[1] Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman) - 3:49
[2] Go Home, Girl (Alexander) - 5:10
[3] The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Bailey) - 5:32
[4] I Think It's Going to Work Out Fine (McCoy/McKinney) - 4:43
[5] Down in Hollywood (Cooder/Drummond) - 4:14
[6] Look at Granny Run Run (Ragovoy/Shuman) - 3:09
[7] Trouble, You Can't Fool Me (Knight/Varnell) - 4:55
[8] Don't Mess Up a Good Thing (Sain) - 4:08
[9] I Can't Win (Johnson/Knight/Richardson) - 4:16
RYLAND PETER COODER - Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals, Background Vocals
DAVID LINDLEY - Guitar, Mandolin
RONNIE BARRON - Organ, Guitar, Keyboards
REV. PATRICK HENDERSON - Organ, Keyboards
TIM DRUMMOND - Bass
REGGIE MCBRIDE - Bass
JIM KELTNER - Drums
MILT HOLLAND - Percussion, Drums
CHAKA KHAN - Vocals
SIMON PICO PAYNE - Vocals
BOBBY KING - Vocals, Background Vocals
JIMMY ADAMS - Vocals, Background Vocals
CLIFF GIVENS - Vocals, Background Vocals
HERMAN E. JOHNSON - Vocals, Background Vocals
RANDY LORENZO - Vocals, Background Vocals
GEORGE MCFADDEN - Vocals, Background Vocals
GREG PRESTOPINO - Vocals, Background Vocals
BILL JOHNSON - Background Vocals
PICO PAYNE - Background Vocals
LEE HERSCHBERG - Engineer
LOYD CLIFFT - Assistant Engineer
MIKE SALISBURY - Design
DAVID ALEXANDER - Photography
VICKI FORTSON - Production Coordination
PENNY RINGWOOD - Production Coordination
Following his conceptual 1978 release, Jazz, Ry Cooder returned the
next year with the R&B/soul-based Bop Till You Drop. The first
major-label, digitally recorded album, Bop is a nice set of moderately
known to obscure tunes from the '50s and '60s (along with a Cooder/Tim
Drummond original) that doesn't always live up to its promise. Cooder
and his excellent band, which includes the rhythm section of Tim
Drummond and Jim Keltner along with guitarist David Lindley, understand
the material and are more than capable of laying down a decent groove,
but something must have gotten lost in translation from what was played
to what came across on the recording. There's a thinness to the tracks
that undermines the performances, which according to Cooder is due to
the digital recording. If you check out the live version of Bop Till
You Drop's opener, "Little Sister," from the No Nukes record (using the
same band), you can see what surely could have been. Still, Bop is
worthwhile given Cooder's penchant for choosing great tunes, as well as
the tight performances, brilliant guitar work, and a handful of great
guest vocalists (including Chaka Khan). A few of the highlights include
his arrangement of the early-'60s Elvis hit "Little Sister," the
soulful "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)," an
instrumental take on Ike & Tina Turner's "I Think It's Gonna Work
Out Fine," and "I Can't Win," featuring Cooder's longtime cohort Bobby
King on lead vocal.
For all the laudatory work he's done in rediscovering a panoply of
artists from roots-based musical genres, Cooder's attempt to pay homage
to influences closer to home, namely '50s rock and R&B, on Bop Till
You Drop produced spotty results. While Arthur Alexander's "Go Home,
Girl" and Cooder's own composition, "Down in Hollywood," are notable
exceptions, most of the album suffers from languor stemming from a real
lack of drive or direction. Cooder's failed attempt to place Elvis
Presley's "Little Sister" in a broader musical context underscores the
gap between intent and achievement which plagues the majority of songs
on this well-meaning but unsatisfying effort.
