Tracks

1. Alimony

2. France Chance

3. One Meat Ball

4. Do Re Mi

5. My Old Kentucky Home (Turpentine And Dandelion Wi

6. How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live?

7. Available Space

8. Pigmeat

9. Police Dog Blues

10. Goin' To Brownsville

11. Dark Is The Night

Performer Notes

Adapter: Ry Cooder.
Personnel: Ry Cooder (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Ry Cooder (bass instrument); Gloria Jones (vocals, background vocals); Chris Ethridge, Max Bennett, Roy Estrada (bass instrument); John Barbata (drums); Bobby Bruce (violin); Van Dyke Parks (piano, keyboards); Richie Hayward (drums); Milt Holland (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Lee Herschberg.
Photographers: Frank Bez; Susan Titelman.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Chris Ethridge; Richie Hayward; Roy Estrada; Milt Holland; Max Bennett; Bobby Bruce; John Barbeda.
Arrangers: Van Dyke Parks; Kirby Johnson.
A sonic chameleon of sorts, Ry Cooder has always been on the forefront of popular music. Whether as a session musician (with the Rolling Stones, Randy Newman, and others) or a film-score composer (most notably in collaboration with director Wim Wenders), Cooder has succeeded in incorporating diverse styles of music into his personal sound. This self-titled 1970 release features Cooder in a blues-rock mode that also touches on a wide range of musical influences.
"Police Dog Blues" and "Dark Is the Night" are straight-up blues numbers that feature Cooder's incredible slide-guitar playing. "Pigmeat," however, finds Cooder in a different setting, exploring gritty Dixieland music. "Do Re Mi" and "My Old Kentucky Home (Turpentine & Dandelion Wine)" move in yet another direction, easing into a funky, lazy groove reminiscent of the Band's MUSIC FROM BIG PINK. On several tracks, Cooder is supported by the unique orchestral arrangements of Kirby Johnson, which add color and texture to this excellent outing.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (2/4/71, p.56) - "...Cooder is the finest, most precise bottleneck player alive today..."

Rolling Stone (9/30/71, p.42) - "...one of the most completely realized attempts at a contemporary approach to blues..."

Q (8/95, p.137) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Cooder's ability to emulate the idiosyncrasy of his pre-pop heroes without imitating them on one hand or bowdlerising them on the other may yet be his genius, if not his fortune."

Mojo (Publisher) (7/95, p.113) - "Eponymous debut finds our Ryland firmly in the grip of his mission to rediscover American folk....Guthrie's 'Do Re Mi', Blind Boy Blake's 'Police Dog Blues' and the barmy 'One Meat Ball' make for a formidable introduction."

Album: Ry Cooder
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Alimony	More Info...
2)	France Chance	More Info...
3)	One Meat Ball	More Info...
4)	Do Re Mi	More Info...
5)	My Old Kentucky Home (Turpentine & Dandelion Wine)	More Info...
6)	How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live?	More Info...
7)	Available Space	More Info...
8)	Pigmeat	More Info...
9)	Police Dog Blues	More Info...
10)	Goin' To Brownsville	More Info...
11)	Dark Is The Night	More Info...

Album: Ry Cooder
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Alimony	More Info...
2)	France Chance	More Info...
3)	One Meat Ball	More Info...
4)	Do Re Mi	More Info...
5)	My Old Kentucky Home (Turpentine & Dandelion Wine)	More Info...
6)	How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live?	More Info...
7)	Available Space	More Info...
8)	Pigmeat	More Info...
9)	Police Dog Blues	More Info...
10)	Goin' To Brownsville	More Info...
11)	Dark Is The Night	More Info...