Ry Cooder Talks to BBC World Service's "The Strand"
Ry Cooder, whose new album, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down, was released on vinyl yesterday following its recent CD release, is featured on the latest episode of the BBC World Service daily arts program The Strand. Cooder spoke with host Anna McNamee about the inspiration behind the album, the process for bringing the music to life, and his expectations for the modern protest songs he's written.
"When it comes to American music legends, they don't come much bigger than Ry Cooder," says McNamee. "In his 40-odd years in the industry, he's played with everyone from Captain Beefheart to the Rolling Stones to John Lee Hooker."
As worldly and as wide-reaching as Cooder's impact and influence have been, she notes, he keeps his focus close to home on his latest album, which tackles the corruption and inequality he sees in contemporary American society.
"What I love about this album is that in so many ways it's a distillation of some great American musics," McNamee tells Cooder.
To hear what Cooder has to say, listen to The Strand at bbc.co.uk.
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The release of Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down has been met with great critical acclaim from around the world, including five-star reviews from Uncut, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, the Independent, the Observer, Ireland's Evening Herald, the Winnipeg Free Press, and more. (For a quick re-cap, click here.) The album has now earned another five stars, this time from Bloomberg News.
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To pick up a copy of Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down, head to the Nonesuch Store, where vinyl and CD orders include high-quality, 320 kbps MP3s of the album at checkout, and MP3 and FLAC lossless files are also available to purchase.
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Good to see that you're publishing details of where to find reviews/updates etc. Very useful. The latest series of Later With Jools starting tonight on BBC - it will run for a few weeks. Any indication that Ry might appear?
Thanks, Charlie. No such plans as of yet, but we'll certainly help spread the word if that were to happen.
Hi
i posted also on your easy guitar chords homepage - sorry for the repost
i heard the BBC show 'bout your new album and heard the song "no banker left behind" on youtube - reminded me of one of my poems (actually my most popular poem)
thought you might like to see it - kind of in a similar direction though i like yours better
the Bible tells us not to steal
it’s there in black and white
our laws are based upon it too
do not do wrong - do right
but somehow since these laws were writ
we've seen the system fail
but things will change for all the best
when the bankers go to jail
when the bankers go to jail my friends
when the bankers go to jail
we’ll finally see justice done
when the bankers go to jail
when the vampire squid has been deep-fried
in the slime of Bernank’s words
when politicians tell the truth
and not be lying turds
when "austerity" applies to them
and fairness does prevail
we’ll finally see justice done
and the bankers go to jail
when the bankers go to jail ee-hah
when the bankers go to jail
we’ll all be dancing in the streets
when the bankers go to jail
if all was as it ought to be
when any business fails
investors take a haircut
amid their tears and wails
but in our mean kleptocracy
that the MSM does hail
the working class pay all the bills
and no banker goes to jail
when the bankers go to jail dear God
when the bankers go to jail
the haircuts will be number ones
when the bankers go to jail
we’re predators i must admit
it’s human nature too
to seek a better living for
our wives and children too
but animals we’re not you see
it not just fine detail
we keep the law, control ourselves
and the bankers go to jail
yes you bankers go to jail you thieves
all you bankers go to jail
you’ll be some brother’s jail-house bitch
when you bankers go to jail
you may think it’s a silly dream
to think of their demise
they’re oh so very powerful
and every banker lies
but one day soon we’ll overthrow
and have them by the tail
we’ll tar and feather all of them
and send them all to jail
when the bankers go to jail for good
when the bankers go to jail
we’ll hear the bells of freedom ring
when the bankers go to jail
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