1. Fawn
2. Town With No Cheer
3. Falling Down
4. Anywhere I Lay My Head
5. Fannin’ Street
6. Song For Jo
7. Green Grass
8. I Wish I Was In New Orleans
9. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
10. No One Knows I’m Gone
11. Who Are You
Scarlett Johansson's inspired Atco Records debut album ANYWHERE I LAY MY HEAD features her distinctive interpretations of ten songs by Tom Waits plus one original selection, “Song For Jo.” Johansson co-wrote the track with TV On The Radio's David Andrew Sitek, who produced the album and lends his multi-instrumental talents throughout as well. She is also joined by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner, Sean Antanaitis from Celebration and others.
The album's title track comes from Waits' acclaimed 1985 album Rain Dogs. Johansson also selected cuts from Alice, Swordfishtrombones, Big Time, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, Real Gone, Small Change and Bone Machine. Johansson spent five weeks in spring 2007 recording ANYWHERE I LAY MY HEAD at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Lousiana, in the heart of Cajun country.
While this is her debut full-length release, Scarlett Johansson's rendition of “Summertime” opens the compilation Unexpected Dreams: Songs From The Stars, available on Rhino.
Early in the summer of 2007, Scarlett Johansson and her producer David Andrew Sitek entered Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana with a band of multi-instrumentalists—old friends of Sitek’s with whom he had collaborated in the past and ultimately handpicked for Johansson’s project. There, in the Louisiana bayou, this new, impromptu band lived together for five weeks, experimenting in the studio, rehearsing songs, barbecuing, swimming, and, ultimately, making an 11-song album. Ten tracks are covers of songs written by Tom Waits (many of them in collaboration with his wife Kathleen Brennan). The remaining song is an original, written by Johansson and Sitek.
“The back story to this project,” says Scarlett Johansson, “is that after I recorded the Gershwin standard ‘Summertime’ for an album benefiting Music Matters, Rhino approached me and asked if I’d like to do an album. We all have friends who would kill for that opportunity and I really felt like I couldn’t pass it up. So I began to think about what I might want to do.” Johansson’s initial thought was that she could continue recording songbook classics like “Summertime;” eventually, however, she became convinced that she had to sing the Tom Waits and Bette Midler duet “I Never Talk To Strangers.” “The Tom Waits song stood out because it wasn’t a standard but it was the only one I knew I wanted to do for sure,” Scarlett says. “I thought, ‘Maybe I could add more Tom Waits songs….’ Then it became, ‘Maybe I should just do all Tom Waits songs.’
“That’s how it came about,” she continues. “I’m not trying to prove anything on this album. I could never impersonate Tom Waits. I just love his music.”
After a series of false starts (including a few demos she cut in which a band interpreted the Waits originals as faithfully as possible), a mutual friend eventually connected Johansson with Sitek. As a big fan of not only the songs but also the massive sound of Sitek’s band TV On The Radio, Johansson loved the idea immediately. After an initial conversation in which Sitek told Scarlett that he thought the album should sound like “Tinkerbell on cough syrup,” a connection was made and a genuine collaboration was born.
“I thought the quality of Scarlett’s voice in that lower register could sound good against almost any backdrop,” Sitek says. “And working with someone who works predominately in cinema, it seemed like we shouldn’t try to run away from that cinematic experience. Even the early demos she made had a cinematic approach. They weren’t my style, but listening to them just made me think, ‘If we just make a giant soundscape, Scarlett could become whatever character the song called for.’”
Hearing Johansson sing in person further convinced Sitek that he was on the right track with the sound he was beginning to hear. “When she came to my studio in Brooklyn and sang for me,” the producer says, “I heard her lower register and was like, ‘This is exactly the right direction.’ I imagined a sound that was very Deborah Harry; very Liz Fraser from the Cocteau Twins, very This Mortal Coil—all those 4AD bands and projects that I love so much. There was no denying it. I called the guys I wanted to work with and got everyone on board with the project, then I flew out to Los Angeles from New York. Scarlett and I met in L.A. then drove from California to Louisiana, playing each other songs on our iPods as we went. We both kept gravitating towards these giant, open, cinematic songs. By the time we got to Dockside, everything was in motion.”
Once in the studio the band experimented relentlessly under Sitek’s direction and encouragement, eventually exploring a variety of instruments and arrangements. Later, back in New York, additional musicians including David Bowie and TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe added additional vocals. In the end some songs were immediately recognizable covers of the Tom Waits originals, while others had become almost re-imaginings. Being mindful of Waits and his compositions was of utmost importance to Scarlett since the project began. Sitek, meanwhile, half-jokingly had a different thought. “It was constantly in the back of my mind,” he says, “that if we did something Tom Waits hated, he’d come at me with a hammer.” Obviously, that didn’t happen: Waits has heard Scarlett’s album and given his blessing to the project.
Johansson is still buzzing from the experience of trying something so radically new. She’s not, however, feeling timid about sharing the project with the public. “I never worry about that kind of thing,” she says with a shrug. “I’m just glad that I’ve had this life-changing experience, and that I met Dave and the other musicians that worked with us. I hope people enjoy it, but I’m already proud of the work we did.”
I would like to thank you for being such a great role model to girls my age(15). Not only are you an amazing actress and singer, but you are very different from other actresses. You aren't stick thin and emaciated looking. Most girls I know are saying they are fat when they are 100 pounds. I think it's horrible. I have wide hips and thick thighs. My body type would never be able to look like Kiera Knightly or Nicole Richee unless I starved myself. I look up to you for showing people that curves are beautiful and healthy. I hope to be like you when I am older.
I admire much for your great career as an actress and now that you start as a singer in you admire most is that everything can be achieved based on effort and desire to want to do
You have a very nice voice and you are beautiful , I love your eyes
Scarlett you are fabulous
I'm Mexican and I would like in your first tour you come to Monterrey and see you
Greetings from Lafayette, Scarlett! The album ended up sublime (I probably didn't need to tell you so), and it's listened to religiously. Stupendous work. I make an effort to get my hands on anything Dave produces. Also, congrats on yours and Ryan's engagement :o)
you r soooooooooo awesome, biggest fan..........just watched the other boleyn girl loved it, i can't stop listening to falling down. keep the great work up.....
Girl you are so fab!!!!!!!! i love the album its really artistic it really remainds me of stevie nicks a bit love ya girl camt wait for youe new movie to hit theters
Scarlett, I..m very found of your music and that you feel so cool and these songs are quiet experimental but very melodious at the same time. Hope you will come for concerting in Sweden - I..ll be there. Keep it all up!
hey scarlett, congrats on a great album. I love your voice and your sound. It's encouraging to see other young girls coming forward who are bold enough to describe themselves as 'artists' and not be forced into one specific role or title. Keep making art and please treat us to some of your own original music (which is bound to be great!)Also, if you have time visit myspace and let me know if you like what you hear.
I've always been a huge fan of Tom Waits so I was a little skeptical about this album. But after hearing it, kudos to you. Very nice spins on some great songs. Something about the voice is eerily beautiful. This record will be definitely getting a lot of play time on my player
