Behind the Album: Jack White’s Influence On T Bone Burnett’s ‘Cold Mountain’ Soundtrack

In 2003, the film Cold Mountain hit theaters. Its wildly popular soundtrack introduced bluegrass, Appalachian, and old-time roots music to a wider audience. Surprisingly, Jack White of The White Stripes had a hand in the soundtrack as well. He worked under the direction of record producer T Bone Burnett, who had previously worked on the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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While composing the soundtrack, Burnett wanted to tap into an old-timey sound. He went looking for an artist who was interested in and understood the nuances of bluegrass. He found Jack White, who was in The White Stripes at that time. White had dabbled in blues as a teenager, and was already familiar with two songs that would appear on the soundtrack—”Sitting On Top of the World” and “The Wayfaring Stranger.”

At the time, White garnered a lot of attention for his involvement in the soundtrack. However, those who were looking for a similar sound to his White Stripes project would be slightly disappointed. He channeled a much different energy for this sonic role, one that saw his signature sound with its yelps and noodling replaced by something older and mature. White transitioned into blues seamlessly, refining his trademark sound into one that translated across genres and eras.

[RELATED: Loretta Lynn’s Unexpectedly Maternal Relationship With Jack White]

T Bone Burnett Gets Jack White, Alison Krauss, and Prominent Bluegrass Artists to Fill Out the Cold Mountain Soundtrack

T Bone Burnett also found Dirk Powell, the Reeltime Travelers, and Tim Eriksen who was skilled in Sacred Harp music. Alison Krauss was featured heavily on the soundtrack as well. She performed “You Will Be My Ain True Love,” which was written by Sting. That song went on to be one of the most recognizable from the soundtrack. Additionally, Krauss performed “The Scarlet Tide,” which was written by Burnett and Elvis Costello.

Jack White performed “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Sitting On Top of the World,” “Never Far Away” which he also wrote, “Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over,” and “Great High Mountain.” Most of his tracks are traditional or pull inspiration from traditional Appalachian sources.

The soundtrack helped to introduce listeners to a broader experience through bluegrass and roots music. It earned a BAFTA for Best Film Music, and was nominated for three Academy Awards, a GRAMMY, and a Golden Globe.

Featured Image by L. Cohen/WireImage