Ry Cooder - Vigilante Man (live)

Ry Cooder, back in the '70s. Live @ the Old Grey Whistle Test!
This man has S.O.U.L.

[@Geschirrspul]

I am 3,200 years old and was just awakened from a slumber hexed upon me by a forest witch. This man is playing such an unusual looking lute, but I love the sounds it makes.

[@OlivierLecerf]

I think I am the same age or almost...I am not sure but it seems to me to see you in your dream... Remember, I was the man sleeping under the oak... My hat was green because the humidity... It was such long time I was there... The moss grew on my boots... Underside, a fresh source with rainbow trout swam...

[@elizabethpinkerton9866]

Only vigilant people recognise the good and great musicians. No need to be afraid of the forest witch she is there to help and keep the forests of the world safe.

[@optimusmaximus9646]

Did they have lutes in 1000 BC?

[@helowako]

I am 16 years old, and for Christmas, I got a guitar slide, and so have become very interested in the blues and music of ry cooder :)

[@Titan-gi4zr]

You must be very good by now.

[@helowako]

@@Titan-gi4zr I'm afraid to say I never got on very well with the slide but I'm still playing guitar lots including in a duo :) and loving blues, folk, fingerstyle, and more!

[@Titan-gi4zr]

@@helowako Nice.

[@The_Exploding_Moth_From_Hell]

@@helowako Did you ever try it on your ring finger? I've always found it works better for me.

[@winstonchurchill624]

@@helowako Glad to see you stuck with it, I’ve been playing for about a year now and luckily I seem to be getting on with the slide pretty well

[@blackdogbite]

Ry Cooder is a guitarist's guitarist. An incredible musician.

[@davidmatthews3131]

Not only that but also a non-guitarist's guitarist.

[@clarkairbase3526]

Thanks Mr. Obvious,,, the title says Ry Cooder. Bring back the thumbs back Screw Tube, or delete it.. Your as fake as FakeBook

[@allaprimalady]

there needs to be a "Love" button for this one

[@DeadmanWalking]

A great cover on a great song originaly by Woody Guthrie. Some people don't forget their roots and Ry Cooder is one of them. Respect.

[@nickryder9669]

Still plays it all these years later ! He just changes the words to make it up to date

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

I'm 63 years old and disgusted with myself I didn't discover him 45 years ago. He's a monster. Unparalleled.

[@trukeesey8715]

"Is"?

[@SoulDaddy33]

I'm right there with you. Bummed but grateful as well. Always heard the name but hadn't listened. Darn.

[@realmofthesenses]

I am just 1 year older than you. Cooder's music was wellknown in my country, and esp in my group of friends around the mid 1970s. However, I simply didn't like his music. Relatively recently I re-discovered 1960s and 1970s country rock, americana and black americana Apparently my taste has evolved. NOw, I'm loving Ry Cooder's music, guitar virtuosity, voice etc.

[@francoisebeylie2923]

@@realmofthesenses It just goes to show that it is never too late to change...

[@LynnMee]

born in 1955 in the UK - brought up on Old Grey Whistle Tests - thank you BBC

[@Bern446]

Rythmically one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

[@francoisebeylie2923]

Harmoniously and melodiously too...

[@Bammbamm]

He really goes as authentic as he can vocally, and stylistically, no silly production, just guitar, a couple mics and an honest performance.

[@JacobafJelling]

I am 169 and I love this song with a passion

[@imannonymous7707]

The man singlehandedly kept traditional folk blues alive for an entire generation and beyond. Take the time to hear this mans message

[@anastasiapattison4393]

have you caught Billy Strings?hes pretty much done the same for bluegrass

[@frankrichards3089]

Yes he did

[@alanhayward8238]

Stefan Grossman and John Hammond are the players you need to check out. There are the ones who have kept the blues alive...

[@Everio620User]

I love the purity of this style.