Wayne Pernu - Amazon.com
Bop Till You Drop gehört zu Ry Cooders besten Alben. Wenn es sich
auch nicht um ein irres Fest handelt, wie es der Titel ('Tanze bis du
umfällst') suggeriert, kann man immer noch zu "Little Sister"
morgens, mittags und abends tanzen. Einige andere Songs sind ebenfalls
ein Riesenspaß. Hierzu gehören "The Very Thing That Makes
You Rich" und "Trouble, You Can't Fool Me". "Go Home, Girl" stellt
Cooder und David Lindleys kompliziertes und reifes Gitarrenspiel vor;
sie sind sublim bei dem Instrumentalstück "I Think It's Going to
Work Out Fine". Cooder sorgt dafür, daß alles bestens
abläuft, indem er sich mit Spitzenmusikern umgibt: David Lindley
(der Jackson Brownes Hits interessanter machte), Jim Keltner (der
'funkigste' Drummer in Hollywood), Funk Diva Chaka Khan und Bobby King,
der ihn schon lange als Background-Musiker begleitete. Manchmal gleitet
die Musik in Jimmy Buffet Terrain und vielleicht mögen Sie das,
aber es läuft alles ein bißchen gewissermaßen zu
geschmiert. Auf dem Regal bitte zwischen Frank Zappa und Little Feat
einordnen.
Little sister won’t you please, please, please
Little sister don’t you cheat on me
Little sister don’t you kiss me once and twice
Say it’s very nice and then you run
little sister don’t you do what your big sister done
Well, I dated your big sister
And I took her to a show
I went out for some candy
Along came jim dandy
And they snuck right out the door
Little sister won’t you please, please, please
Little sister don’t you cheat on me
Little sister don’t you kiss me once and twice
Say it’s very nice and then you run
Little sister don’t you do what your big sister done
Ev’ry time I see your sister
Seems she’s got somebody new
Well, she’s mean and evil
Like that little old boll weevil
Got to try my luck with you
Sister won’t you please, please, please
Little sister don’t you cheat on me
Little sister don’t you kiss me once and twice
Say it’s very nice and then you run
Little sister don’t you do what your big sister done
Well, now I used to pull your pigtails
And I pinched your turned-up nose
Baby you been a-growin’
Yes, it’s been a-showin’
From your head down to your toes
GO HOME, GIRL
Well, me and frank we’re the best of friends
And our friendship will never end
But it would hurt him so for him to know
That I’m in love with his girlfriend
Now, the love of a girl and the love of a friend
Are two things you can’t compare
Though my heart will ache I will let it break
’cause I know that it just ain’t fair
So go on home girl, let’s call it a night
You better go home girl, this just ain’t right
But before you go I want you to know
That I love you, yes I do
And though it breaks my heart for us to part
Still I know frank loves you too
Well, you say that a we can make him see
We have a love that’s really real
But I think that he is just like me
And I don’t know just how he’d feel
Darling, people know it would hurt him so
If you told him that it must end
And I could never hold the love I stole
From a man I call my best friend
Go on home girl, you better go home, girl
Go on home, you better move on
Me and frank been friends for so long
And our friendship is really strong
He gives me his car to go for a ride
Never knows how long I’ll be gone
Well, I’m trying to forget all the things that we’ve done
While frank is just a-waiting back home
Girl you can’t go ride with me anymore
That’s the way it’s got to be from now on
Go on home!
Uhn, hun. better go home, girl
Uhn, hun. now you better move on, girl
Uhn, hun. better go home, girl
Uhn, hun. you better move on, girl
THE VERY THING THAT MAKES YOU RICH
My father told me, lying on his bed of death,
Boy, he says, woman she’s gonna make it, don’t fool your self
’cause she’s got something to make a man lay that money, uh, right in her hand
And the very thing that makes her rich will make you poor
The very thing that makes her rich will make you poor
That’s right!
Well, I put you behind the wheel of a deuce and a quarter, yes I did
Had you living like a rich man’s daughter, yes I did, I sure did
While you were living high on the hog
You had me down here scuffling like a dog
Well, the very thing that makes you rich makes me poor
The very thing that makes you rich makes me poor
Don’t you never ever make such a bad mistake
You know I’d rather climb into bed with a rattlesnake
Then to work hard every day bringing that woman all my pay
The very thing that makes you rich makes me poor,
Makes me so damn poor
The thing that makes her rich makes me poor
The very thing that makes you rich make me poor
Very thing that makes you rich makes me poor
Makes me so damned poor
Money won’t change it, no no...
