Ry Cooder recommendation...

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). 

+1 for Chicken Skin Music, Paradise and Lunch, and Into the Purple Valley....classic wonderful Ry Cooder.
I am also enjoying My Name is Buddy and I Flathead

+1 for Chicken Skin Music. Paradise and Lunch is better!!!!!!!

Jazz, Bop until you Drop are both good. Buena Vista Social Club is Fantastic.