Customer Reviews

The Ry Cooder Anthology: The UFO Has Landed [2 CD]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful anthology by one of most important unsung heroes of the last 50 years. I can't think of many anthologies that can present an artist to new fans as thoroughly and joyfully as this one.

I just have one complaint, and it's not a minor one. Where the heck is "Across the Borderline"?. Not only is it his most covered song, not many songs can capture a mindset that of hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the south like that. I'm not making a political statement here - this song is just like capturing lightning in a bottle and its omission leaves a big hole in this otherwise perfect collection.

I come to Ry Cooder via Captain Beefheart and Little Feat but I had never gotten around to checking out Ry. This anthology for the new comer contains two things in abundance fun and variety. The fun comes mainly in the joy that comes from the musicians having so much fun while playing this music. These guys are having a blast and it shows. Granted my musical tastes are all over the place and here you have 2 CDs worth of for lack of a better term "Roots" music. I'm no expert at this style of music but I can tell when music is being played with natural expertise, Ry is a master guitarist and one of the best slide guitarist I've ever heard. The songs are about life and a very full life at that, this set was lovingly put together by Ry's son Joachim who has been playing and writing songs with Ry for a number of years now. Filled with wonderful songs that should have been huge hits if they had been released during the right time periods. There are too many songs to create a list of favorites, this collection has stirred my interest in Cooder's music to the point that I've already gotten his two latest "My Name Is Buddy" and "I, Flathead", and in enjoying them I've ordered a number of his early stuff. This collection is a door opener into the world of Ry Cooder, once you get it you'll want more.

Looking through the songlist, this is a pretty good sampling of Cooder's work. I think the songs work well together as a collection and offer a chance for listeners to explore some of the many thingds he's done. There are a lot of things missing, as noted in the comment about 'Borderline', but I think that as hard as it would be for me to pick a handful of favorites from the many possibilities, this set has good balance. I have a collection that must include everything on this compilation and so much more, but I'll probably buy it soon just because it's there. Ry Cooder's tunes are like shoes that don't need breaking in. Fit right, first time, every time.

I wanted to point out something about this 2CD retro that many seem to be ignoring - or not mentioning at all - the TRULY STUNNING SOUND QUALITY.

Fans of the wonderful Ry Cooder will know that apart from an occasional CD here and there and an 8-album campaign in Japan in 2007 - there have been NO remasters of his huge catalogue anywhere. Nearly 40 years of recording and no decent reissues to speak of (Tom Waits and Prince are 2 others that jump to mind on that front). The Japanese versions are just that - Japan only - and are costly as imports. Which brings me to Rhino/Warner Brothers 812279891-9. This superlative 2008 34-track 2CD reissue covers his entire Warner Brothers and Reprise career - as well as his soundtrack work in the last 3 decades (Disc 1: 63:58 minutes - Disc 2: 70:41 minutes).

The award-winning sound engineer BERNIE GRUNDMAN has mastered "The UFO Has Landed" from the original tapes and he's done a beautiful job - especially given the differing recording dates (the Seventies stuff in particular sounds incredible). The 2nd point is the alignment of the songs themselves; chosen by Ry and his son, they're not in release date order, but mixed up so that one decade seamlessly flows into the next and back again. A nice idea - but in reality hard to get right - and they have. As a listen it really works. It opens with 1987's "Get Rhythm", then tracks from "Ry Cooder" from 1970 - skip to 1979's "Bop Till You Drop" - skips back to 1974's "Paradise And Lunch" on to 1985's "Paris, Texas" and so on. It gives the play list a fresh feel - and as the remaster quality hammers you, it's like hearing his material anew.

Speaking of sound quality - there's one particular example on here I'd recommend. Many fans will know that 1972's "Boomer Story" is one of those album gems few know anything about - but should. It's a criminally forgotten beauty and luckily its featured on here with 4 tracks - "Cherry Ball Blues", "Boomer's Story", the cover of the James Carr hit "Dark End Of The Street" and the truly beautiful instrumental "Maria Elena". If you've never heard this gorgeous Mexican-style soulful instrumental (sounding like it was recorded in 2006 and not 1972), then go to iTunes and download it for 80p - fabulous stuff.

