Lunch Date With Ry

Paradise and Lunch was the Ry Cooder album that began to see the beginning of his regular touring band as a recording entity with the soul / gospel backing voices led by Bobby King and the rhythm section of Jim Keltner on drums and Chris Etheridge on bass. It also marked a subtle shift away from the depression era songs that had dominated the first three solo albums, with only perhaps Jesus On The Mainline and Tamp 'Em Up Solid fitting that category. Otherwise there was more of an r 'n' b feel, although Cooder always put a slight off kilter skew on straight ahead r 'n' b, with touches such as the cod reggae rhythm to It's All Over Now. Mexican Divorce was a pointer to an influence that would grow in subsequent albums with the addition of Flaco Jimenez and the old blues chestnut Ditty Wah Ditty is graced by a delightful piano contribution from veteran legenc Earl Hines. As was now becoming expected, Ry Cooder once again concentrates more on the selection and arrangement of the songs than on guitar hero virtuosity but his playing still gives much to admire.