Ry Cooder’s Prodigal Son has a universal message

AT 71 Ry Cooder has been back in the recording studio after nine years and his new album Prodigal Son is destined to become an instant classic.

US rock singer Ry Cooder has a new album Prodigal Son released in May 2018. Picture: Joachim Cooder

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BACK in the day he might well have sung “How can a poor man stand such times and live”, but today he’s turning to gospel music and the tunes of blues master Blind Willie Johnson for consolation and to vent some of his frustration about contemporary events in America.

Yes, at 71 Ry Cooder is back in the recording studio after nine years and his new album Prodigal Son is destined to become an instant classic with the singer and multi-instrumentalist sounding as fresh, energetic and potent as ever. There are only three originals on the album, but they show that his creative vision and musical versatility remain undimmed.

Shrinking Man is about anxiety: “Shrinking man, shrinking man, nobody was worried ‘bout a shrinking man/ Worried man with a worried song, shrinking man ain’t gonna be here long”, but it bounces along with Cooder’s cutting bottleneck guitar chords.

Gentrification, on the other hand, is vintage perky Cooder with a catchy whistled backing as he talks about his old neighbourhood building being bought by Johnny Depp (“who?”) and the “Googlemen” moving in.

Ry Cooder's Prodigal Son is released in May 2018.

And his third original, Jesus and Woody, is a lovely Tex-Mex ballad paying tribute to “fellow dreamer” Woody Guthrie and his fight for social justice.

The other eight tracks are given over to gospel mixed with a generous dash of roots and blues, featuring songs from such artists as The Pilgrim Travellers and The Stanley Brothers. Cooder stamps his imprimatur on all of them, aided by his arranger son Joachim Cooder on drums, percussion and keyboard and the legendary vocal trio the Hamiltones. Also fleshing it out are saxophonist Sam Gendel – playing through phasers, synths and whatnot – and Robert Francis on bass.

Standout tracks include Johnson classics Nobody’s Fault But Mine and Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right, but with such a strong and individualistic album it’s a pointless exercise picking out highlights. There simply are no duds and repeated listenings will bring out all kinds of layers you may have missed before.

My pick for rock album of the year.

You can get the CD for 19.99 and the vinyl for $39.99 at JB Hi-Fi.