Boomer's Story is your typically eclectic Ry Cooder outing. Some traditional folk and blues songs are thrown in with contemporary R&B and war-themed numbers on this 1972 release, with mixed results. Much of his previous album, Into the Purple Valley, focused on songs that came out of The Great Depression. Boomer's Story appears to be a continuation of that timeline, as several of the songs found here are from the World War II era.

I'm not sure if it is in keeping with the theme, but on most songs Cooder sings as if he were a wino in the gutter. Though this adds a certain pathos to the title track and "Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man," two songs about train-hopping which bracket the album, and provides a sense of irony to the patriotic "Rally 'Round the Flag" and "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer," it can appear like a gimmick when carried too far.

I couldn't understand why Cooder chose to sing in this style until later in the album when blues artist Sleepy John Estes guests on his own composition, "President Kennedy," singing in a similar, weary manner. This led me to conclude that Cooder chose this persona in order to imitate blues singers of the past. In any case, it is one of Cooder's affected styles and since singing isn't his strong point, the move can be viewed as a parody instead of what I think was Cooder's motive, a genuine reverence for the material.

But whatever its shortcomings, the trio of "Rally 'Round the Flag," "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer," and "President Kennedy" form a commentary of life in the United States circa 1972. What with the Vietnam War slowly coming to an end and Richard Nixon winning re-election, Cooder and Estes turn to songs from an earlier era when there was a cause worth fighting for and a President who was fondly remembered as a champion of the common people.

Except they sound like they don't believe what they are singing. Cooder sings the Civil War-inspired "Rally "Round the Flag" as if he were on the losing side of the fight and only opens up on the World War-era "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" when the music becomes more celebratory.

The best songs on Boomer's Story are the instrumentals, bluesman Skip James' "Cherry Ball Blues," the Latin tinged "Maria Elena," and especially on the Southern soul classic "Dark End of the Street." These songs emphasize Cooder's phenomenal slide-guitar playing where he can tell a story just with his axe. This is Cooder's real strength and if he ever puts out an album of all-instrumental covers (and maybe he has, I don't know), I'll bet it would sound great.

As a whole, I liked Boomer's Story just enough to recommend it, imperfections and all.

Recommended: Yes