105 Quotes by Ry Cooder

I used to sneak gospel tunes into my old records, just as kind of a personal thing.

I keep my mind on track, and I don't get mad, and I don't get frustrated. Well, I do... but creative work, it's a way of controlling all that.

I don't understand the public, but I do believe the public is oversold and underrated every day. Give the people something interesting, something to chew on, I say.

The blues is so expressive - nostalgic but not sentimental, mournful but not pathetic, so humble and close to the earth. It's a nuance-filled thing.

The '50s was the golden age of music all over the world for some crazy, 'X-File'-like reason I can't quite understand.

People who get together, regardless of other structures, will find something in common. They are bound to. That was the Pete Seeger let's-all-sing theory.

'Buena Vista Social Club' is a great song and a difficult tune to play.

I'm used to music as a tool, taking the various elements and then making something completely new out of them. And writing film music is the perfect opportunity to do that, because you can look at the film and then just let your imagination soar.

I'm a great lover of ballads.