Happy Birthday: Robbie Robertson

Today marks the date of Robbie Robertson’s initial arrival date on this planet, which is a day worth celebrating for anyone who’s ever enjoyed a song by The Band. Lest we forget, however, Robertson’s also maintained a solo career over the years, and he’s also played a part in the careers of some other artists. We’ve pulled together a six-pack of tracks by some of those folks, making a particular point of selecting individuals and groups whose albums are a part of Rhino’s catalog, but you can be assured that Robertson’s influence is felt well beyond just these tracks.

1. John Hammond, “Spoonful” (1967): When Hammond went into the studio to record his third album, SO MANY ROADS, he did so with – among others – three members of the Hawks, the band that would soon be known as The Band. In addition to Robertson, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson also feature on this track.

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2. Joni Mitchell, “Raised on Robbery” (1974): Robertson can be heard on this song, but he’s far from the only superstar guest on Mitchell’s COURT AND SPARK. Other notable names include Larry Carlton, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Joe Sample, and Tom Scott.

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3. Carly Simon with James Taylor, “Mockingbird” (1974): Although it’s remembered first and foremost for being the most successful of the occasions when then-married couple Simon and Taylor did a duet, Robertson was also a part of the sessions, contributing guitar.

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4. Hirth Martinez, “Altogether Alone” (1975): Martinez was a musician who never got his appropriate due – this can be confirmed by the fact that he doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page – but as a former Dylan collaborator, he more than earned his place in rock history. If you’re curious about this gentleman, you can check out his website (www.hirthmartinez.com), but we’d also recommend that you check out his debut solo album, HIRTH FROM EARTH, which is smooth ‘70s goodness.

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5. The Call, “The Morning” (1986): Michael Been’s songs were so respected that he was able to secure collaborators from various generations of musicians, including Robertson and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.

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6. Eric Clapton, “Change the World” (1996): Robertson and Clapton have collaborated more than a few times over the years, but this track is probably the most successful of the tracks they’ve done together. It’s not your traditional Clapton song, but it’s certainly one that captured the attention of listeners.

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