Ry Cooder’s 10 Greatest Songs and Greatest Discs (Representative Songs and Hidden Masterpieces)

In this article, I will cover the ranking of Ry Cooder’s best songs.

This man explores roots music from all over the world and incorporates it into his own music.

Mostly his albums are with his great predecessors, but it’s as if he is asking them to teach him directly.

There are other people who feed off of music from around the world, but Ry Cooder’s method is one of respect.

His guitar playing is also very good, and there are instrumental numbers that sometimes surpass the vocal songs.

Again, I chose two songs without vocals.

I hope you will enjoy his music, which is rich in natural nutrients.

This blog is an automatic translation of a Japanese blog into English.

Please understand that it may be difficult to read.

No.1「He’ll Have to Go」(Album:Chicken Skin Music)

■Song Title：He’ll Have to Go
■Album Name：Chicken Skin Music
■Video link：「He’ll Have to Go」

The album name for this song is “Chicken Skin Music”.

This song is just like its name.

On this song, I am playing with Flaco Jimenez.

He is a Texas accordionist who specializes in Tex-Mex (or Tejano) music from the Mexican border.

The introduction starts with an accordion that seems to melt away.

The entire piece is almost entirely accordion, which shows Ray’s respect for Fraco for giving him the time to play.

Fraco is wonderful, but the foundation of the music is Ry Cooder.

He is not a person who is very conscious of single cuts, but this song was cut as a single and became a hit in Holland.

No.2「Cherry Ball Blues」(Album:Boomer’s Story)

■Song Title：Cherry Ball Blues
■Album Name：Boomer’s Story
■Video link：「Cherry Ball Blues」

This song is about listening to the interplay between guitar and drums.

The drummer, Jim Keltner, is a name that I often see when playing with roots music and singer/songwriter types.

His drumming is so solid that it’s hard to tell what’s good about it at first listen.

If you’re one of those people, I hope you’ll give this performance a listen.

Ray’s guitar is naturally amazing, but at times I even feel that the drums outshine the guitar.

I thought Jim Keltner was a simple guy who would be popular with the uninitiated, but I was surprised to learn that he can play such brilliant drums.

The original version of this song was written by a blues singer named Skip James.

I discovered the appeal of folky blues via Ry Cooder.

If you are interested in this kind of music, you might want to listen to Skip James or Mississippi John Hurt.

No.3「Ditty Wah Ditty」(Album:Paradise and Lunch)

■Song Title：Ditty Wah Ditty
■Album Name：Paradise and Lunch
■Video link：「Ditty Wah Ditty」

In this song, he plays with jazz pianist Earl Hines.

Again, Ray plays a supporting role, and I feel that she is supporting Earl Hines.

Earl Hines was active before modern jazz, and is generally credited with bringing the dynamic right-hand single tone to jazz.

There was a time when I did not understand his piano style.

Sometimes he plays in an innovative and modern way that would surprise a modern jazz pianist, and other times he plays in an old style with a lot of emotion, as in this piece.

Even in this old-timey piece, the playing is uninhibited and playful.

The last minute or so in particular is heavenly music.

Listening to the interplay of guitar and piano, it doesn’t matter if it’s jazz, rock, or omnivore, it’s just good music.

No.4「Little Sister」(Album:Bop till You Drop)

■Song Title：Little Sister
■Album Name：Bop till You Drop
■Video link：「Little Sister」

In this song, he plays with jazz pianist Earl Hines.

Again, Ray plays a supporting role, and I feel that she is supporting Earl Hines.

Earl Hines was active before modern jazz, and is generally credited with bringing the dynamic right-hand single tone to jazz.

There was a time when I did not understand his piano style.

Sometimes he plays in an innovative and modern way that would surprise a modern jazz pianist, and other times he plays in an old style with a lot of emotion, as in this piece.

Even in this old-timey piece, the playing is uninhibited and playful.

The last minute or so in particular is heavenly music.

Listening to the interplay of guitar and piano, it doesn’t matter if it’s jazz, rock, or omnivore, it’s just good music.

No.5「Alimony」(Album:Ry Cooder)

■Song Title：Alimony
■Album Name：Ry Cooder
■Video link：「Alimony」

This song is a selection from their underrated first album.

In addition to this song, the first album contains many other great songs, including a cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Do Re Mi”.