[@JosephMuir-ic2nw]

Nothing can be better than that..seriously amazing

[@teeby_7700]

Ry Cooder is amazing

[@JosephMuir-ic2nw]

Absolutely amazing

[@sixwingsram]

Loved Ry Cooder along with Dave Ray and Kottke for decades then came Michael Hedges and Mike Dawes. Love the progression of guitar, so vast and varied. Spent my life playing and learning. "And rest yourself in the strength of strings".🎸🎼🎸

[@thebob2751]

His work on the Paris, Texas soundtrack was absolutely incredible.

[@jethromc]

And Southern Comfort.....Awesome Movie

[@elizabethpinkerton9866]

Yeh it made the movie without it it would have been dull.

[@tristanmike]

"If I die of vanity, promise me, promise me If they bury me some place I don't want to be You'll dig me up and transport me, unceremoniously Away from the swollen city breeze, garbage bag trees Whispers of disease and the acts of enormity And lower me slowly and sadly and properly Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy" -Gordon Downie

[@marshallleo6589]

Ry is as smooth as sweet cider, gliding and swaying those strings...he bends the strings and my soul becomes as free as a mississippi river boat gliding and swaying all the way down to new orleans.

[@Fuzzpicker]

First I heard of Ry Cooder I was attending Community College in Cali. My Art Design class Instructor was a friend of his. Ry was finishing a new album, and we had a competition in class to design an album cover for it. While working on it we listened to Ry's music. First time I had heard it. Really dug it. I didn't win the competition, but I learned about some fantastic music. The album was to be "Borderline". I left Cali for Alaska shortly after and didn't hear what became of the album..1981.

[@barclaysauers255]

When I listen to this I like to look up an watch the trees dancing in the breeze and the soft clouds drifting by on a nice day and then further. Beyond all that and my soul is quenched for awhile.

[@Nangus01]

Im only six months old, and I love this kind of music!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't understand why other people my age listen to the junk that gets played these days! My mommy bumped this when I was in the womb and I've loved it ever since!

[@max-andrewmcmillan4235]

this was from the best rock show that ever came out of the UK, "old grey whistle test".I recall the night they aired this song, we had just got colour TV. this was also the first time I had ever seen Ry Cooder.

[@thedudegrowsfood284]

Still gives me goosebumps in 2019. Wow.

[@MUSIcMaN587]

Seven hundred seventy thousand and counting. Something good is happening here. Not all the powerful music in the world has been forgotten

[@coravisser727]

This is real legend so beautifull played super slide blues.

[@themusicaljunkie37]

George Harrison's son played this song while he was hosting the Beatles channel (just minutes ago) for his father's birthday... It's an incredible jam!

[@ryancollins4272]

I wish i had a 1000 more thumbs to give this video. AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[@marshsherrif2824]

have listened to John Fahey?

[@huwking-jones1517]

Ryan Collins ,

[@sianchetty1361]

I did one for you.xx

[@stephensmith799]

Have to lend you some more thumbs 😉👍👍👍👍👋

[@downtroddenmusic]

I remember seeing this live on the BBC at the time. Blew me away. I still play this song myself - in a pale imitation of this performance

[@franksavage8730]

+Marsh Sherrif what tuning is he using boys?

[@joeking7924]

Open D

[@5xq38p4u]

A true musical genius. One of a kind.

[@damianzaninovich4900]

Ry is an American hero, glad my older brother turned me on to him around ‘78 when I was in HS and disco was raging(Ugh). This is perfect!

[@Northwestshenanigans]

This is a Woody Guthrie tune~ awesome blues version done by Ry Cooder!

[@mctavish23]

Still have "Into the Purple Valley." Love it.

[@whitehorsetom]

glad i am of the generation that was able to pick up on his music in the 70s up to now, and you know he's allways there and its good that he is.

[@jarmar9847]

The sound of this guitar... Articulation like singing and at the same time the rhythm adapted to the singer's singing. Great performance of the blues.

[@zdime]

First time I ever laid ears on Ry's music he came out to warm up for Arlo Guthrie - had the rag top, sat in his chair; just him, his guitar, and a slide .... dropped his head back a little, closed his eyes and proceeded to completely wow the crowd - Vigilante Man was one of the tunes he did. In-effing-credible !!! Arlo was good but, frankly ....... pretty dang unexciting and uninteresting after having listened to Ry carrying on for the previous 45 minutes !