I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK
(No lyrics available, please help us and send the missing lyrics to the webmaster)
DOWN IN HOLLYWOOD
Well, did you hear the good news?
There’s gonna be some bad blues
Somebody said they’re playing all night long
So go and fill your brown bag and put on all your clean rags
Let’s go downtown and see what’s going on
You take me down the vine street
Stop when you hear the back beat
And I’ll sneak past the bounccer at the door
Now I know that he ain’t looking
Not when the band is cooking
Because he’s watching the ladies dancing on the floor
Going down in hollywood
You better hope that you don’t run out of gas
Down in hollywood
He’ll drag you right out of your car and kick your ass
Down in hollywood
They’re standing on a corner waiting for a sucker like you
Down in hollywood
Now, if you want to stay healthy just keep a-moving right on through
Be careful, don’t look back, keep moving, keep moving
Well, the scotch has started flowing
And some girls she is showing everything she’s got
Folks, it’s a sight!
Some men will give a week’s pay if she would just dance down their way and say
Baby, I’m gonna take you home with me tonight
Outside the streets is shaking and I hear the windows breaking
Some poor fool’s gonna land in jail tonight
Well, all those hookers trying to pull your coat
and the pimps reach out to cut your throat
Ain’t no way out of here without a fight
(what’s that fool saying?)
Going down in hollywood
You better hope that you don’t run out of gas
Down in hollywood
He’ll drag you right out of your car and kick your ass
Down in hollywood
They’re standing on a corner waiting for a sucker like you
Down in hollywood
Now, if you want to stay healthy just keep a-moving right on through
Be careful, don’t look back, keep moving, keep moving
Voice of gay male: hi. you know that you’re going to get arrested the way
that those pants fir around your thighs. oh, come back honey! don’t leave now.
Voice of pimp: hey, bud. come here, let me talk to you for a second. give me that
[sounds of fists, a robbery]
Cops coming
Voice of policeman (ry): 869 victor. [radio code] jesus, this guy’s a mess
Voice of other cop: well, he’s just drunk. come on, pick him up,
put him in the car and take him downtown
Well, his mama told him not to go
Little sister told him too
But the poor boy just didn’t listen
Like he should have, that’s too bad
He hitchhiked all the way from burbank
Now, he’s gonna end up in drunk tank
Some old man say, yeah, well, that’s just the way it goes down in hollywood
Going down in hollywood
You better hope that you don’t run out of gas
Down in hollywood
He’ll drag you right out of your car and kick your ass
Down in hollywood
They’re standing on a corner waiting for a sucker like you
Down in hollywood
Now, if you want to stay healthy just keep a-moving right on through
For truth! man, I’m telling you
Well, they’ll do anything down in that low-down hollywood
He’ll be in a world of trouble now
Lord, have mercy
Can I get a witness
LOOK AT GRANNY RUN RUN
Said, look at granny run, run
Grandpa runnin’ close behind.
Look at granny run, run, ah...
there’s something on grand-daddy’s mind.
Because he went to the doctor, got a brand new pill.
The doctor said, son, you ain’t over the hill.
He can’t sit still.
Great, gosh, almighty, won’t you...
Look at granny run, run, faster than a greyhound bus. [granny, you better run]
Look at granny run, run, now grandpa is gettin’ serious. [somebody’s calling you]
Well, he woke up in the middle of the night.
Said, look-a here baby, everything’s alright.
It was such a sight
Great, gosh, almighty, won’t ya...
Well, look at granny run, run
Grandpa runnin’ closer now.
No matter how she run, run, he gonna catch her anyhow.
Well, he jumped up and he began to shout
Granny come a-running with the mouth poked out
Said, look here, pretty mama, stop your carrying on
All I want’s a little loving just before I’m gone
Ain’t nothing wrong
Hear my lord, singing
Great, gosh, almighty
[you better run]
[somebody’s calling you]
Look at granny run, run.
