Jeff Bridges, Hugh Laurie satisfy their musical cravings
BRIDGES. From acting to singing.
If there’s one thing Jeff Bridges loves about stardom – and his Best Actor Oscar win – it’s the fact that it has allowed him to indulge in his love for singing. A year after bagging the coveted golden statuette for his portrayal of a faded country singer in “Crazy Heart,” the 61-year-old actor has released his first album in 11 years – and it peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Folk Albums chart!
Like his Academy Award, Bridges’ debut recording, “Be Here Soon,” came out belatedly in 2000 – when he was 50! The tunes in the actor’s 10-track repertoire benefit from a lived-in country drawl that makes full use of his laid-back style and earnest skill at telling stories.
Optimistic mood
Top tracks: His composition, “Falling Short,” will remind you of Chris Isaak’s eeriely ballad, “Wicked Games,” while the carrier single, “What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do,” is a fun-filled jingle that’s notable for its playful teasing and optimistic mood.
Hugh Laurie’s foray into recording is even better: With the release of his 15-song debut album, “Let Them Talk,” TV’s highest paid dramatic actor (for his popular medical series, “House, M.D.”) adds another feather to his cap – as a blues recording artist.
From note to note
Hugh Laurie
The British actor doesn’t just sing in the album, he also plays the piano and guitar – and bares his soul in a solid baritone that sounds like a gruff and older Jamie Cullum (“Swanee River,” “Police Dog Blues”), playfully improvising from note to note.
His musical gifts are nothing to scoff at. In “Baby, Please Make A Change,” for instance, he holds his own against the formidable Tom Jones and New Orleans’ soul queen, Irma Thomas – who also sings “John Henry” with him. Dr. John collaborates with the actor on a cover of Marion Harris’ enduring 1918 ditty, “After You’ve Gone.”
Other tracks that’ll keep you swaying and grooving: “You Don’t Know My Mind,” “Six Cold Feet,” “Whinin’ Boy Blues,” “The Whale Has Swallowed Me,” “Tipitina” and the irresistible rockabilly tune, “They’re Red Hot.”
