Posted on 08/19/2018 8:36:22 PM PDT by Michael.SF.
"Cooder returned for a mournful slide workout during Woody Guthrie’s “Vigilante Man.” The solo excursion included spine-tingling harmonics that surprised even the player himself. “Yeah,” Cooder exclaimed in delight as his fingers found their mark. “That’s hard to do,” he said. “It’s nice when you get it, and a mess when you don’t.” Cooder augmented Guthrie’s lyrics with a verse for Trayvon Martin in remembrance of the youth and others cut down due to misplaced fear and abuse of power."
(Excerpt) Read more at illinoisentertainer.com ...
As a long time Ry Cooder fan I was looking forward to seeing him for the first time in over 20 years. The album, pictured above: "Bop Til you Drop' is one of my 'desert Island' albums. His version of 'Lil Sister' is tops, even beating Stevie Ray Vaughn'a (IMHO). I was disappointed though, but not in his music per say, but the politics he brought into it. Examples:
He added, as stated above, a verse to the Woody Guthrie song. That verse was:
Yeah, Trayvon, he could have been somebody
He could have been President,
we don't know
Cause he was taken out
By that vigilante man
There was also some anti Christian verses tied into some gospel style songs, as well as punctuating one song with:
That Trump, yeah he stole the election
Musically though, he was great, but the politics of it was not what I wanted to hear and totally off putting.
We stayed until he did his 'last song" - Lil Sister. We walked out, knowing an encore was coming. We were not alone.
And don't get me started on the opening act, his son. It was embarrassing.
If you are ever thinking of seeing Ry Cooder, save your money.
Ry played on and helped produce Capt Beefheart’s first album so I’ll always have a soft spot for him in my musical heart.
Politics and music, Yuch... Such a buzzkill.
TDS on display.
Musicians just can’t seem to have any self control, apparently not realizing they are alienating at least half their fan base.
How does DJT get away with playing the Stones “You can’t always get what you want”at his rallies?
I never paid much attention to Cooder. I was more into Jesse Ed Davis and Duane Allman for slide inspiration.
They think that only persons of great discernment and sophistication can possibly understand or appreciate their “art,” and they also believe that conservatives and Trump supporters cannot possibly possess either of those characteristics.
I love his playing. Though the movie “Crossroads” was pretty much laughable, the soundtrack is amazing (however it does NOT include the “duel.”)
I’m so tired of musicians, actors, athletes, etc, pontificating. But it’s nothing new, going back to the 1960s, as far as I personally remember. Funny how Les Paul and Mary Ford never did it.
Mark
Tom Waits puts Ry to shame. Shut up cooder man.
I think I bought one of his albums around 1970 and didn’t think much of it...haven’t thought of him since.
After watching “Buena Vista Social Club” which was filmed in Havana my takeaway was that Cooder is probably a commie. The only album I really like was his Boomers Story and only because of Tommy McClure’s innovative electric bass work.
Cooder also did a nice job on Bix Beiderbeck’s “In A Mist” on His “Jazz” Album.
I really do not appreciate soapbox entertainers. It cheapens the act, and unlike Homer Simpson, I do not think celebrities know everything about everything. Plus they usually make lousy BS artists.
Very disappointing. But sadly not surprising.
[[with a verse for Trayvon Martin in remembrance of the youth and others cut down due to misplaced fear]]
Yeah, misplaced fears such as the ‘unfounded fear’ that one’s skull will crack wide open as it’s being smashed REPEATEDLY against the CEMENT by a THUG!
Long live Tom Waits!
Who needs RyCooder when we’ve still got Flaco ;o)~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W89exAF0_s0
Love Me Do
I sympathize. I’ve had to shelve a 40-year fandom of Al Di Meola because of his public Trump hatred - which is irrelevant to any of his music and accomplishes nothing for him besides alienating half of his fan base.
I lived for 20 years in the North Bay area of San Francisco, and was able to see Roy Rogers many times, his slide work was excellent. Never saw Duane Allman though, unfortunately.
I also enjoy Waits and like Cooder I am hot and cold, when they are both good, they are really good. But when something does not click it misses by a mile.
For me Waits hits on: Cold Cold Ground, San Diego Serenade. Hang on St. Christopher, Tom Traubert's Blues, The Heart of Saturday Night and others
Give ‘Bop til you Drop a chance’. A lot of good stuff on that album
What exactly was that? Sliding off Trigger?
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