RY COODER PREMIERES TITLE TRACK OF HIS NEW ALBUM “THE PRODIGAL SON”
Band Members Announced for Ry Cooder’s First Solo Tour in Ten Years: Drummer-Percussionist, Joachim Cooder; Multi-Instrumentalist, Robert Francis; Saxophonist, Sam Gendel and Famed Vocal Trio, The Hamiltones
Ry Cooder has shared the title track from his first new solo release in six years, The Prodigal Son set for release by Fantasy Records on May 11th, 2018. Listen to the track here and Pre-Order The Prodigal Son: HERE.
The Prodigal Son, is essential Cooder. A masterwork of roots, blues and R&B, the album conjures our own history of the spirit, sounding completely fresh and contemporary, framed by Cooder’s expressive vocals and graceful, elegant guitar work. The album’s 11 tracks include three Cooder originals along with a carefully selected collection of vintage blues, gospel and bluegrass by the likes of The Pilgrim Travelers, The Stanley Brothers and Blind Willie Johnson. Taken together, it forms an unflinching look at the state of play in modern America.
The LA Times described “Shrinking Man,” (a Cooder original and first track released off the album) as “an up-tempo blues shuffle featuring scratchy bottleneck guitar work for a treatise on living more responsibly and respectfully.”
“I do connect the political/economic dimensions with the inner life of people, since people are at risk and oppressed on all sides in our world today,” Cooder states in the album’s liner notes. “There’s some kind of reverence mood that takes hold when you play and sing these songs. ‘Reverence’ is a word I heard my granddaughter’s nursery school teacher use, a Kashmiri woman. She said, ‘We don’t want to teach religion, but instill reverence.’ I thought that was a good word for the feeling of this music.”
For nearly 50 years, the immense scope and influence of Ry Cooder’s music has been felt as much, or more than heard. As master musician, producer, songwriter and sage, the Santa Monica, California native has explored music and culture from across the city, the state, the country and around the world. Sounding completely fresh and contemporary, The Prodigal Son is music for these times, a deft commentary on our ailing moral state and a fearless dive into the country’s soul and the man himself, Ry Cooder.
For tour and ticket information, please visit: RyCooder.com
The Prodigal Son Track List:
- straight street (James W. Alexander / Jesse Whitaker)
- shrinking man (Ry Cooder)
- gentrification (Ry Cooder / Joachim Cooder)
- everybody ought to treat a stranger right (Traditional; Blind Willie Johnson, Arr. by Ry Cooder)
- the prodigal son (Traditional: Arranged by Ry Cooder /Joachim Cooder)
- nobody’s fault but mine (Blind Willie Johnson / Arranged Ry Cooder / Joachim Cooder)
- you must unload (Alfred Reed)
- i’ll be rested when the roll is called (Blind Roosevelt Graves)
- harbor of love (Carter Stanley)
- Jesus and woody (Ry Cooder)
- in his care (William L. Dawson)
Ry Cooder – Tour Dates :
June 4 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
June 6 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
June 7 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre
June 8 – New York, NY – Town Hall Theatre
June 11 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
June 12 – Derry, NH – Tupelo
June 22 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater
June 24 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
June 26 – Toronto, ONT – Massey Hall
June 27 – Ottawa, ONT – Centerpoint
June 29 – Montréal, QE – Jazz Festival @ Maisonneuve
June 30 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Theater
July 1 – Lenox, MA – Tanglewood
July 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
July 13 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
July 14 – Courtenay, BC – Vancouver Island MusicFest
July 17 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
July 20 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
July 21 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre
Aug 10 – Calgary, AB – Jack Singer
Aug 14 – Denver, CO – Paramount
2018 Publicity Photo. Credit Joachim Cooder
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Love you and your music! We named our son Ryland (because you impressed us with your humanity AND your music) in 1989. Hoping to see you in Courtenay in July! 🙂
Could you let me know if you have any UK dates?
Thank you
No dates yet but will keep you posted!
Hello,
I’m just tickled pink about this album and tour and cannot wait for June 8 at Town Hall.
If you want to avoid hearing a man yell a request from the balcony, you can nip it in the bud by adding “Tattler” to the set list early on.
Peace,
JD
Any chanse you will go to Norway.
I have been to all your concerts here in the old days.
Rune Salomonsen
Ry Cooders new music is otherworldly. All his music is on another level. I usually get goosebumps and or weep.just one note does it. Can’t wait for Seattle and Courtenay.
Hi Ry,
When do you come to The Netherlands for you Tour?
We are waiting for you and your beautiful music!
Regard, Martien
Hi, Rune Salomonsen. I bet you’ve already got your ticket for Notodden, Norway, August 2. I’ll be there too!
Thrilled you are going out on tour, Ry!……see you in NY (by the way, How CAN a poor man stand such times and live?)
Now if you could convince Mr Dave (Lindley) to go back on the road with you, I would be in seventh heaven!!
Best to you and yours, see you in NY
Rumor has it you will also be in Vancouver BC – for the Vancouver Folkfest in mid July – its not listed above but I hope the rumor is true. I just put together a playlist of my favorite Cooder tunes – I had to cap it at 106 though…heh heh. Now I will have to add more.
You are a true treasure!
i like everything what you say. i am coming from italy to filadelphia for the concert at mann center , 3 july. i think the situation is same in italy.
Is possiblr for you and Emmilou Harris a future concert in Italy, maby in Lampedusa. That is so hard for the actual political situation. Think that anymore. see you.Ciao. Ernesto Banfi – VIA CAMPI, 2 – 21047 – SARONNO – ITALY