The first album is less omnivorous than the second, and more like pure American rock.

The sound may be similar to the early days of Little Feat.

The vocals are nice and relaxed, and the guitar has a strong presence.

The chorus in the background has an earthy gospel flavor that reminds me of Delaney & Bonnie.

If you like this song, check out Ray’s first three albums.

No.6「Get Rhythm」(Album:Get Rhythm)

■Song Title：Get Rhythm
■Album Name：Get Rhythm
■Video link：「Get Rhythm」

Many of Rai’s albums have a great first song, and this one is a great song.

The guitar interplay in the intro and the start of Flaco Jimenez’s accordion is the best part.

The original song was written by Johnny Cash and is a gutsy song, but here it is interpreted in a bright and stretchy way.

I mentioned earlier that Ray’s pop line is not so bad.

As you can hear here, he hasn’t forgotten his roots music, and he’s acquired a more vibrant and pop appeal.

If you listen to this song, you will understand.

It makes me very happy to hear Rai’s guitar playing, which seems to be happily ringing throughout the song.

No.7「Tattler」(Album:Paradise and Lunch)

■Song Title：Tattler
■Album Name：Paradise and Lunch
■Video link：「Tattler」

This is a masterpiece from the time when Ray was trying to expand her musical range.

I had a hard time deciding between this and the first song on this album, “Tamp ‘Em up Solid,” but I decided that sometimes you need a song like this to move you in a subdued and gentle way.

In general, his best works are usually “Paradise and Lunch” or “Chicken Skin Music”.

Perhaps the secret of his popularity lies in the fact that the expression of his sound has become brighter.

Because of his sincere attitude toward roots music, his sound can sometimes be too serious.

This song is relaxing to listen to.

Since then, he has been making good use of the elements of roots music, and the music has become more inclusive.

No.8「Teardrops Will Fall」(Album:Into the Purple Valley)

■Song Title：Teardrops Will Fall
■Album Name：Into the Purple Valley
■Video link：「Teardrops Will Fall」

This is a selection of songs from their second album.

The music is unusually sophisticated for the early days.

I don’t know if they were trying to make the most of the charm of the song, but the guitar is a bit subdued.

It’s a shame, because the song is great, and it would have been even better if Ray’s guitar had been more active.

The guitar solo in the middle part of the song could have been more rampant.

Ray’s live albums such as “Show Time” are also excellent, but this song is not included.

However, it must be a great song, and he makes us listen to it with the charm of the music, which is rare for him.

No.9「Women Will Rule the World」(Album:Get Rhythm)

■Song Title：Women Will Rule the World
■Album Name：Get Rhythm
■Video link：「Women Will Rule the World」

Fraco Jimenez’s accordion also plays an active role in this song.

As you can see from this selection, I really like the combination of Ray and Flaco.

I even made sure not to be biased.

In this song too, Fraco is very active from the introduction.

I almost don’t know if I’m introducing Ry Cooder or Fraco Jimenez anymore.

I like the occasional loud accent by Jim Keltner, and the romantic turn in the middle is just too good.

In the lyrics, a man who seems to be an old-fashioned old man laments the trend of women gaining power.

“In the lyrics, an old-fashioned man laments the trend of women gaining power, saying humorously, “Sooner or later, women are going to rule the world.

But if you listen to the song, it sounds more like he wants to be ruled.

No.10「I Think It’s Going to Work Out Fine」(Album:Bop till You Drop)

■Song Title：I Think It’s Going to Work Out Fine
■Album Name：Bop till You Drop
■Video link：「I Think It’s Going to Work Out Fine」

Lastly, I would like to introduce you to a few songs that may help you rest.

I am well aware that they are not masterpieces, but I have chosen some of my personal favorites.

Ry Cooder’s music is so nutritious that it might be better to reduce the density a little.

As you can hear, it is an instrumental song with a beautiful melody, mainly based on guitar.

It’s a beautiful melody, so you can listen to it without being overwhelmed.

By the way, the song title means “I think it will turn out great.

The song title also has a nice aftertaste.

Since this is a ranking of great songs, I have listed them by song, but I think it is better to listen to them by album.

For the time being, I focused on albums up to about 1987.

The original albums, including “Jazz,” “Borderline,” and “The Slide Area,” which I didn’t select any songs from, have nothing to lose.

I hope this article will give you a chance to enjoy his music.