Ry Cooder's genius lies not simply in his guitar work but also in his ability to gather the world's most remarkable musicians around him and showcase their talents at the expense of his own spotlight. A musician's musician!

This may be one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen and heard. The singing! The harmonies! The slide! It takes me to another world.

This is one of those magic performances that happens once in a blue moon and fortunately for music lovers it was caught on camera.

Many thanks for uploading this superb performance. It was recorded in 1977 and Ry is playing here with - Eldridge King, Terry Evans, Bobby King : Vocals Pat Rizzo : Alto Sax Isaac Garcia : Drums Henry "Big Red" Ojeda : Bass Jesse Ponce : Bajo Sexto Flaco Jimenez : Accordion

saw cooder, flaco and his big band do this song at a rare show in London with my lovely girl.....later my lovely wife......I nearly cried with emotion and joy....... the soul and feel of the singing and the tones from that slidey old guitar just made my guts twist up all inside....... I just couldn't help it........that's what I call music

What a beautiful outpouring rhythem and lyrics to this song..Backup singers are marvelous in there tone..Ry Cooder is a genius on that slider guitar of his and the magic of sound is wonderful to the ear..That guitar of Ry's is talking and every cord is explicitly phenomenal..

I ve posted before when this version has appeared .........this is something so special that you cannot describe it ..live and and perfect ...every body really "nails " it here ...many years in a studio could not re create this performance ...Enjoy ....over n over again !!

I’ve recently becomes obsessed with this song and listened to every recorded version I could find. Some great. Some average. Some barely ok. I just feel like I’ve heard the song anew just now. What a great arrangement and performances!

Completely brilliant - singing and playing! You just don't hear much soul singing like that now, and Ry's guitar is sublime. All glory to St.Tube of You and to people like you for finding and making the effort to upload this stuff. It takes me right back to the Chicken Skin Live album and some of the most inspiring and melodic slide playing ever. The best guitarists are those whose solos you can remember. Ry is just as great on acoustic too and such a wide range of music. Thank you!

Revisited after a few months and...........you CANNOT get better than this! This is flawless and deeply moving !!

It just does not get any better than this. Excellent.

It really doesn't get much better than this...pure musicality and soul...something that couldn't be captured in this digital age...but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try of course. Cooder is one of my fave musicians and his choice of co-musos has never been less than stellar. Sure there have been great versions of this song by others but have you ever heard the second verse sung with more soul than that? Stunning!

WOW. This is brilliant. Probably the best version of this masterpiece.

I've listened to this 100 times if not more and I have yet to find a song that is as moving as this performance. Stunning vocals and Ry's solo is perfect.

I am singing this song on Friday night in the semi final of a local singing competition and this has inspired me beyond heaven! If only I could play bottlekneck like Ry it would be a sure winner.Amazing XXX

One of the finest performances of this heart-breaking song! Thanks for posting!

So nice....!! Dan Penn and Chips Moman song...Ry and the band did it right...wow! It takes you back to a simpler time in musical history and our history.

Everything about this is just utter perfection. I can't hear it enough!

I was truly not expecting the vocals to give me as many cold chills as the incredible guitar playing

Backup is great..Ry Cooder is fantastic and each cord is great being played..rhythem and the melody come together and the music is sounded out to the fans..beautiful sound of the slider whinning out the graphic of 5he music flowing pleasurely

Ry Cooder es un gigante ,nadie toco tantos generos y con tanto acierto y profundidad como el:rock, blues,soul,country,bolero,son....... y sus directos son un regalo impagable.Dios guarde a Ry Cooder. Un saludo desde Boiro-La Coruña-España

it's been 44 years now but this is still our song...

Mr. Cooder and this band at their best, I would say, everyone should really listen to this version. It Is so, so, sweet. I adore it. Ms Sepulveda

Off the charts beautiful... For years and years I've been listening to a live version of this band's rendition. Finally to see this fantastic performance is so sweet.

Three world class singers, tex-mex flavouring, and the finest craftsman the guitar has. Superb.

