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Into the Purple Valley

 
Album Review: Into the Purple Valley

  • Artist: Ry Cooder
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1971
  • Total Time: 37:06
  • Genre: Rock

Review

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, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
How Can You Keep Moving (Unless You Migrate Too) Agnes Cunningham Ry Cooder (2:25)
Billy the Kid Traditional Ry Cooder (3:45)
Money Honey Jesse Stone Ry Cooder (3:28)
F.D.R. in Trinidad Fitz Maclean Ry Cooder (3:01)
Teardrops Will Fall Dickey Doo, Marion Smith Ry Cooder (3:03)
Denomination Blues George Washington Phillips Ry Cooder (3:58)
On a Monday Leadbelly Ry Cooder (2:52)
Hey Porter (Lyrics) Johnny Cash Ry Cooder (4:34)
Great Dream from Heaven Joseph Spence Ry Cooder (1:53)
Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All Traditional Ry Cooder (3:52)
Vigilante Man Woody Guthrie Ry Cooder (4:15)

Credits

Ry Cooder (Bass), Ry Cooder (Guitar), Ry Cooder (Mandolin), Ry Cooder (Arranger), Ry Cooder (Vocals), Ry Cooder (Main Performer), Van Dyke Parks (Keyboards), Van Dyke Parks (Producer), Gloria Jones (Vocals), Claudia Lennear (Vocals), George Bohannon (Horn), John Craviotta (Drums), Joe Lane Davis (Horn), Jim Dickinson (Piano), Jim Dickinson (Producer), Chris Ethridge (Bass), Milt Holland (Percussion), Jerry Jumonville (Saxophone), Fritz Richmond (Bass), Lenny Waronker (Producer), Donna Washburn (Vocals), Donna Weiss (Vocals), Ike Williams (Horn), Mike Salisbury (Design), Dave Bhang (Typography), Marty Evans (Photography)
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Wikipedia: Into the Purple Valley
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Into the Purple Valley
Studio album by Ry Cooder
Released February 1972
Recorded 1971
Genre Rock
Length 37:06
Label Reprise
Producer Jim Dickinson, Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Waronker
Professional reviews
Ry Cooder chronology
Ry Cooder
(1970)
Into the Purple Valley
(1972)
Boomer's Story
(1972)

Into the Purple Valley is the second album by roots rock legend Ry Cooder, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music).

Track listing

  1. "How Can You Keep Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)" (Agnes "Sis" Cunningham) – 2:25
  2. "Billy the Kid" (Traditional) – 3:45
  3. "Money Honey" (Jesse Stone) – 3:28
  4. "FDR in Trinidad" (Fitz Maclean) – 3:01
  5. "Teardrops Will Fall" (Dickey Doo, Marion Smith) – 3:03
  6. "Denomination Blues" (George Washington Phillips) – 3:58
  7. "On a Monday" (Leadbelly) – 2:52
  8. "Hey Porter" (Johnny Cash) – 4:34
  9. "Great Dream from Heaven" (Joseph Spence) – 1:53
  10. "Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All" (Traditional) – 3:52
  11. "Vigilante Man" (Woody Guthrie) – 4:15

Personnel

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

Billboard charts

Chart Peak
Pop albums 113

 
 
Learn More
Margaret Bourke-White (American photographer & writer)
Boomer's Story (1972 Album by Ry Cooder)
Jim Dickinson (Rock Artist, '70s-2000s)

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Into the Purple Valley" Read more