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Rating: Listening to this album is like being catapulted into another world. Nothing metaphysical, no. Just dust, earth, faces, many different faces. Each one carries a story, and each one has it written on their face, and it can be a song. Someone who can go mad for a cigarette, and then when they can finally smoke it, they feel good. Or a Mexican divorce, or thinking that everything is over, and how beautiful it would be if even the walls could talk...
And then a guitar always at hand, as in the best traditions. It almost seems like watching a scene from some Sergio Leone western, with good old Ry - the “philologist,” as he might be called in learned circles - playing while leaned against a wall. And all around him, his companions, those who share the same idea of Music with him.
The whole album has this scent, this intense aroma of a past time, that was beautiful and will never come back. In the sweet harmonies of Tattler, we think back to that girl, yes, that same one, with her sweet face printed in front. The most beautiful song ever composed by Ry Cooder, who writes “musician” and reads “treasure hunter.” The one who takes up the traditionals of Temp 'Em Up Solid and the lovely march - truly magnificent - Jesus on the Mainline, supported by the horn section masterfully directed by George Bohanon. The one who also pays tribute to Bobby & Shirley Womack with a sweeping version of It's all over now. The one who plays his instrument divinely for all the 37 minutes and more of the album. The one that as soon as you hear his voice in Ditty Wah Ditty you say "but no come on, how can this one sing? Wouldn't it have been better if he just kept playing?..". And then he engages you, you like it. And then, towards the end, that piano arrives, with the great old Earl Hines emerging from a corner of a forgotten and smoky saloon...
And here we are at the fourth album for Cooder, Year of Our Lord 1974. And if Our Man had already made a name for himself in 1969, playing the slide in Love in Vain on "Let it Bleed" of stone memory - although his debut would be delayed by a year - with this, he achieves the so-called squaring of the circle. Not that an album like "Into the Purple Valley" was much inferior or immature, by any means. But certainly on the fourth attempt, Cooder becomes fully aware of his role as "cataloger" and "resuscitator” within the world of rock music in general. A bit like the distinguished company J&R did - in their own way - some years before, with the first albums (and not only). And as this talented and brilliant guitarist has taken up again, going in-depth. A character undeservedly fallen into oblivion for some time now, who certainly deserves another level of attention, if only for the role played within a constant rereading and search of our roots.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Tamp 'em Up Solid (03:22)
(Traditional) Tamp 'em up solid, so they won't come down Tamp 'em up solid, buddy, so they won't come down Tamp 'em up solid, so they won't come down Tamp 'em up solid, buddy, so they won't come down Baby, when you marry your railroad man Every day'll be pay day, dollar bill in your hand Baby, in your hand, baby, in your hand Baby, in your hand, baby, in your hand Mary and the baby laying in the bed Thinking about the money that I ain't made So tamp 'em up solid so they won't come down Tamp 'em up solid, buddy, so they won't come down Captain called the water boy and the water boy laughed Captain kicked the water boy yelling, "Yes, yes, yes" So tamp 'em up solid, so they won't come down Tamp 'em up solid, buddy, so they won't come down And you can do it, and you can do it, and you can do it So they won't come down
02 Tattler (04:19)
(Ry Cooder/Russ Titelman/Washington Phillips)
Whenever you find a man that loves every woman he sees,
There's always some kind of woman that's a-puttin' him up a tree.
Now that kind of man, he ain't got as much sense as a mule.
You know, everyone don't love you, they're just a-playin' you for a fool
Mmmm, oh, no,
It's not hard for you to understand.
True love can be such a sweet harmony
If you do the best that you can.
If you marry the wrong kind of woman and you get where you can't agree,
Well, you just as well could get your hat and let that woman be.
But a man oughta make a good husband and quit tryin' to lead a fast life.
Goin' about dressin' up other women won't put clothes on his own wife
Well, there's lots of good women who wants to marry, and they want to live well at home.
But they're 'fraid they'll might get hold of a rowdy man, can't let other women alone.
And there's lots of good men wants to marry, and they wants to live well at home.
But every time they turn their back, there's another man there askin', "Darlin', is he gone?"
04 Jesus on the Mainline (04:10)
(Traditional)
I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want
Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Wo, that line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Well, the line ain't never busy
Tell Him what you want
Keep on calling Him up
And tell Him what you want
Well, if you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If you want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
If want His kingdom
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want
Well, if you're sick and wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Well, if you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
If you're sick and you wanna get well
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
And if you're feeling down and out
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up and tell Him what you want
I know Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Jesus is on that mainline
Tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up, call Him up, call Him up
Call Him up and tell Him what you want
09 Ditty Wah Ditty (05:42)
(Arthur Blake)
There's a great big mistery
And it sure is worrying me
It's a ditty wah ditty
Mister ditty wah ditty
I wished somebody would tell me what ditty wah ditty means
I went out and walked around
Somebody yelled, "Now who's in town ?"
Mister ditty wah ditty
Mister ditty wah ditty
I wished somebody would tell me what ditty wah ditty means
Some little girl 'bout four-feet-four
Said, "Come on, papa, and gimme some mo'"
Your ditty wah ditty
Your ditty wah ditty
I wished somebody would tell me what ditty wah ditty means
I went to church, put my hat on the seat
A lady sat on it and said, "Daddy you sho' is sweet"
Mister ditty wah ditty
Mister ditty wah ditty
I wished somebody would tell me what ditty wah ditty means
I said, "Sister, I'll soon be gone
Just give me that thing that you're sitting on"
My ditty wah ditty
Mister ditty wah ditty
I wished somebody would tell me what ditty wah ditty means
Then I got put outta the church
'Cause I talked about ditty wah ditty too much
Mister ditty wah ditty
Mister ditty wah ditty
I wished somebody would tell me what ditty wah ditty means
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