Ryland's Big Day
“To see the madness and yet walk a perfect silver line. ... That's what the true story-teller should be: a great guide, a clear mind, who can walk a silver line in hell or madness.”― Ben Okri
On the day we honor one of the greatest bluesmen ever, Lightin’ Hopkins, who would have been 110 today (I wrote about him last year on this date, if you want a rerun), in the spirit of honoring the living we should all raise one up for Ryland “Ry” Cooder—75 years young today—with a career that has had as many lives as a cat. Yes, there is his prolific output on Warner Brothers Records during the high-water mark of The Burbank Sound. But for my money, the Ry Cooder that I love is the stellar instrumentalist who has graced some of the greatest records ever…as well as the sound-tracky brilliance he has brought to film and to some of his experimental records…and the project he and his son undertook that brought a generation of Cuban musicians to the world with the Buena Vista Social Club juggernaut: Ry Cooder is a hugely influential artist that has packed 150 years into 75.
Here are a few of my favorite Cooder moments (not intended on being complete):
Safe As Milk (Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band): The first sound you hear on this desert island classic is Cooder’s extra-terrestrial slide playing which provides the foil to Don Van Vliet throughout. You wanna hear a good time? Cooder duetting with a theremin on the album’s crown jewel, Electricity. Just a killer. Safe As Milk is one of my favorite albums ever, and Cooder is a BIG reason.
The Paris,Texas original soundtrack: This might have been one of the first soundtracks I searched out as a kid, with Cooder giving a master class of guitarmanship. A profoundly beautiful, sparse sound sculpture that you will have to find on vinyl (CD?) to actually hear these days since it has been blocked for some reason on streaming sites.
A Meeting By The River (Ry Cooder & Vishwa Mohan Bhatt): Following up the Paris, Texas soundtrack was this beauty, Cooder and Bhatt meeting to create a whole new musical genre, east meets west through the clouds and outer-stratosphere. When this record came out, I listened to it over and over and over again….it just bleeds into itself inviting multiple plays. Cooder has a knack of bringing the unusual to the world, with his guitar as tour guide.
Sister Morphine (The Rolling Stones): There are many stories of how Ry’s style influenced Keith Richards…and then there are the times he actually played on Stones recordings…and this brings us to Sister Morphine. As usual, Cooder’s playing creates the post-needle-shot groove that helps define the song.
Across The Borderline (Freddy Fender): Jim Dickinson and Ry Cooder had a wonderful, prolific relationship and it shined so bright on The Border soundtrack, highlighted by Across The Borderline, written by Cooder and Dickinson, appearing on a Cooder solo record as well as covered by Willie Nelson…and sung beautifully here by Freddy Fender. When we were producing the Texas Tornados 4 Aces record, when Freddie was cutting The Gardens and Dickinson had his finger on the red button, we all knew there was only one guy who could play guitar on it…and Cooder obliged us wonderfully….
…and he is still going strong, recently releasing recordings he did with his old friend Taj Mahal. Happy 75th Birthday Ry Cooder!
Judy Mowatt was just honored in Jamaica for all she has given to music…solo…as a member of Bob Marley’s I-Threes. It is through the latter part of her career that this story comes from…and it is a great read.
National Treasure: The ecstatic cult of Nicolas Cage
I have become such a Nicolas Cage fan over the last few year. LOVED Mandy, Color Out Of Space and Pig. Just loved. And appreciate his embracing of the weirdness.
Hollywood Squares’ Peter Marshall Reveals Which Celebrity Guests Were ‘Friends’ and Who Was a ‘Pain’
OF COURSE Paul Lind was sitting in that center square, drunk most of the time.
The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood
Yesterday was Algernon Blackwood’s birthday and no better reason than to dig into one of his most prized stories. Blackwood is one of the most famous horror/ghost story writers of his day…with stories such as this one still often making the rounds of those looking for a scare.
Carolina Soul Records KILLER Auctions
I got a lot of good feedback from the Howard Hesseman record ebay sale I posted….so I thought I would post more great vinyl auctions I follow. Carolina Soul (SO much more than soul) often has incredible e-bay sales…beware, they can get pricey. This Jazz one is great.
We Are The Music-Makers
By: Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy
We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams.
World-losers and world-forsakers,
Upon whom the pale moon gleams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers,
Of the world forever, it seems.
With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.
We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o'erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world's worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.
