Soundtrack: Raging Bull

[CD cover] [Film Poster]

Soundtrack produced by Robbie Robertson for Martin Scorsese's 1980 film Raging Bull, a violent biopic starring Robert De Niro as 1949 boxer Jake La Motta. Robertson wrote the source music, scored three pieces, and helped select additional songs for the film. Soundtrack release in 2005 by Capitol, with 37 tracks on 2 discs.

From Robbie's sleeve note:

"When Marty asked me to do the source music (which is music that takes place live within the story; in this case it was being played by a trio at the Copacabana and other night spots) for Raging Bull, I enlisted the talents of Garth Hudson on piano and Richard Manuel on drums, both from The Band. Larry Klein - a much respected bassist and producer- played acoustic bass. It may have looked like convenient casting on my part, but I knew as well as anybody what an amazing stylistic musician Garth is, and with Richard on drums there was no way the tracks would get too slick or too polished, keeping a certain raw quality that Marty wanted. I didn't play guitar on these tracks because I had recently broken my hand in an unfortunate confrontation. We recorded four tunes and three of them Marty placed in the picture seamlessly, with one of them reprising in the end credits."
--Robbie Robertson, Los Angeles, August 2004

Scorsese says "Raging Bull should have become an album; the (performing) rights became crazy. I really went to a lot of trouble with the music. I love Robbie Robertson's music at the beginning and the end, over the credits what you hear is just him moaning over the drum machine. It was just a cassette he sent me and now it's on 70mm." (Q Interview, March 1987). The Main Title sounds like fairly straight classical film music. Music is credited to Pietro Masagani, and three classical pieces are listed: Cavelleria Rusticana Intermezzo, Guglielmo Ratcliff Intermezzo and Silvano Bacarolle, all played by Orchestra of Bologna Municop Theatra. At the beginning of the credits we hear Robbie moaning over a beat, then the Main Title comes back in later replaced by a piano with soundtrack talking behind it. Robbie's credits come right at the end: At Last (Gordon / Warren, 1942) A New Kind of Love (Fain / Kahal / Norman, 1930) Webster Hall (Hudson/ Robertson) The Robbie Robertson tracks are all credited as 'Robbie Robertson' though Webster Hall is written by Hudson-Robertson so a rare Garth credit. The musicians listed for these tracks are: Garth Hudson - piano, sax, Richard Manuel - drums Larry Klein - bass Dale Turner - trumpet (Oingo Boingo Band) Produced and arranged by Robbie Robertson Garth Hudson also lists Raging Bull (Cues) among his ASCAP writing credits. Other songs heard in the film are by Ella Fitzgerald, The Ink Spots, The Mills Brothers, Bob Crosby & The Bobcats, Ted Weems, Tony Bennett, Harry James, Gene Krupa, Nat King Cole, Louis Prima, Perry Como, Russ Colombo, Artie Shaw, Larry Clinton, Frankie Lane, Marilyn Monroe, The Hearts and Ray Charles. Phew! I get the point about permissions. --Peter Viney

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo - Orchestra of Bologna Municop Thetra
2. Jersey Bounce - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
3. Prisoner of Love - Russ Columbo
4. Just One More Chance - Bing Crosby
5. Cow - Cow Boogie
6. Vivere - Carlo Buti
7. Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees) - The Ink Spots
8. Two O'Clock Jump - Harry James & His Orchestra
9. Drum Boogie - Gene Krupa & His Orchestra
10. All or Nothing at All - Harry James & His Orchestra
11. Flash - Harry James & His Orchestra
12. My Reverie - Larry Clinton & His Orchestra
13. Stornelli Fiorentini - Carlo Buti
14. Webster Hall - Robbie Robertson
15. Big Noise from Winnetka - Bob Crosby & the Bob Cat Orchestra
16. Frenesi - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
17. Do I Worry? - The Ink Spots
18. Turi Giuliano - Orazio Strano

Disc 2

1. Silvano Barcarolle - Orchestra of Bologna Municop Thetra
2. Stone Cold Dead in the Market - Ella Fitzgerald
3. Nao Tenho Lagrimas - Patrício Teixeira
4. Heartaches - Ted Weems & His Orchestra
5. A New Kind of Love - Robbie Robertson
6. Till Then - The Mills Brothers
7. Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole
8. That's My Desire - Manny Klein
9. Guglielmo Ratcliff Intermezzo - Orchestra of Bologna Municop Thetra
10. Bye, Bye, Baby - Marilyn Monroe
11. That's Entertainment - Robert DeNiro
12. Blue Velvet - Tony Bennett
13. Scapricciatiello (Infatuation) - Renato Carosone
14. Come Fly with Me - Frank Sinatra
15. Medley - Louis Prima
16. Lonely Nights - The Hearts
17. Prisoner of Love - Perry Como
18. Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo - Orchestra of Bologna Municop Thetra
19. At Last - Robbie Robertson