Ry Cooder: Soundtrack for Working Life

Ry Cooder was recently profiled in the NYT Travel section. Writer Lawrence Downes had the great good fortune to spend some time with Cooder and Mister Jalopy of "Hooptyrides" fame, exploring past and present aspects of L.A. on a guided tour of back roads and faraway places. From the Mojave flats to the Saints and Sinners Bar to the Halfway House Cafe and to Chavez Ravine, they explore the seldom seen, neglected treasure trove of the L.A. no one thinks much about--the working class, shot-and-a-beer, thrift store, machine-head and Latino parts of town.

Cooder's songs express a deep appreciation for the hardship many SoCal folk who inhabited these parts of town faced, chasing their dreams in the sunny dry wasteland of L.A. Boozy, gritty, melancholy, narrative driven, Cooder's music reflects these pilgrims' experiences in ways that are profound, lonesome and often funny.

His knowledge of where he is in musical history guides Cooder when he taps the roots of other musical cultures, as well. From Gabby Pahihui to Flaco Jimenez to the Buena Vista Social Club Cooder has made connections with working class roots musicians throughout the world and has an undeniably sharp ear for what's good.

After reading the NYT piece, in which Cooder leads Downes to the desert and other forgotten corners of the area (wishing I had been there drinking beer and listening to music with them) it occurs to me that Cooder is more that just the curator of modern guitar music. Listen to Cooder's "My Name is Buddy" the musical story of a homeless tabby, Buddy Red Cat or any of his other records. You'll discover that Cooder is one of the last working men who make their living with popular music grounded in everyday experiences.

Like his stories of people who work hard and play harder (along with the occasional space alien), Cooder's music is both raw and sophisticated. Playing like John Steinbeck writes, with a calloused hand that knows the struggle of the working man, often living on the margin, filled with dreams that don't turn out, Cooder brings his songs to life. It's living music, not a marketing strategy, and satisfies like a cold beer and wet kiss after a day of hard work in the hot sun. It's beyond genres and categories, and it rocks deeply.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB!" Check out Ry Cooder playing life's soundtrack for the working man (and woman).