Ry Cooder Boomer's Story

High Quality Pure Analogue 180g Vinyl LP!
Named after Carson Robison's story about a tramp, Ry Cooder continues his sound archaeological and cultural-historical excavations of the known and forgotten past of Americana on his third album, Boomer's Story. As with his previous recordings, he not only draws on the masters – including blues legend Sleepy John Estes, songwriter Dan Penn (both have an appearance on this LP) and the great Skip James – but also on lost and neglected pieces of American folk, blues and soul music.
The album opens with the traditional title track and Lawrence Wilson's Crow Black Chicken from the late 1920s – both tracks are interpreted with just the right balance of personality and respect. He lends a dark irony to the chauvinistic Rally 'Round The Flag from today's point of view with his slow sad piano played by Randy Newman and his slide guitar, while the guitar arrangement in the style of Joseph Spence gives the Comin‘ In On A Wing And A Prayer a feeling of hope and courage. At four of the ten tracks, Cooder resigns from the microphone, instead leaving it to Sleepy John Estes in his own president Kennedy. Among the instrumental pieces, Dark End Of The Street stands out especially, Cooder realizes that to do justice to James Carr's definitive version, the only option is his own remorseful slide guitar. Without singing a single word, he manages to convey the shame and deep regret of the Dan Penn/Chips Moman classic.
Boomer's Story is an enchanting portrait of inspired implementation and inventive craftsmanship, which, after years of neglect, can finally boast the analog sound that does the performances justice with this release.
This Speakers Corner production was remastered using pure analogue master tape and mastering 100% pure analog, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. All licenses and GEMA contributions have been paid off.
"Boomer's Story, Ry Cooder's third record, continues his archeological dig through music's familiar and forgotten past. As was the case with his previous recordings, he not only looks to the masters — including blues legend Sleepy John Estes, songwriter Dan Penn (both of whom appear here) and the great Skip James — for material, but to lost and neglected pieces of American folk and blues, as well. Cooder adds the traditional title-track, which opens the album, and Lawrence Wilson's 'Crow Black Chicken,' which dates back to the late 1920s, to this collection of discoveries — both of which are handled with just the right balance of personality and reverence. Elsewhere, he injects a dark irony into the jingoistic 'Rally 'Round the Flag,' with its slow, mournful piano (played by Randy Newman) and slide guitar, while the Joseph Spence-style guitar arrangement of the World War II standard 'Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer' has a sense of hope and conviction. Often criticized for possessing a less than commanding voice, Cooder steps back from the microphone for four of the album's ten tracks — three instrumentals and one featuring Sleepy John Estes on his own 'President Kennedy.' And while all of the instrumentals presented here are fine renditions of great tunes, it's 'Dark End of the Street' which truly stands out. Here, Cooder realizes that the only thing in his arsenal that can do justice to James Carr's definitive version is his own remorseful slide guitar. Without uttering a single lyric, he's able to convey the shame and deep regret of the Dan Penn/Chips Moman classic. Thanks to moments like this, along with Cooder's consistently strong choice of material and brilliant guitar work, Boomer's Story — less eccentric than his first, and less eclectic than Into the Purple Valley — ranks among his best work." – Brett Hartenbach, AllMusic, 4/5

Features:

• 180g High Quality Vinyl LP
• Pure Analogue
• Remastered from the Master Tapes

Musicians:

• Ry Cooder, guitars, mandolin, bottleneck guitar, vocals
• Tommy McClure, bass
• Charles Lawing, clarinet
• Jim Keltner, drums
• Roger Hawkins, drums
• Sleepy John Estes, guitar, vocals on "President Kennedy" (recorded in Collierville, Tennessee)
• Gene Finney, harmonica
• George Bohanon, horns
• Milt Holland, percussion
• Randy Newman, piano on "Rally 'Round the Flag"
• Jim Dickinson, piano, bass, backing vocals
• Dan Penn, backing vocals

Selections:

Side A
1. Boomer's Story
2. Cherry Ball Blues (Instrumental)
3. Crow Black Chicken
4. Ax Sweet Mama
5. Maria Elena (Instrumental)
Side B
1. Dark End Of The Street (Instrumental)
2. Rally 'Round The Flag
3. Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer
4. President Kennedy
5. Good Morning Mr.Railroad Man