RY COODER BOOMER'S STORY UDSACD 2154 A Numbered, Limited-Edition, Hybrid SACD, Sourced from Original Master Tapes. Ry Cooder Is a Master of Sonic Archeology and a Cultural Historian on Boomer's Story.   The guitarist pays tribute to the past and updates music for the future on this rustic record steeped in Folk, Blues, and Soul. Ry Cooder's development as a peerless musician capable of grasping virtually any style began with his time spent with Taj Mahal and Captain Beefheart, but for all intents and purposes reaches epic proportions on Boomer's Story.   With two ambitious albeit uneven studio albums behind him, the California native plunged into roles that still define him today – that of sonic archeologist and cultural historian, shaping his 1972 Reprise effort with enlightened selections carved into the bedrock of America's folk, blues, and soul landscapes.   Inspired, virtuosic, and poignant, Boomer's Story endures as a ravishing portrait of inspired translation and inventive craftsmanship that after years of neglect finally boasts sonics deserving of the performances. Having initiated his self-taught learning of customs established by the likes of Josh White, Woody Guthrie, Charlie Johnson, and Robert Johnson as early as age four, and grown up a son of parents obsessed with Folkways Records, Cooder never suffers from the retro rehash fakery plaguing countless contemporary revivalists.   A true original, the guitarist simultaneously pays tribute to the past and updates it for the future.   Boomer's Story, brims with traditional tunes (the title track, “Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man”), classic blues (“Ax Sweet Mama,” “Cherry Ball Blues”), and World War II standards (“Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer”). A spellbinding blend of personality, respect, and innovation grace every song.   Drummer Jim Keltner, percussionist Milt Holland, and bassist Jim Dickinson (also a producer) are among the cast fleshing out Cooder's visions.   The headliner also welcomes country-blues legend Sleepy John Estes to sing on his own “President Kennedy” and leans on pianist Randy Newman to help him transform the normally bellicose “Rally 'Round the Flag” into a patient, mournful protest.   1. Boomer's Story   2. Cherry Ball Blues   3. Crow Black Chicken   4. Ax Sweet Mama   5. Maria Elena   6. The Dark End of the Street   7. Rally 'Round the Flag   8. Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer   9. President Kennedy 10. Good Morning Mr. Railroad Ma Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab recordings are distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading