Ry Cooder

Boomer's Story Ry Cooder Speakers Corner edition

On his third album, Boomer’s Story, which is named after Carson Robison’s story about a tramp, Ry Cooder continues with his archaeological dig and historic exploration of sound of both the well-known and forgotten Americana. As in his earlier recordings, he not only looks back to the masters – including the blues legend Sleepy John Estes, songwriter Dan Penn (both of whom perform on the present LP) and the great Skip James –, but also to lost or neglected pieces of American folk, blues and soul.

The album is opened with the traditional title piece and Lawrence Wilson’s Crow Black Chicken from the late 1920s – whereby both works are performed with exactly the correct balance of personality and respect. He lends a gloomy irony to the jingoistic (as it would be called today) Rally ‘Round The Flag, with its doleful piano played by Randy Newman and his slide guitar, while the guitar arrangement in the style of Joseph Spence conveys a feeling of hope and courage in Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer. In four of the ten numbers, Cooder steps away from the microphone and passes it over to Sleepy John Estes in his own President Kennedy. Among the instrumental numbers, Dark End Of The Street stands out in particular. Clearly Cooder realizes that the only option is his own remorseful slide guitar when it comes to doing justice to James Carr’s definitive version. Without singing even one word, he manages to convey the shame and deep regret in Dan Penn/Chips Moman’s classical number.

Having been neglected for many years, Boomer’s Story – an enchanting portrait, with an inspired performance and imaginative craftsmanship – is at last available once again in pure analogue sound.

MUSICIANS: Ry Cooder (g, mand, voc), George Bohanon (horns), Gene Finney (hca), Randy Newman (p), Jim Dickinson (p, b), Charles Lawing (cl), Tommy McClure (b), Jim Keltner, Roger Hawkins (dr), Milt Holland (perc), Sleepy John Estes (voc, g)

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. More information under www.pure-analogue.com. All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.