Ry Cooder Into The Purple Valley CD

Ry Cooder is known as a virtuoso on almost every stringed instrument, and on Into the Purple Valley, he demonstrates this ability on a wide variety of instruments. The main focus of the music here is on the era of the Dust Bowl, and what was happening in America at the time, socially and musically. Songs by Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, and a variety of others show Cooder's encyclopedic knowledge of the music of this time, combined with an instinctive feel for the songs. 'Phenomenal' is the descriptive word to describe his playing, whether it is on guitar, Hawaiian "slack key" guitar, mandolin, or the more arcane instruments he has found. This is a must for those who love instrumental virtuosity, authentic reworkings of an era, or just plain good music. ~ Bob Gottlieb
Guitarist Cooder was a respected session musician prior to launching a solo career. His distinctive style blossomed fully on this, his second album, which is a brilliant compendium of American country/folk styles. Tight but sparse accompaniment takes the artist through songs largely drawn from the Dustbowl Ballads of the Depression era, including Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man" and Leadbelly's "On A Monday."
Traditional songs like "Billy the Kid" nestle next to more contemporary fare like Johnny Cash's "Hey Porter" and wildcard entries like a cover of Bahamanian guitarist Joseph Spence's "Great Dream from Heaven." Cooder's ungainly voice captures the plaintive, retro-styled atmosphere, but it is his chilling slide guitar work (not to mention his facility with mandolin, Hawaiian slack key guitar, and other stringed instruments) for which this album is renowned.

Live RecordingRolling Stone (3/2/72, p.57) - "...Cooder gets off some incredible slide guitar licks...he's still doing those terrific, uncanny things with his instrument..."
Uncut (2/03, p.78) - "...[The album] established him as both a serious musicologist and a major interpretive artist in his own right..."