Music By Ry Cooder - Ry Cooder

Advantages: Catchy singalonga choruses... even in Spanish...great story and funky musicianship.
Disadvantages: Make sure you buy a copy with the translations and explanations.

...This is not so much a Ry Cooder album as an album put together by Ry Cooder. Of course, he and his band do write and perform some songs but these are interspersed with songs sung by decendants of the people who lived in Chavez Ravine and they all come together to tell the story of this part of L.A. The songs tell the story of the peoples of Chavez Ravine and how this Hispanic community were evicted from their houses to make way for a new L.A.Dodgers baseball stadium. 1950's L.A. and Chavez Ravine is caught up in a world of corrupt developers and the McCarthy Red scares....... Track 1 :- Poor Man's Shangri-La RC's first tune opens with a simple electric arpeggio setting the scene. Loping verses at a steady beat in a simple arrangement and then the catchiest chorus breaks in.."Na na na na living in a Poor Man's shangri la " - we... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Easier listening than his usual albums.
Disadvantages: Only for lovers of gospel and R&B

...If you think you have never heard of Ry Cooder, I can only really say two things; (1) you're probably very young! (2) You're almost certainly wrong. You may never have heard his name but you have undoubtedly heard his music without knowing it. There is a third option, which is that you're a fan of Barry Manilow. If this is the case, I have deep respect for your preference but I think you're in the wrong category. Read no further! I digress…..The reason that you have unknowingly heard his music is that he is regularly used on Film soundtracks ('Paris Texas' and the 'Long Riders'), and as well as that, he is regularly called upon by many Rock Stars (most notably the Rolling Stones on 'Sister Morphine') to provide quality guitar solos when they're either feeling a little lazy or even a touch inept. His speciality is that sleepy kind... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: guitar
Disadvantages: none

...This album was written and directed by Ry Cooder, the awesome one eyed slide guitarist. The album is predominantly mississippi delta blues in different speeds and styles. The first tune (crossroads – a reworking of the robert johnson number) is a fine upbeat version and there is also some good base vocalists in amongst the singers. The pick for me is track 8 (feelin’ bad blues). This shows ry cooder at his slide guitar best, creating a reverberating and atmospheric sound. It is strange that they seem to have missed off some of the great tunes from the film, but the album is still good for any one who likes blues.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful