Jeff Bridges announces album of never-before-heard '70s recordings

Bridges plays a musician in "Crazy Heart," but he is not merely a guy who has played musicians on screen. He's released three albums, although one of them is a spoken-word album and not really music. When it comes to music, it mostly boils down to 2011's "Jeff Bridges." Now, Bridges has another release coming, though it doesn't involve him recording new music.

"Slow Magic, 1977-78" is a collection of songs written and recorded during jam sessions Bridges and some of his Southern California friends had during the 1970s. The songs have never been released and apparently only existed on a single cassette until now. Two of the songs feature actor Burgess Meredith, and the final song is called "Kong." That makes sense, given that the jams started after Bridges finished filming the 1970s remake of "King Kong." One song from the album, "Obnoxious," has already been released.

"Slow Magic, 1977-78" is getting a digital release, but is also getting a fantasy vinyl release on Record Story Day, April 12. That vinyl comes paired with a robust 20-page booklet and features an interview with Bridges and some archival photos from that time that, like these songs, have never been released.

It's a smidge vanity project, sure, but he's Jeff Bridges. He's The Dude. He's also 75. Few people could release old songs stemming from jam sessions with his friends as a lark and have us more interested than Bridges.

(h/t Pitchfork)