“Let’s Have A Ball”

Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces
Live At The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA March 25. 1987

“Let’s Have A Ball” is a 90-minute Ry Cooder concert film by Les Blank, better known for Burden of Dreams (1982), his chronicle of the trials of Werner Herzog and company during the making of Fitzcarraldo. He also made the fantastic, The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins.

“Let’s Have A Ball” catches Ry Cooder and his band playing during their Get Rhythm tour. The film was screened in Europe and elsewhere but not in the US, and for now remains unavailable officially.

This is too bad, it is a great concert film, the sound quality and performances are tremendous.

Highlights:
The slow and heavy Down in Mississippi, the vocal virtuosos and Cooder’s guitar are out of this world!
The 16-minute version of Down In Hollywood where everyone, singers included, gets to show off their solo prowess.

Track Listing:
1. Let’s Have a Ball
2. Jesus on the Mainline
3. How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
4. Jesus hits like the atombomb
5. Down In Mississippi
6. Maria Elena
7. Just a Little Bit
8. The Things That Make You Rich Make Me Poor
9. Crazy Bout an Automobile (Every Woman I Know)
10. Chain Gang
11. Down in Hollywood
12. Good Night Irene

“Slide-guitar great and world music alchemist Ry Cooder handpicked an orchestra of virtuoso musicians for a brief tour, including accordionist Flaco Jiménez, eccentric pianist Van Dyke Parks, drummer Jim Keltner, and singers Bobby King and Terry Evans. One stop was The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, where Les Blank joined them to film a night of freewheeling music, ranging from gospel and blues to rock and folk. The resulting concert film is currently not in release.”
– Les Blank’s official website

Personnel:
Jim Keltner – drums
Ry Cooder – guitar, vocals
Van Dyke Parks – keys
Jorge Calderon – bass
Flaco Jimenez – accordion
Miguel Cruiz – percussion
Steve Douglas – sax
George Bohannon – trombone
Bobby King – tenor
Terry Evans – baritone
Arnold McCuller – tenor
Willie Green Jr – bass

– Hallgeir