Ry Cooder recommendation...

Ditto to all the recommendations above and I'll add Paradise and Lunch. The man's a national treasure.

Many of Ry's albums are pretty eclectic. He liked to do old depression-era stuff, gospel, calypso, and world music. He sings the lead vocals on much of his music and, while an adequate singer, his singing is not his strong suit.
There is a 2-CD set of his soundtrack work called Music By Ry Cooder which includes a lot of the solo slide guitar that you're referring to. 

I like that many of his LPs each go in a different direction. Paradise & Lunch is my fav, sorta straight folk rock including nice cover of Stand By Me. 
Chicken Skin Music features Hawaiian guitar masters & a beachy feel.
Jazz is awesome sonically, early big band Broonzy, CottonClub flavor.
Bop Till You Drop, straight 50s inspired R 'n R.
Paris, TX soundtrack for that tumbleweeds blowing down the highway, pour me another tequila craving.
Meeting By The River - Like if George Harrison never returned from India.  
Can't leave out grammy winning Buena Vista Social Club, old school Cubano/Latino party for sure. Cheers,
Spencer

I have most of his records and am a big fan.  The most unusual soundtrack he participated in would have to be 'Crossroads' where he 'duels' with a young Steve Vai!  A good record that should've been great IMO is by the band Little Village, an unknown 'supergroup' consisting of Cooder, Johm Hiatt, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner.  Cooder's great, but you're a hop, skip, and a jump from listening to his frequent bandmate (from the old days); David Lindley!  Once you listen to him and his band Rayo-X, you'll be digging for all of their output!!!;)  One of the best things (for anybody on Audiogon) about Cooder's work is that it's all recorded impeccably.

+! Chazro. Other than 'Bop,' what other albums do both Cooder and Lindley play on together? (Love Lindley).