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Post by MartinT on Jul 31, 2014 8:42:02 GMT
Ry Cooder - Bop Til You Drop (1979)
Ry Cooder's Bop Til You Drop is notable for being the world's first commercial all-digital recording of non-classical music (Telarc got there first with a Holst / Handel release). The cover notes allude to 50kHz sampling rate and I have gleaned that the word length was 16-bit. It must have taken mountains of early 3M ADC and recording equipment and you could be forgiven for assuming that it must sound dreadful. You'd be quite mistaken, but more about that in a minute.
BTYD is hard to describe: Cooder assembled a very tight and capable band (Jim Keltner on drums, Tim Drummond on bass, David Lindley on guitar), playing a mixture of gospel, R&B and ballads (almost all covers) with Cooder's guitar style shining through. There is music here for many, although sampling the album won't reveal all that it has to offer.
On the sound quality front, it is my opinion that this recording is absolutely first rate. Instruments sound natural, the mix is spacious and detail very impressive. Dynamics are wonderfully natural. However, and this is a big one: the CD is not the best way to hear it, at least not the version I have. My vinyl pressing, on the other hand, sounds quite superb. Yes, that's right: the best way to hear this digital recording is on vinyl!
The stand-out track is Go Home, Girl which starts off quietly, encouraging a high volume setting. The band builds to an ensemble climax which really grooves along and presents a fantastic portrait of performers feeding off each other. Presley's Little Sister is given a rather good makeover, too. Most of the album is as good and really quite infectious. I cannot count how many times I've played my E plate German WEA pressing, but it must rank in the hundreds and it still sounds superb.
For its great music, for a simply wonderful recording, and for a system test like few other recordings I know, you should give this a listen. Unfortunately, the Spotify stream is sub-par and the German WB CD release average. If you can find a German vinyl pressing, grab it with both hands.
Wikipedia entry.
An appearance on the BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test, performing Little Sister
Further Listening
Soundtrack: Paris, Texas Soundtrack: Southern Comfort (and many other film soundtracks)
Chavez Ravine
Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back
Buena Vista Social Club
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Post by prestonchipfryer on Jul 31, 2014 10:03:05 GMT
I listen regularly to this record. Also have to concur with Martin that the best way to listen is on vinyl. 8/10 from me.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 31, 2014 11:55:15 GMT
Superb. Never far from being played on my system
My main reference LP album for checking system upgrades and tweaks.
It just goes on an on revealing more
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 9, 2014 20:55:49 GMT
This album slipped me by too! I'm pleased to have heard it - the band is cooking and the songs are good too, so it gets 8/10 from me  |
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Post by John on Aug 9, 2014 21:09:54 GMT
A 6 for me Well recorded but just not grabbing me
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 9, 2014 21:17:15 GMT
A 6 for me Well recorded but just not grabbing me Took me plenty of plays for its charms to unveil themselves. |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 9, 2014 21:35:04 GMT
It's definitely a slow burner, but once it grabs you...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2014 5:13:51 GMT
New to me too. For me its just very competent, ordinary, slightly rocky pop music. No great depth. The band is certainly very good. I couldn't see anything there to make me want to hear it again  Sound was better than I expected from streaming but a bit bland - 5/10 max. So I guess i wasn't overwhelmed  |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 10, 2014 7:31:47 GMT
No worries, Gordon. It's not going to tick everyone's boxes.
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Post by AlanS on Aug 10, 2014 8:13:52 GMT
Feel ancient. It was one of my always play discs for years but then I got it when it first came out not like you lot. Then on vinyl it was amazing compared to pure analogue. Look what you take for granted these days
woops still haven't voted.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 10, 2014 10:35:36 GMT
A 6 for me Well recorded but just not grabbing me Have another go or 2 John It does grow on you The detail in there is superb |
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Post by lurcher on Aug 10, 2014 12:09:41 GMT
Feel ancient. It was one of my always play discs for years but then I got it when it first came out not like you lot. Then on vinyl it was amazing compared to pure analogue. Look what you take for granted these days woops still haven't voted. Yep, afraid I still remember getting it when it first came out, in fact I remember walking past HMV in Bradford (that in itself shows its age) and seeing 20 or so copies on vinyl in a display in the window. I have used it forever as a test recording and the best thing about it to my miond was it introduced me to the rest of Ry Cooders work. |
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Post by John on Aug 10, 2014 12:42:14 GMT
I love Ry when he working with other Musicians. His collaboration with VM Bhatt is pretty special check it on vinyl if you can
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2014 14:50:46 GMT
A point to note that although this is digital it is pre CD and the recording was intended for vinyl. So that is the way it was meant to be heard. Also the sleeve notes state it is an exact copy of the master tape with no equalizing or limiting. Don't know whether that applies to cuts made from copy tapes outside the US. My copy is the UK (original) cut at Strawberry. Also states digital music has a brighter cleaner sound. However this is not bright as you would expect from digital - warm clean and maybe a little less full bodied than the best analogue. It's not obviously digital but not in the same league SQ wise as say 'The Wall' from the same year.
Musically this is superbly arranged and played by top name musicians and is a pleasant listen. However the material is mostly covers which makes it rather generic and unoriginal. I'm sure it wouldn't have got as much attention but for the first digital recording tag. I prefer Cooder as an instrumentalist rather than for his moderate vocal abilities. Gave it a 7/10 for execution and performance - enjoyable rather than memorable music that for me has never demanded frequent listening.
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Post by jammy on Aug 10, 2014 14:59:54 GMT
Very good - I kind of grew up with it....
But am a bit dodgy once my mother says its good......time for a head check.
Its soppy pants........
Get a bit of Motor Head doon ya..
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Post by jammy on Aug 10, 2014 15:03:05 GMT
How's about some Boney M......
FFS.
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Post by jammy on Aug 10, 2014 15:05:44 GMT
IS THIS PC......ITS OK CALL A SPADE A SPADE .....jUST DONT MENTION HFS.
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Post by John on Aug 10, 2014 15:15:21 GMT
Jammy can you calm it down a bit. Not every post has to hint at a swear word
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Post by ChrisB on Aug 10, 2014 15:20:49 GMT
You asked if it's OK to call a spade a spade. Well, yes, that's fine, except you're not.....you're calling it an effin' spade!
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Post by ChrisB on Aug 10, 2014 19:29:25 GMT
Anyway, having listened to this again.......
I bought it in the early 1990s, a CD copy, but knew it quite well from before then. I really like 'I think it's going to work out fine' but I find the rest of it pleasant enough, but a little un-engaging. Apart from one song it's entirely comprised of cover versions, so maybe it's just the choice of material that doesn't gel with me because there's nothing wrong with the performances.
I have plenty of other Cooder albums, all of which I prefer, but I think this one gets a 6 from me.
Who knew that my favourite track was also done by Ike & Tina Turner in 1961? There are loads of cover versions of it from all sorts of people - Spencer Davis, Manfred Mann etc but this has to be one of the most camp music videos that I've ever seen....
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