Paradise and Lunch Archive

Ry Cooder – Paradise And Lunch – Warner Brothers/Reprise/Speakers Corner

by Audiophile Audition | Jun 27, 2018 | Pop/Rock/World CD Reviews, SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

A classic 1974 roots album gets a well-deserved analog update!  Ry Cooder – Paradise And Lunch – Warner Brothers/Reprise MS 2179/Speakers Corner (2016) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 36:51 *****: Ry Cooder’s Paradise And Lunch was released in 1974 to critical acclaim. Backed by a stellar ensemble of jazz (with no less than Earl Hines one one track) and rock musicians, it represented the stylized, modern blues contexts that imbue Cooder’s music. Speakers Corner has re-mastered this classic album to 180-gram vinyl and it is terrific! Side One opens with an update of “Tamp ‘Em Up Solid”. The jaunty laid-back grooves are framed by exquisite acoustic guitar picking. The ever-present “Sunday” undertones  bask in gospel backup vocals and the gentle roll of a train cadence. Washington Phillip’s “Tattler”is revisited by infectious island rhythms and playful ambiance. The switch to electric maintains the low-keyed elegance. Within the rock community, there is a genuine respect for the roots of blues music. Cooder is among the most supportive in this endeavor. The homage continues with a country-based cover of Blind Willie McTell’s “Married Man’s A Fool”. The amalgam of roots and gospel (and there is an “Amen Brother!”) is reminiscent of the time period with […]