The DDD recording of "Bop Till You Drop" has always been somehow dull and subdued on CD - but here at least it has more subtle muscle - even if you have to crank "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)" a little too much (lyrics above). There's also that terrible hiss on "Paris, Texas" - but the remaster has also accentuated just how brilliantly menacing the slide guitar work is - it's all 'feel'... very, very cool. Another lovely track is the theme to "Alamo Bay" and the huge slide sound on "Feelin' Bad Blues" from the 1986 "Crossroads" soundtrack. And on it goes...

Niggles - they've called it after the quirky "UFO Has Landed In The Ghetto" track from 1982's "The Slide Area" and haven't included the track, there's soundtrack stuff aplenty on here when there was the much-praised "Music From Ry Cooder" double CD compilation of 1995 for that - and the liner notes in the 40-page booklet by Ry on each track are often short, cryptic and generally useless. Worse - as you can see from the rather lax playing times on both discs above - there was room for plenty more. We could have had goodies like "All Shook Up", "Teardrops Will Fall", "Ditty Wah Ditty", "Fool For A Cigarette/Feelin' Good" and "I Think It's Going To Work Out Fine". The previously unreleased cover of Wilbert Harrison's "Let's Work Together" is good rather than great.

Having said all of that, I've played this double to death - it's brilliant in so many ways. And every time I feature "Maria Elena" in the shop shuffle, it brings a customer to the counter asking after it. They know its Ry Cooder - they just don't know which track it is. I can see it in their faces - making a mental note - forgot how much I loved this guy - I must buy this.

You should too.

Recommended like a shoeshine boy getting rhythm.

Don't miss out on this poignant Ry Cooder anthology.. the 34 tracks of the double album are astonishingly good and amply deliver on their promise of a joyous succession of the musical chameleon's ability to meld his incredible abilities to whatever is on offer globally, while adding his own superlative, but discrete mark on the genre. Thoughtfully chosen by his drummer son, Joaquim, the selection is totally delightful, timeless and always a reminder of how privileged we are to be living in the time of this great guitarist, singer and collaborator. This is a classic - for listeners who may, up until now, only just caught the much-aired pieces like Cherry Ball Blues or Let's Work Together through to the R.C. afficionadoes who think they have heard it all before. Keep an ear finely tuned for the catchy phrases of "Call him up and tell him what you want" from Jesus on the Mainline, "Always Lift Him Up" (and never knock him down), "Why Don't You Try Me (tonight) and "Sorry, baby, I can't take you", from Going Back to Okinawa.. they will live on with this superbly crafted memoir of Ry Cooder. May it always be available!!! Marie Sulda, Queensland, Australia.

wonderful, uplifting your soul music. beautiful recording resinates your music system. a joy to behold.

We've always thought Ry Cooder was great, but this anthology really showcases just how good he really is. Awesome guitar work, reminiscent of Little Feat back in the day. I'm sure this must have been on a lot of top 10 lists by people who really appreciate some sadly missed truly good music.

If you are tired of the same old homogenized, formula music for the masses, you owe it to yourself to check out this superb double disc retrospective. Not a clunker here. My only quibble is that some of my Cooder favorites aren't here. Probably an issue with one of his labels. Otherwise, these are 2 discs you will never tire of!

This is a first-rate compilation and the best possible introduction to Mr. Cooder's music one could ask for. The selection, sequencing, artwork and packaging are in line with Rhino's usual high standards. This would make an ideal gift for the Roots music fan in your life. "Chicken Skin Music" indeed!

Ry Cooder has been around a long time and has released many albums/c d's,and contributed as a session man and producer.His music is varied and Ry has explored many different styles and tastes.He was even courted by the Rolling Stones as a replacement in the early seventies....So with that written this anthology/overview is essential listening and cuts to the best of his work.In my opinion many of his releases were a mixed bag and he often got lost in what direction he was aiming for to capture the listener.Case in point were his last two releases which I considered poor...."BUT" this anthology is very good and Ry's signature slide guitar rifts and catchy hooks are worth every penny!