[@chiphughes1006]

Ry changed my life about 1970 or '71 .. I knew someone had done what I wanted to do with the old songs. Saw him perform, along with my Brother David Schuldberg, at a small hall in downtown Boston in '72, in the late Spring, opening act john Lee Hooker. Dropped to the knees of my heart.

[@Davett53]

I was attending college in southern Ohio, from 1972 to 1976. It was an old town, if it weren't a for that liberal arts college, the town was living in the past. Much of the town, all the streets were lined by old buildings built in the 1800s, & old railroad tracks that cut the town in half. Loads of coal and cut timbers was the cargo....Many of the vistas looked like the 1950s. Because it was in a deep valley, no one could receive basic TV signals. There was one cable network channel. I used walk around on the narrow brick sidewalks. This Ry Cooder tune seemed to be right at home, down there.

[@JerryLaCasse69]

One of Americas greatest artists

[@molemole1257]

I'm 66 and been involved in music (playing, singing and road crew) Go for it brother - you'll never ever regret it

[@esotericsolitaire]

This gives me chills every time.

[@peterfreeman6677]

BBC2, Old Grey Whistle Test, Tuesday March 20 1973. Ry Cooder played this and 'Goin' to Brownsville'.

[@liammurphy2755]

I haven't heard this in a long time. Much love from Ireland

[@exdus235]

👋😊🇺🇸

[@Nudiescorner]

NO ONE.....and I mean....NO ONE ......can hold a candle to this guy...

[@TheYipsl]

wow! an old Woody Guthrie tune, about Preacher Casey's death in :Grapes of Wrath" and more, we need this again now. thank you for posting.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Thanks, I didn't know that. Thank God it's now, Vengeance Is Mine, saith the Lord, I Will Repay. I can wait for that, God always does right, and maybe they would have gotten me by now, you know how unreasonable people can be.

[@GaryOslide]

A man who inspired a lot of my music.

[@mikemarlowe6524]

What a great duo! Love the Mississippi blues! You go girl 👏

[@eddiekicksurass666]

Such a glorious slide performance! Love it

[@zjokka]

Terrific performance, but again I'm at awe for the recording engineers working on this program. Sound recordings at OGWT are often better than the record. Especially where recording of acoustic guitars are concerned...

[@MrRoundwound]

Ry Cooder is a genius.

[@vincentbuccieri9305]

This One of America's Great Masters, Hes a National Treasure!

[@taragreenetarotastrologyre4945]

ive loved Ry Cooder since i listened to him in the 70's he is so talented. A beautiful soul

[@popxango]

Every once in a while I have to get a dose of this.

[@roblogosz1]

just saw him perform this tonight w his band - unfortunately the words now reflect what is going in our teetering country. great guitarist & a moving spokesperson.

[@uraldneprvw]

I saw Ry in Auckland New Zealand 2009 whilst on holiday fom the UK. Boy was I lucky! It was the chance of a life time. This guy is the bizz. I didn't even know he was gonna be there. It made the whole experience even sweeter. Geez what a song! He sang this song on the NZ tour. What a privilege to see him.

[@openbuddhistforuminternational]

Ry Coder is also one of our favorited musicians. Such rare recordings are very precious.

[@tonehunter59]

Absolutely stunning. A masterpiece of blues slider guitar playing.

[@tennisbumojai]

Great sound quality. Ry's guitar sounds fantastic. The man has soul!

[@aunkajohn]

im 60 and im doing the same thing with my sons ie sharing real music and thankfully they get it

[@oldnoiseboy]

@MUSIcMaN587 Now over 900,000. Come on world, it really deserves at least a million!!!! Saw this and Goin' to Brownsville when it was originally shown on OGWT - '71?. Stopped me in my tracks. Thank you so much for posting & to the BBC for not wiping these tapes.

