered set of five lithographs (including pieces by Prince and photographer [[Anton Corbijn]]), a set of original tarot cards, the original tracks, and ten bonuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/robbie-robertson-brings-art-and-music-together-in-collectors-edition-of-new-album-20110920|title=Robbie Robertson Calls for Return to 'Intersection of Art and Music'|date=September 20, 2011 |publisher=rollingstone.com|access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>

'''''Sinematic'' (2019) '''

Released on September 20, 2019, ''[[Sinematic]]'' was Robertson's sixth solo album. It features [[Van Morrison]] joining Robertson as dueling hitmen on the track "I Hear You Paint Houses", as well as other allusions to the world of Scorsese's films. [[Citizen Cope]], [[Derek Trucks]], and [[Frédéric Yonnet]] make guest appearances on the album.<ref name="Sinematic RS">{{Cite magazine |last=Hermes |first=Will |date=2019-09-20 |title=Robbie Robertson Returns With 'Sinematic' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/robbie-robertson-returns-with-sinematic-887986/ |access-date=2021-05-27 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>