Ry Cooder "Chicken Skin Music" (1976)

Part of my complaint about the earlier Cooder records was that they were a bit too by the numbers.  Boomer discovers the blues.  Boomer records Robert Johnson covers.  Yawn.  I think I've heard that one before. 

Chicken Skin Music flips the script a bit.  Yeah, it still starts with some blues covers, but the next thing you know Cooder is throwing in Latin and Hawaiian influences and it gets good and weird.

Ry Cooder "Boomer's Story" (1972)

Another Ry Cooder album, another time I'm underwhelmed.  Oh well... it's gotten so that I groan a bit inside when one of these appears.  The amazing thing is how many I seem to have....

Ry Cooder "Into the Purple Valley" (1971)

Why isn't this album entered into the conversation when people talk about the early predecessors of Americana?  You hear about the Band, Dylan, Byrds, etc, but this album should be in the conversation as well.  Filled with interpretations of standards and country hits, this is an early conceptual look at the Great Depression and Dust Bowl.

Ry Cooder "Ry Cooder" (1970)

A title that is as imaginative as its contents.   I don't know why I even have this one.  It is brought down by the period arrangements (apparently Lenny Waronker & Van Dyke Parks are to thank for that) that seem to be ungainly & too busy.  The better tracks are covers of prewar blues & folk songs -- which 40 years later seem to be rather ho hum.  I suppose that in 1970 it was exciting to hear a hip young musician run through a Robert Johnson number.  It's not nearly so revelatory in the 21st century.