Tag Archives: Joseph Spence

Ry Cooder: Jazz

In June 1978, “Warner Bros” label released “Jazz”, the seventh Ry Cooder album. It was recorded in 1978 at “Amigo” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ry Cooder and Joseph Byrd.

Personnel:

  • Ry Cooder – vocals, guitar, dobro, mandolin, tiple, harp
  • David Lindley – mandobanjo, mandolin
  • John Rodby – piano 
  • Earl Hines – piano 
  • Barbara Starkey – pump organ
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass
  • Tom Pedrini – bass
  • Chuck Domanico – bass 
  • Mark Stevens – drums
  • Harvey Pittel – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Pat Rizzo – alto saxophone
  • Bill Hood – bass saxophone
  • George Bohanon – baritone horn 
  • Mario Guarneri – cornet
  • Oscar Brashear – cornet 
  • Randy Aldcroft – trombone
  • Willie Schwartz – clarinet
  • David Sherr – bass clarinet 
  • Red Callender – tuba 
  • Tom Collier – marimba, vibraphone 
  • Stuart Brotman – cimbalom
  • Jimmy Adams – backing vocals
  • Cliff Givens – backing vocals
  • Bill Johnson – backing vocals
  • Simon Pico Payne – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) – Milton Ager, Jack Yellen
  2. Face to Face That I Shall Meet Him – traditional; adapted by Joseph Spence
  3. The Pearls / Tia Juana – Jelly Roll Morton; adapted by Ry Cooder
  4. The Dream – Jack the Bear, Jess Pickett
  5. Happy Meeting in Glory – traditional; adapted by Joseph Spence
  6. In a Mist – Bix Beiderbecke
  7. Flashes – Bix Beiderbecke
  8. Davenport Blues – Bix Beiderbecke
  9. Shine – Cecil Mack, Ford Dabney
  10. Nobody – Bert Williams
  11. We Shall Be Happy – traditional; adapted by Joseph Spence

Ry Cooder: Into the Purple Valley

into-the-purple-valley

In January 1972, “Reprise” label released “Into the Purple Valley”, the second Ry Cooder studio album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Jim Dickinson, Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Waronker. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album cover at number 12 on its list of the “100 Greatest Album Covers”.

Personnel:

  • Ry Cooder – guitar, bass, mandolin, vocals
  • Jim Dickinson– piano
  • Van Dyke Parks– keyboards
  • Gloria Jones– vocals
  • Claudia Lennear– vocals
  • Donna Washburn – vocals
  • Donna Weiss– vocals
  • Chris Ethridge– bass
  • Fritz Richmond– bass
  • John Craviotta – drums
  • Milt Holland– percussion
  • Jerry Jumonville – saxophone
  • George Bohanon– horns
  • Joe Lane Davis – horns
  • Ike Williams – horns

Track listing:

  1. How Can You Keep Moving (Unless You Migrate Too) – Agnes “Sis” Cunningham
  2. Billy the Kid – traditional; arranged by Ry Cooder
  3. Money Honey – Jesse Stone
  4. FDR in Trinidad – Fitz Maclean
  5. Teardrops Will Fall – Dickey Doo, Marion Smith
  6. Denomination Blues – George Washington Phillips
  7. On a Monday – Lead Belly
  8. Hey Porter – Johnny Cash
  9. Great Dream from Heaven – Joseph Spence
  10. Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us Al – traditional; arranged by Ry Cooder
  11. Vigilante Man – Woody Guthrie