My Name is Buddy
Studio album by
Ry Cooder
ReleasedMarch 6, 2007
GenreAmericana, folk, country, country folk, bluegrass, blues, honky tonk
LabelNonesuch
ProducerRy Cooder
Ry Cooder chronology
Chávez Ravine
(2005)		 My Name is Buddy
(2007)		 I, Flathead
(2008)

My Name Is Buddy: Another Record by Ry Cooder is the thirteenth studio album by Ry Cooder. It is the second social-political concept album by Ry Cooder. Cooder has described it as the second in a trilogy that began with Chávez Ravine and concluded with I, Flathead.[1] The album is packaged in a small booklet that includes a brief story and drawing to accompany each song. Both the songs and the stories relate tales from the viewpoint of the characters, Buddy Red Cat, Lefty Mouse, and Reverend Tom Toad. The liner notes ask listeners/readers to join them as they "Journey through time and space in days of labor, big bosses, farm failures, strikes, company cops, sundown towns, hobos, and trains... the America of yesteryear."

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

My Name is Buddy was widely reviewed in the mainstream media to a generally favorable reception (earning a score of 76 out of 100 at Metacritic)[3] The album was particularly well received, however, in folk music circles, becoming a cover feature in Sing Out! and receiving a nomination for the Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 50th Grammy Awards.[1][4]

Track listing

  1. "Suitcase in My Hand" (Ry Cooder) - 2:54
  2. "Cat and Mouse" (Ry Cooder) - 5:02
  3. "Strike!" (Ry Cooder) - 5:07
    • Ry Cooder (vocals, guitar), Joachim Cooder (drums), Mike Seeger (fiddle, harmonica, jaw harp)
  4. "J. Edgar" (Ry Cooder) - 2:37
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, guitar), Mike Seeger (banjo), Pete Seeger (banjo)
  5. "Footprints in the Snow" (Bill Monroe with new lyrics by Ry Cooder) - 3:07
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, bajo sexto), Roland White (vocal, mandolin), René Camacho (bass), Joachim Cooder (drums), Flaco Jiménez (accordion), Van Dyke Parks (piano), Mike seeger (fiddle)
  6. "Sundown Town" (Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder) - 2:57
  7. "Green Dog" (Ry Cooder) - 7:33
  8. "The Dying Truck Driver" (Ry Cooder) - 4:56
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, guitar), Roland White (vocal, mandolin), Mike Seeger (harmonica)
  9. "Christmas in Southgate" (Ry Cooder) - 3:27
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, bajo sexto), René Camacho (bass), Joachim Cooder (drums), Flaco Jiménez (accordion), Van Dyke Parks (piano), Mike Seeger (fiddle), Roland White (mandolin)
  10. "Hank Williams" (Ry Cooder) - 4:09
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, guitar), Joachim Cooder (drums), Mike Elizondo (bass)
  11. "Red Cat Till I Die" (Ry Cooder) - 3:08
    • "The original Cardboard Avenue Jaywalkers": Buddy Red Cat (vocal, guitar), Lefty Mouse (fiddle), The Reverend Tom Toad (tambourine)
  12. "Three Chords and the Truth" (Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder) - 5:02
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, guitar, bass), Joachim Cooder (drums)
  13. "My Name Is Buddy" (Ry Cooder) 3:12
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, mandolin, guitar, bass, keyboard), Joachim Cooder (drums)
  14. "One Cat, One Vote, One Beer" (Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder, Jared Smith) - 4:15
  15. "Cardboard Avenue" (Ry Cooder) - 4:33
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, banjo), Joachim Cooder (percussion), Mike Elizondo (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), Mike Seeger (fiddle), Roland White (mandolin)
  16. "Farm Girl" (Ry Cooder) - 3:54
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, guitar), Juliette Commagere (vocal), Mike Elizondo (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), Mike Seeger (fiddle), Roland White (mandolin)
  17. "There's a Bright Side Somewhere" (Traditional with new lyrics by Ry Cooder) - 4:49
    • Ry Cooder (vocal, guitar), Mike Elizondo (bass), Flaco Jiménez (accordion), Jim Kelter (drums), Paddy Moloney (whistle), Van Dyke Parks (piano), Mike Seeger (fiddle)

Personnel

Musicians

See track listing above

Production

Artwork

  • Illustrations by Vincent Valdez
  • Photographs by Susan Titelman
  • Package Design: Martin Pradler and Ry Cooder

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Swiss Albums Chart 40
UK Albums Chart 41
U.S. Billboard 200 Albums 168

Releases

yearformatlabelcatalog #
2007CDNonesuch79961

References

  1. 1 2 John Kruth, "Three (or Four) Chords and the Truth", Sing Out!, 51:3, Autumn 2007
  2. ↑ Thom Jurek, "Review: My Name is Buddy", Allmusic
  3. ↑ "Ry Cooder - My Name is Buddy analysis of reviews from Metacritic
  4. ↑ 50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List at grammy.com

Further reading / listening

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