[@ajciccar3]

hell of a guitarist. exceptional

[@stevemccart9109]

First show I went to 1969 Ry Cooder and Arlo Guthry and what do you know I sit cross legged directly in front of the man and have become a life long fan. He made a big impression . and they both did an acoustic show (no other musicians)

[@JoePesce]

One of my earliest blues influences and players, ever since I discovered his playing in "Crossroads" back in the mid 80's.

[@kevinfrancis6033]

Have been listening to rock since the 1970's ...then a kid who ed the radio music ....Ry COODER music would at times appear ..it would get like ..wow that's pretty good ...like if ......

[@cixelysd4686]

This song has been rattling around in my head since I first heard it in the early 1970s. I believe it was written by Woody Guthrie.

[@sherrard5492]

Correct.

[@西川敦志]

何度聴いても良いですね。アメリカンミュージックの深みに誘ってくれた師匠です。

[@gerardusharjadib.2090]

it is music in its purest form. Monumental

[@colink4823]

Great upload. Watched this on the old grey whistle test. Great show

[@renaklaas]

Brilliant. good post. loved his music for more than 40 years first time I actually saw him play. And sing too.

[@blucat4754]

Duude this man got some S.O.U.L!! Thx for posting! I wish there were more people like that on the streets of Hamburg

[@francoisebeylie2923]

He played in Hamburg in 1977 with the Chicken Skin Revue . You can find this concert on KZbin and on a DVD .

[@jmoakley1]

Loving this music.

[@strattuner]

RY COODER is on another plane than us,he is a master guitarist,master,he impresse me,and a hell of a lot of people,the ones I speak of have no ego about it,he shines

[@JG050705275]

The more I hear this the better it gets, Cooder is an amazing talent I wish he would make an album of pure slide guitar I could listen to this all day!!!

[@Davett53]

I came to know Ry Cooder's music in 1972,.....friends were into crap AM radio music,....I was steeping myself in old blues music,.....Ry never got any airplay on the radio,....but he could be found on albums. His music seemed a perfect match to where I was living at the time, down in Athens, in Southern Ohio, in the foothills of Appalachia.

[@elizabethpinkerton9866]

I am replaceing all my old records with cds. I know they arnt as good as records but I cant afford a good record player. I do have a 1960's radiogram, when it works it shakes the walls.

[@Davett53]

@@elizabethpinkerton9866 Cool. I tried replacing my albums with CDs,.....I could never find exact versions, so I gave up. Though I did discover other interesting compilations. Eventually, I just settled for listening to You Tube, and finding my old favorites.

[@GnomicMaster]

Ry is one hell of an unsung guitar virtuoso. In 1972 my sister bought Ry's Into the Purple Valley album and the two of us smoked some weed and put the record on my stereo. It was instant love of Ry.

[@donniemaxwell6864]

Sweet stuff right here....

[@keithhunter3910]

I've watched this video countless times over the past decade. It's the best video on KZbin.

[@detlefkaiser2266]

This guy played on Stones "Sister Moprhine" and stuff, he is the most underrated guitar player He is one of the kind

[@TerriblePerfection]

He's not underrated. He's been around and recording for decades.

[@DJWRailroad]

Definitely NOT underrated. E.g. numerous successful musicians have cited Cooder as their inspiration.

[@detlefkaiser2266]

Jerry Nielsen Sister Morhine etc, i know. Maybe i should have said: underrated by some so called Top 100 lists. He is in my TOP50

[@blakebiss]

This guy has played with everyone. I don't think he's underrated but I do think the slide guitar is somewhat a "specialty" guitar niche compared to the traditional rock guitar which doesn't get the same respect.

[@Cadillacula]

I know exactly what you meant. In typical conversations about rock and even blues guitarists his name would never come up around the water cooler... and it probably should. Bear in mind anyone who arrived at this video is probably not the person to ask if Ry is underrated *wink*

[@TheMargoCHANNING]

Just watching videos of the music I grew up with. Ry Cooder so good I named my first son after him. From the 70s up till the 90's he would visit the UK every five years and I went to every single one of his visits.