Performed live on the iconic “Old Grey Whistle Test” programme on BBC TV. Unforgettable, sublime from the ultimate musicologist

The guys on vocals are Eldridge King, Terry Evans and Bobby KIng

I saw them in this combination in the concert hall Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands in the mid seventies. With this song there was not one dry eye in the house...thanks!!

This is a truly beautiful performance- vocally and instrumentally.

The more I travel youtube land checking out the other stuff the more I come back to this video and have to ask ....is this the best music video ever ??! Pro musicians at the top of their game on a night /session when it all came together in the most awesome way ! Not a note wrong or voice off key with sublime lyrics that just combine to create something soul moving ! What ever your taste in music ...this is very special !!

ry cooder, the band, it's all so sweet. Great song absolutely a fine performance. Even better in concert & absolutely worth seeing in person. He is so good. Love it Jet

Great song, done in sublime perfection by a stellar band...saw this tour in D,C,...blown away by the virtuosity...what absolutely great singing by the vocal trio, any of whom could have fronted the band!!!

Man the second guy singing is just out of this world.... What a range.

Fabulous - I still have Ry's 1st LP on vinyl - great musician. We LOVED Old Grey Whistle Test all those years ago - obligatory viewing :>))

This is one of the best performances I've ever seen. How on earth do they DO that? Just extraordinary.

The legend Ry Cooder on stage with his legendary guitar . Awesome! Backup singers are excellent...base player is terrific and the band members are fantastic..This is a beautiful song..rhythem is great

One of the great guitarists yet again simply accompanying a group of brilliant performers rather than 'fronting' a band. Exquisite.

As a life long musician I have always envied Ry Cooder's career more that that of any of the "super stars." . Getting to play with great musicians all over the place. always having Flaco in the background. His time in Cuba playing with the "Social Club" is right up there on the list.. I guess,like all of you, I could go on and on

@loui0008 - I do believe that's Eldridge King, Terry Evans, and Bobby King. One of my favourite ever tunes. If I'm feeling a little mellow I end up in tears every time.

Gorgeous... love the slide guitar... beautiful vocals

Now that's what music is all about. I saw this when it first shown in '77 and I cried. Booby King and Terry Evans with Ry Cooder's slide guitar is a force that cannot be denied. This is magical.

Grazie. Rituffarsi nell'adolescenza... ll vinile di "Showtime" che scricciola, le tapparelle abbassate perché il caldo del pomeriggio ti fa sentire davvero in Messico, e poi quell' a solo infinito, che ricomincia di nuovo mentre sembra stia per morire...che regalo oggi!

40 years ago… and now with the release of Prodigal Son, Ry is still making music that deeply touches the heart. At about the 3:00 mark Ry's extended guitar solo is just amazing… typical Ry, but good to hear him stretch out a bit. Always in service to the song… what a great gift Ry is to the musical world!

Amazing...so beautiful...the song, the players, the singers...God bless you!

The song is simply brilliant, performed here brilliantly, Diamanda Galas is also worth hearing.

It was 1980 I think.....I recorded this on audio cassette at the time and still play it. At that time I didn't have a video recorder. I never thought I would see this masterpiece again. Thank you so much for uploading it.

Great song, great players and great singers, as close to perfection as possible. Thanks for the post.

A wonderful performance of a great soul song. Thanks for posting.

it crawls under my skin and gives me a feeling of warmth. thanks guys!

Oo ive still got the Vynal LP this whole album was simply perfect the choice of songs the musicians and singers relaxed virtuoiaty just perfect i think this is with Bobby king who i discovered went on to back Springsteen but had solo albums of his own And of course u can bet Deryck Trucks and Bonnie Raitt have studied this ! Its all good and this is perfect thank you for posting classic pwrformance think its an old joe tex song ? Wow

Man it is beautiful and a blessing when you mistakenly find music while looking for others. God thank you for such technology. I never even heard of these guys, but I am gratful to hear them.

