Bop Til You Drop

Ry Cooder, more than anyone who has touched the pop music scene, has done a great service to music lovers by resurrecting nearly-forgotten genres of indiginous American music. From his early inspiration by Hawaiian slack-key guitar master Gabby Pahinui and the gritty, passionate Sleepy John Estes, to very early jazz forms to Tex/Mex to gospel, bluesy mandolin, Depression-era worksongs, the list is very long. But you cannot accuse him of being a dilettante, because he is extremely respectful of all the traditions he explores, remaining true to their spirits while somehow adding his own distinctive imprint. His interests have ranged abroad in more recent years to India, East Africa and, most famously, Cuba.

Bop Till You Drop explores neglected corners of the rhythm 'n' blues genre. I am a 30-year enthusiastic fan of Ry Cooder's work, and I think this is one of his best. Start with "Down in Hollywood," as tight a piece of funk as you will find. The peerless Jim...Read more

i don't seem to agree with the music critics and even with ry cooder himself on this one. i read at [...], that ry disowned this recording.... which i don't understand at all. for me this is one of his standout efforts. eclectic, yes. but unpretentious and at ease with itself. r&b how it could be: funky, bluesy, with a gospel touch here and there. great playingfrom all, specially from fellow guitarist david lindley. great singing from chaka khan and bobby king. i prefer this one many times over ry's much praised efforts as "tourist guide" presenting latin roots music to a greater audience with his buena vista social club efforts. not that i don't like son: i love son, afro american music at it's best, but it does'nt need ry to discover it. and also unfortunately with his putting the spot light on some few cuban musicians - albeit great - many others, specially those not from cuba are left in the dark. with bop till you drop he does not "discover", but "plays" what he knows best.

I cannot understand anyone flogging this album. It has got warmth, it has got depth, there are some very good songs and a few great ones on it, and the people involved can really sing and play their instruments... which is something too rare, nowadays.

My personal favorites are the first four tracks, with the instrumental 'I think it's gonna work out fine' as the absolute pinnacle of top notch playing without getting technical. I mean, there still is a lot of emotion and feeling going on behind the flawless playing.

This album drew my attention to Ry Cooder and I have been buying all his stuff before and after. I can strongly recommend Chicken Skin Music and his work with the Buena Vista Social Club, although both albums are quite different from this one.

As a bonus: this was one of the very first digitally recorded popular albums - if not THE first.

Enjoy. Go with the flow. You'll get back to this album once you've learned to enjoy it.