I, Flathead

I, Flathead
Studio album by Ry Cooder
Released June 23, 2008
Recorded at Little Pink Studio, L.A.
Genre Americana, roots rock, Tex-Mex, country rock, western swing
Length 53:08
Label Nonesuch
Producer Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder chronology

My Name Is Buddy
(2007)
I, Flathead
(2008)
San Patricio
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link
Blues.ru link (in Russian)
Billboard (not rated) link

I, Flathead: The Songs of Kash Buk and the Klowns is the fourteenth studio album by Ry Cooder. It is the final concept album by Ry Cooder. It is the third in his "California trilogy" that began with Chávez Ravine (2005) and My Name Is Buddy (2007).[1]

The Deluxe Edition of the album is accompanied by a 104 page hardback book which included a CD in paper pocket, a novella (on 97 pages) and song lyrics. That story even subtitled "The Songs of Kash Buk and the Klowns." It's told about beatnik, salt-flats racer, and country musician Kash Buk, his band the Klowns, the girls, the strange and wonderful extraterrestrial visitor called Shakey, and the Passenger who pursues him, and other characters.

The title is a play on the Isaac Asimov novel "I, Robot", but the flathead in question is the Ford Flathead engine.

Track listing

  1. "Drive Like I Never Been Hurt" (Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder) - 4:07
  2. "Waitin' for Some Girl" (Ry Cooder) - 3:48
  3. "Johnny Cash" (Ry Cooder) - 3:08
  4. "Can I Smoke In Here?" (Ry Cooder) - 4:19
  5. "Steel Guitar Heaven" (Ry Cooder) - 3:40
  6. "Ridin' with the Blues" (Ry Cooder) - 3:01
  7. "Pink-O Boogie" (Ry Cooder) - 3:05
  8. "Fernando Sez" (Ry Cooder) - 4:44
  9. "Spayed Kooley" (Ry Cooder) - 2:09
  10. "Filipino Dancehall Girl" (Ry Cooder) - 3:54
  11. "My Dwarf Is Getting Tired" (Ry Cooder) - 3:59
  12. "Flathead One More Time" (Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder, Jared Smith) - 3:12
  13. "5000 Country Music Songs" (Ry Cooder) - 6:41
  14. "Little Trona Girl" (Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder) - 3:13

Credits

Musicians

Production

Recorded & mixed by Martin Pradler

Artwork

Releases

year format label catalog #
2007 CD Nonesuch 511762

References

  1. John Kruth, "Three (or Four) Chords and the Truth", Sing Out!, 51:3, Autumn 2007

Further reading / listening

External links