Well, I feel like my time ain’t [long], time ain’t [long] time ain’t [long]
TROUBLE YOU CAN’T FOOL ME
trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
trouble you can’t fool me trying to get the ups on me
trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
you want to jump on me
Work hard for living, wanted just to get paid
But, sure’d be stealing for a year and a day
Would like to see a little sunshine, just to guide my way
Would like to have a little peace of mind
That’s why I wanna say you better look out !
Trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
Look out! trouble you can’t fool me trying to get the ups on me
Trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
You want to jump on me
Trouble taught me a lesson I never never will forget
Now, he took my love, she ain’t paid it back yet
I had to find another just to take her place
And I sure do love her, I said we’re doing ok
So look out!
Trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
Look out! trouble you can’t fool me trying to get the ups on me
Trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
You want to jump on me
Well, you know, everyday can’t be sunday [that’s right!]
It’s a funny thing, it seem just before daylight is your darkest hour
And you know one thing [what’s that?]
behind every silver lining, there isn’t a dark cloud
[and you just ain’t got time to go ’round subtracting and adding
’cause you’ll just be too late]
You know one thing? [what’s that?]
Every time you get around a tree, you better stop and grab a brick [why?]
Old man trouble... laying and waiting on you
That’s what I wanna say...
Trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
Look out! trouble you can’t fool me trying to get the ups on me
Trouble you can’t fool me I see you behind that tree
You want to jump on me
Trouble took my money, cadillac’s gone
Best suit of clothes, all raised up in the closet, oh lord
But I’m so glad
Trouble don’t last ...always
You can’t fool me
DON’T MESS UP A GOOD THING
Good thing, good thing, good thing
You been cheating on me, now, baby
You know I know it’s true
Ain’t nobody in this whole wide world
Gonna love you like I do
Don’t you be no fool, don’t you be no fool
Gonna keep on fooling ’round now, baby
Gonna mess up a good thing
Gonna mess up a good thing, all right
Well, I might of cheated just a little bit baby
Like many others do
But when I get my little old paycheck now
It goes right back to you
Don’t you be no fool, don’t you be no fool
’cause if you keep on fooling around now, baby
Gonna mess up a good thing, you’re going to mess up a good thing
They tell me you got a part-time lover
Who’s living way cross town
It won’t be but a little while, baby
Before you put me down
Don’t you be no fool, don’t you be no fool
Gonna keep on fooling ’round now, baby
Gonna mess up a good thing
Gonna mess up a good thing, all right
Let me tell you something
Now, don’t you go sneaking across town,baby
To catch me doing wrong
Don’t you know everybody’s jealous, baby
’cause we got a thing going on
Don’t you be no fool, don’t you be no fool
If you keep on fooling ’round now baby
Gonna mess up a good thing
Gonna mess up a good thing
Good thing [you’re messing up a good thing]
Messing up a good thing
Good thing
Good thing
I CAN'T WIN
I've been trying so hard to find a way to your heart
I can't win, I can't win, I can't win, I can't win
Win your love, win your love
I gave you my love, I gave you my heart
Instead of taking it, keeping it, baby, you tore it apart
But I can't win, I can't win, I can't win, no, I can't win
Win your love, win your love
I go to church every Sunday [And there ain't nothing wrong with that]
I stand work on time, every Monday [I do the best I can]
I can't win, I can't win, I can't win, oh, no, I can't win
Win your love,
Can't seem to win your love, baby
Win your love
No matter how hard I try
Win your love, can't win your love, baby
Win your love, oh-hoo, I can't win
I just can't win, baby
I can't win
I try hard enough, girl
I can't win, I still can't win
I work eight days a week, baby
What more, what more you want me to do ?
I'm down on my knees, baby, I do that
I can't win, please, please, please
Just can't seem to win your love
Come on, and bring it to me, girl
Win your love, win your love