Search - Ry Cooder :: Performance (1970 Film)

A favorite of mine for over 30 years

Yogi Mi | Calabasas, CA USA | 03/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Several years ago at a Yoga class, I asked Ry Cooder about the Performance soundtrack, and he merely said "Oh, that Jack Nitzche thing?" Perhaps to many it was just a soundtrack. In contrast, I think it was a watershed piece of work. There is Ry playing his guitar in counterpoint to intense tablas more than 20 years before "A Meeting by the River" and The Last Poets heralding the birth of Rap more than a decade before the word Rap was invented. Some may not be familiar with Buffy Saite-Marrie. I was wild about Buffy when I was in high school and remember seeing her in concert when I was about 15. Unfortunately, she doesn't do much in the way of her affected tremolo vocals on this album, but her mouth bow performance has never been more creative. Randy Newman and Mick Jagger obviously need no introduction, but I have never been able to find out who is playing bass with Mick on this version of "Memo from Turner". Merry Clayton, now known mostly for her work on "Dirty Dancing" was around in 1963 with the Capitol single "It's in his kiss". Jack really gets her to belt it out - although only too briefly - in "Poor White Hound Dog".Five Stars!! Highly recommended!!"

Happy Halloween!

10/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my three favorite soundtrack albums (along with Midnight Cowboy and Harder They Come) and it's one of the scariest sounding albums I know. The music on it is very eclectic, but it all contributes to an atmosphere of menace and dread. I assume Ry Cooder's participation led to him playing on Let It Bleed (ditto for Merry Clayton), and Memo From Turner would certainly fit on that album. Randy Newman's singing on Gone Dead Train is as energetic as I've ever hear him. (A bump 'n' grind version of this song is also on that first great Crazy Horse album.) I wouldn't be surprised if Tangerine Dream learned a thing or two from Nitzche's great orchestrated atmospherics."

One of the most versatile collection of songs on Soundtrack.

Yogi Mi | 10/22/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you were lucky enough to live during this period you will appreciate the versatility of the artists on this album. Personaly, I am constantly looking for off the beaten track type songs like these.It may take a couple of times to pick up the the true mastery of these proven songsters and writers, but it always does with new Stones releases and controversial pieces. The Last Poets, of that period are especially discriptive of their work, which would probably never have been produced by todays standards. This track alone or Memo from Turner is enough to buy the album. Those who know Mary Clayton will like her range and eerie rendition of Performance. 5 stars in my book but I'm a die hard Rolling Stones fan who appreciates underground music of that time. Sincerely, Klife1@aol.com"