This was 1977 - (February, I think) I hitchhiked to Oxford, England to see him the next day and he signed and dated my programme at the soundcheck in the afternoon. Slide guitar taken as read, but what great, great singing - that falsetto! Steve Mitchell, Nottingham

I'm finally of age to understand Ry Cooder... My pops used to play him but it went over my head for years...wow...just WOW!

I've seen Ry several times over the years, always excellent!

It was my great privilege to see this band and get a sound board tape of the night in '77 still play it at least weekly thanks for this vg version

one word "WOW" thanks for posting this video. it brought out some emotions in me

Managed to record the full concert footage onto DVD when it was broadcast again recently on the Beeb. It's a full, albeit short, show of about 45 minutes. I play this and other tracks over and over. So beautiful.

This backup tenor is fantasticon singing before him..Ry cooder is great..entertainment is a blessing from God

Every now and then the God of music smiles upon us all and shares such a blessed gift, even at the dark end of the street, my friends. The gift is what it is, we can all rejoice and say, well, thank you. And somebody, PLEASE, get that man a guitar!

one off the best on a slide guitar

Ry Cooder is a genius.

This is for Music lovers.... Just listen to those voices and that whining guitar and you're hooked :-)

such wonderful talent. amazing ... long live your music x

WOW!!! Incredible!!! ❤️

This is fabulous. Thanks so much for posting this. Beautiful.

¡¡Esta canción es toda una belleza ,gracias por compartir.Un abrazo desde España ¡¡

Superb rendition .. Magic

Lord have mercy! That sliiiiiide is just too sweet!

Well I cane to comment on the voices and Ry’s outstanding whining slide solo.... but obviously it’s already been said. I just love Ry ❤️😍❤️😍

One of the great mysteries of the universe is how 42 people could give this a thumbs down. Hearts of stone?

just beautiful!

Ry Cooder is a freaking genius.

Breathtakingly beautiful ❤️

It's so relevant today and then

I watched this when I was a kid. Could only have been early teens. Had the TV to myself. I remember thinking, Christ these guys are good!

I first heard Ry around 1972 or '73 on late night radio in NYC. I love the man's music. Dja know that his son plays with him. A great Cd is Ry and V M Bhatt.

brings a tear, so good

Music for the ears.

amazing. cranked it up and it got even better. life is good.

Thank you for sharing this. It's the best version of this song I've ever heard. Ry Cooder, Flaco, and those three amazing singers--what more could you ask?

What ever happened to music, Humanity has lowered their standards to the crap that is put out today. This here is not music, it's pure magic. Thank you!

im 14 and have loved ry cooder for 14 years and will do till the end

The year is 1977, this OGWT recording was during the tour that followed the release of Chicken Music the previous year. I saw Ry at Manchester Free Trade Hall in March or Feb of '77.

gosh that's gorgeous, breathlessly gorgeous

Ty for sharing !!! First time I listened Ry Cooder was in the ost of Tales From the Crypt (he made the theme for the first eps -(Man who was death.)

Back in the day when CAMERAMEN DID NOT REALISE HOW BADLY I WOULD ONE DAY WANT TO LEARNT THIS SLIDE STUFF , GOD DAMNIT ! ;-) Seriously, this is sublime...

Broadcast 1 February 1977

Terry Evans ist fantastic. Ry's Sliding perfect. Harmonic. I love this version very much. It was around 1973. For the contrast: Check out Artie Whites' version. Also brilliant!

If Flaco aint the most widely used musician in music ill kiss your ass! Dude has to have at least a 1000 credits to his name ! I hope hes still alive when I start recording music , cuz he will be on one of my albums if I can manage it !

Y'know? Just to have been alive at the same time, on the same planet, with musicians like this is more than enough.

This is just sublime 🎶💗🎶

saw this band 6/13/77 in buffalo ny life changing have a sound board tape

Thanks for posting this, it's fabulous

My all time favorite guitar solo!

Oh my. Thank you fellows. Well done ...down to my bones.

Omg. Ry. That solo is ethereal

beautiful!

yesssssssssssss thank you for the amazing post. doesnt get much better

beautiful, thanks for putting this back up.

Awesome. What a band...