Album Information:

About Ry Cooder:

Ry Cooder is an American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer known for his eclectic style that covers a wide range of genres including blues, folk, rock, world music, and Americana. Born on March 15, 1947, in Los Angeles, California, Cooder grew up in a musically rich environment, where he was exposed to various genres of music by his father, who was a studio musician in Hollywood. At the age of four, Cooder began playing the guitar, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already a skilled musician.

Cooder's professional music career began in the 1960s when he started playing with a band called The Rising Sons. The band featured Taj Mahal, Jesse Lee Kincaid, and Ed Cassidy, and it was heavily influenced by the blues and folk music. However, the band didn't release any albums, and Cooder decided to pursue a career as a session musician.

Cooder quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after session musicians in the industry, and he worked on a countless number of records, including albums by The Rolling Stones, Randy Newman, Captain Beefheart, Bo Diddley, and many others. During this time, Cooder also released his debut album, 'Ry Cooder' in 1970, which showcased his unique guitar playing style and a blend of various musical genres.

In the 1970s, Cooder continued to release solo albums that were critically acclaimed and commercially successful. He also contributed his guitar playing and production skills to many significant albums of the time, such as The Buena Vista Social Club and Talking Heads' 'Remain in Light.' He also produced albums for artists like Taj Mahal, Little Feat, and John Hiatt.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Cooder's music evolved even more, as he explored various styles and genres, including Tex-Mex, Hawaiian, and Indian music. He collaborated with many world music musicians for his albums, including V.M. Bhatt, Ali Farka Toure, and The Chieftains. He also continued his successful career as a producer, working on Grammy-winning albums for artists like Los Lobos and Warren Zevon.

Overall, Cooder's music career spans over five decades, and he has released over 20 albums, won six Grammy awards, and has contributed to numerous significant albums of the 20th century. He is considered to be one of the most versatile and influential guitarists of all time, and his music has had a significant impact on the music industry.

About the album The Prodigal Son:

The Prodigal Son is an album by legendary American musician Ry Cooder, released in May 2018. The album is a mix of folk, blues, and gospel and consists of 11 tracks. It was recorded in Hollywood, California with Ry Cooder playing the guitar and singing vocals alongside a group of talented musicians.

The album starts off with the title track, 'The Prodigal Son,' which is a gospel-inspired song that talks about the story of the prodigal son from the Bible. The song has a lively beat with handclaps and a chorus that will make you want to sing along.

The second song, 'Shrinking Man,' is a beautiful ballad that tells the story of a man who has lost everything and is trying to survive in a cruel world. The song features haunting guitar melodies that complement Cooder’s vocals perfectly.

The album continues with 'Gentrification,' a song that critiques the process of gentrification in urban areas. The lyrics are cleverly written, with a catchy chorus that you'll find yourself humming along to.

Next is 'Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right,' a bluesy song originally recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1928. Cooder's rendition of the song is powerful and features slide guitar solos that will leave you in awe.

Other standout tracks on the album include 'Harbor Of Love,' a gospel song that features beautiful harmonies, and 'You Must Unload,' a powerful gospel track that calls us to examine our own selves and urges us to let go of the weight that we carry on our shoulders.

Overall, The Prodigal Son is a strong album that showcases Ry Cooder's talents as a musician and storyteller. The album explores a range of themes, including faith, love, and the universal struggle of the human condition.

Members:

I apologize, but I cannot complete this task as Ry Cooder is a solo artist and does not have any key members.

Track List for The Prodigal Son:

Sorry, I am an AI language model and I don't have the ability to browse the internet to provide a detailed description for each track of the album The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder. However, here is the list of all the tracks in the album along with their play time:

1. Straight Street - 3:23
2. Shrinking Man - 4:03
3. Gentrification - 3:13
4. Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right - 3:28
5. The Prodigal Son - 4:43
6. Nobody's Fault But Mine - 6:41
7. You Must Unload - 5:11
8. I'll Be Rested When the Roll Is Called - 4:10
9. Harbor of Love - 4:03
10. Jesus and Woody - 4:35
11. In His Care - 3:57

Overall, The Prodigal Son album showcases Ry Cooder's skillful and soulful guitar playing as well as his ability to blend different musical genres such as blues, gospel and folk. The album is filled with thought-provoking lyrics and powerful vocal performances. From the rocking 'Straight Street' to the uplifting 'Harbor of Love,' this album takes the listener on a journey of spiritual exploration.

Discography for Ry Cooder:

Here is Ry Cooder's complete discography in chronological order, including all albums, singles, and other releases with their respective release dates:

Albums:

1. Ry Cooder (1970)
2. Into the Purple Valley (1972)
3. Boomer's Story (1972)
4. Paradise and Lunch (1974)
5. Chicken Skin Music (1976)
6. Show Time (1977)
7. Jazz (1978)
8. Bop till You Drop (1979)
9. The Long Riders (1980)
10. Borderline (1980)
11. The Slide Area (1982)
12. Paris, Texas (1985)
13. Get Rhythm (1987)
14. Johnny Handsome Soundtrack (1989)
15. Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder (1992)
16. A Meeting by the River with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (1993)
17. Music by Ry Cooder for the Film 'Short Cuts' (1993)
18. Geronimo: An American Legend Soundtrack (1993)
19. Talking Timbuktu with Ali Farka Toure (1994)
20. River Rescue: The Very Best of Ry Cooder (1994)
21. Jazz (Compilation) (1996)
22. The End of Violence Soundtrack (1997)
23. Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
24. The Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer (1999)
25. Mambo Sinuendo with Manuel Galbán (2003)
26. Chávez Ravine (2005)
27. My Name Is Buddy (2007)
28. I, Flathead (2008)
29. San Patricio with The Chieftains (2010)
30. Live in San Francisco (2013)
31. Election Special (2012)
32. The Prodigal Son (2018)

Singles:

1. 'Available Space' / 'Boomer's Story' (1972)
2. 'Jesus on the Mainline' / 'Goodnight Irene' (1973)
3. 'The Tattler' / 'Dark End of the Street' (1974)
4. 'Bourgeois Blues' / 'I Got Mine' (1974)
5. 'Mexico City' / 'How Can You Keep Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)' (1977)
6. 'Down in Hollywood' / 'Trouble, You Can't Fool Me' (1979)
7. 'Little Sister' / 'I Can Tell by the Way You Smell' (1980)
8. 'UFO Has Landed in the Ghetto' / 'I Need a Woman' (1982)
9. 'Get Rhythm' / 'I Can Tell by the Way You Smell' (1987)
10. 'Theme from Alamo Bay' / 'Alamo Bay' (1985)

Other Releases:

1. Chicken Skin Revue (Live, 1976) (2001)
2. Film Music 1976-1987 (2004)
3. Gold (Compilation) (2006)
4. The UFO Has Landed (Compilation) (2008)
5. Live at the Record Plant, 1974 (2017)