Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

Exclusive: Johnny Depp Gets Into Record Biz With 'Rum Diary' Soundtrack

by Phil Gallo, L.A.  |   October 12, 2011 10:09 EDT

Artists in this Article

Dean Martin
Patti Smith
Johnny Depp

Related Articles

'Pearl Jam Twenty' Soundtrack: Cameron Crowe Track-By-Track

A track-by-track look at the "Pearl Jam Twenty" soundtrack, complete with quotes from director Cameron Crowe's liner notes.

'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Soundtrack: Bruno Mars, Christina Perri, Theophilus London Contribute

Bruno Mars, Christina Perri, the Joy Formidable and Theophilus London are among the artists that have contributed tracks to the "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1" original soundtrack.

Exclusive: 'The Muppets' Soundtrack Song List

Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords has four original songs in the Disney film "The Muppets," which features special appearances by Feist, Joanna Newsom and Nathan Pacheco. Walt Disney Records will release the soundtrack Nov. 21.

Johnny Depp's company Infinitum Nihil will release the soundtrack to his next film, "The Rum Diary," through Lakeshore Records, a first for his company. The album will be released digitally Oct. 25 and on CD on Nov. 29.

 

The album contains Christopher Young's score inspired by the popular large ensemble jazz of the 1950s and early '60s,two songs by the Johnny Depp Band, an instrumental by Depp and a duet between Johnny Depp and JJ Holiday. Dean Martin's "Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu Licenes" and Patti Smith's  "The Mermaid Song" are also on the album.

 

Young's goal when he recorded the music was to get it released on a jazz label. Depp, who wrote and recorded more music for "Rum Diary" than any of his other films, signed on to release the album right after heard the music.

 

"Most of the tracks on the CD were presented as thematic possibilities for the film," says Young, a former jazz drummer who studied music at UCLA and the jazz powerhouse North Texas State in the 1970s. "This give me a chance to pour out music that has been inside of me all these years."

 

To promote the album and film, which comes out  Oct. 28, Young has assembled a 20-piece big band with strings - dubbed the Neon Popsicles -- to play selections from "The Rum Diary" at Catalina Bar & Grill in Los Angeles on Oct. 24.

 

"I'm a little nervous," says Young whose credits include two "Spider-man" movies, "Ghost Writer" and "The Shipping News." "Never in all my years would I think I could put together  band to play my music live outside a recording studio. I'm really excited."

Up for Discussion

Connect with

More Features

All features

All of Billboard.com's Great Lists

Billboard chart app

Billboard archives

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.