I want to start listening to Ry Cooder, but don't know where to begin. Any suggestions on a good place or places to start? Thanks!

Boomer's Story, Chicken Skin Music and Into the Purple Valley. All three brilliant albums from the early seventies.

You could check out this double set compiled by his son and released in 2008...

I had my Cooder-period around -80 so start there....

The Captain Beefheart album "Safe Is Milk" is an absolute must! Ry Cooder plays terrific guitar on this album, plus classic Beefheart tunes, you can't lose!

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mr edward
Boomer's Story, Chicken Skin Music and Into the Purple Valley. All three brilliant albums from the early seventies.

I agree. Paradise and Lunch is another great album from that era.

Paris, Texas for a solo, acoustic slide guitar.

Paris, Texas for a solo, acoustic slide guitar.


Blind Willie Johnson to hear where it was borrowed from.....



ROCKMAN

yeah, but Blind Willie's different. remember If I Had My Way? it tears buildings down indeed. such a powerful voice.
for more interesting BWJ covers, see Ramblin' Jack Elliot's 2009 LP A Stranger Here with "The Soul Of A Man".

I second Paradise and Lunch.

Also: Music by Ry Cooder is a nice compilation of his film-score work through the mid-90s.

Add :

Bop Till You Drop and Get Rhythm

I started with "Get Rhythm" and "Little Village" and it was a great start. On the latter, other band members handle most of the vocals, like on most of his recent recordings. But if you want good recent vocals from him, go for "I Flathead".
During the 90s, he's often played on entire albums by Terry Evans and before that, Bobby King & Terry Evans. These guys are terrific. I love that Ry Cooder is a populator of styles. I feel lucky to have gotten to know and enjoy a lot of great musical styles through his work - albums such as "Meeting by the River", "Talking Timbuktu", "Mambo Sinuendo".

i haven't heard a ry cooder album i don't like - and i think i have them all. in addition to those mentioned earlier, i would recommend a more recent one from a couple of years ago - I Flathead. very accessible, very clever.