[@georgepointer1127]

I feel for your son

[@TheMargoCHANNING]

@@georgepointer1127 why

[@georgepointer1127]

@@TheMargoCHANNING I remember after the Majick roundabout there was an infestation of Dylan's.

[@TheMargoCHANNING]

But why do you feel for him. I've only ever in 43 years met one other Ryland.

[@jaymanjay1030]

Every six months or so I play this video. There's some music that just touches my soul and this piece hits me. John Butler Ocean also keeps me coming back for more. Music is everything to me.

[@tjcolatrella943]

I sat 2nd row center at NYC Town Hall and watched him play this on the same Martin D-45!

[@sallybell8766]

Brill,love your music. X

[@isabelledelisere1635]

Prodigieux. Merci.

[@Kennymurraycampbell]

What a great sound on his guitar.

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

So much raw talent in one human being

[@AltTunings]

Love this performance of Ry Cooder's take on "Vigilante Man." He plays it in Open G (low to high: D G D G B D). We're adding this performance to our KZbin Playlist "Songs in Alternate Tunings" -- perfect fit. Thank you for sharing!

[@rogerdale1994]

AltTunings Hmmmm.....pretty sure this is open D.

[@timorean320]

Could this be magic, Ice Cream Man, Van Halen. Bron y Aur, Bron y Aur Stomp, Friends, That's the way, Black Country Woman, Black Mountain Side, Led Zeppelin. Never going back again. Fleetwood Mac. Over Now. Alice in Chains. A few I can think of off top of head.

[@timorean320]

@@rogerdale1994 No, they are correct. The triad for D is: D, A, F#. The triad for G is: G, B, D.

[@chriscampbell9191]

Like others mention, this performance is in Open D (DADF#AD). Open G is played differently. My acoustic right now is in Open D and I can track the chords (and some of the riffs -- up to my own ability) that Ry is doing here easily. I normally play guitar in Open G and can't follow him here in that tuning.

[@marcusphelan57]

@@timorean320 Yep open D

[@timseibel6507]

So in the last week, I've been introduced to both George Benson and Ry Cooder. Holy mother of God have I been missing out. I'm not like a knowledgeable dude about music, but I do actively pursue new stuff; and I am actually dumbfounded by the amount of unbelievably awesome music I've never heard. Anyways, thanks for the upload.

[@igorgirotto]

Isso sim é slide blues! Ry Cooder é o cara

[@paulinegallagher1675]

Just incredible.

[@NoTrend64]

Into the Purple Valley, Boomer's Story and Paradise & Lunch are my favorites. If you like this style, the earlier records have it. But his discography is sooo deep, there's tons to choose from. Enjoy!!

[@seanjpstroud]

Remember watching this live on the whistle test at the time. Jaw-dropping.

[@Haaning93]

How can the guy from the "guitar" video, that's not even half as skilled as Ry Cooder, get 78.217.879 views, when a musical genius such as Ryan Cooder only gets 438.764 views. This is pure talent...

[@albatrosseable]

Outstanding. Packed with licks and tricks

[@humanity6fl9]

Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy

[@prabhendu]

such a smooth song....and that slide

[@jacksonparrish224]

Best thing I've ever fucking seen.

[@ELMASLAD]

If you love this you have GOT to get a copy of the movie 'Paris Texas' with Ry's amazing soundtrack and that incredible bottleneck slide adding so much to the haunting desert scenery.The movie is incredible too..one of my alltime faves .

[@ВадимПлетнёв-м2ч]

When love ends, begins blues!

[@slideharp1]

Sheeeiiitt!!! He just blows me away !. Always did. And he was playing like this when he was 17-18. A Real Bluesman. Pure n Nat'l

[@williamwoods1657]

Wow...slapping the crap out of a $9,000 Martin D45 with a bottle neck! Ry gets a pass...love that tone!

[@martinspencer366]

A great voice, an acoustic guitar and brilliant playing. Don't need no electric guitar and Marshall stack when you can play like this.

[@danaghartley]

You are and will remain my all time favorite- saw u play many a times and met u once. Little Village is the bomb of a band. Will treasure your secret invite to a nightclub in Venice in the 80s