J.J. Cale | ||
| Allmusic Biography : With his laid-back rootsy style, J.J. Cale was best known for writing "After Midnight" and "Cocaine," songs that Eric Clapton later made into hits. But Cales influence wasnt only through songwriting -- his distinctly loping sense of rhythm and shuffling boogie became the blueprint for the adult-oriented roots rock of Clapton and Mark Knopfler, among others. Cales refusal to vary the sound of his music over the course of his career caused some critics to label him as a one-trick pony, but he managed to build a dedicated following with his sporadically released recordings, several of which, including four singles between 1972 and 1976, entered the Top 100. While Naturally, his 1972 full-length, placed a respectable number 51 on the Top 200, it was The Road to Escondido, his 2006 collaborative album with Clapton, that charted highest at 23, won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and was Cales first RIAA-certified gold record. Cales songs have been covered by everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Clapton to Neil Young and the Allman Brothers, to Beck, John Mayer, and Band of Horses, to name a few. They have been used extensively in film and television. Cale passed in 2013. Clapton gathered a group of like-minded friends and musicians for The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale. The album, released July 29, 2014 (three days after the anniversary of Cales passing), was loaded with high-profile guests and charted inside the Top Ten in the Netherlands, Denmark, the U.S., Germany, Canada, the U.K., and Belgium. A behind-the-scenes documentary was also filmed and had multiple TV airings on VH1 Classic and Palladia. Born in Oklahoma City but raised in Tulsa, Cale played in a variety of rock & roll bands and Western swing groups as a teenager, including one outfit that also featured Leon Russell. In 1959, at the age of 21, he moved to Nashville, where he was hired by the Grand Ole Oprys touring company. After a few years, he returned to Tulsa, where he reunited with Russell and began playing local clubs. In 1964, Cale and Russell moved to Los Angeles with another local Oklahoma musician, Carl Radle. Shortly after he arrived in Los Angeles, Cale began playing with Delaney & Bonnie. He only played with the duo for a brief time, beginning a solo career in 1965. That year, he cut the first version of "After Midnight," which would become his most famous song. Around 1966, Cale formed the Leathercoated Minds with songwriter Roger Tillison. The group released a psychedelic album called A Trip Down Sunset Strip the same year. Deciding that he wouldnt be able to forge a career in Los Angeles, Cale returned to Tulsa in 1967. Upon his return, he set about playing local clubs. Within a year, he had recorded a set of demos. Radle obtained a copy of the demos and forwarded it to Denny Cordell, who was founding a record label called Shelter with Leon Russell. Shelter signed Cale in 1969. The following year, Eric Clapton recorded "After Midnight," taking it to the American Top 20 and thereby providing Cale with needed exposure and royalties. In December 1971, Cale released his debut album, Naturally, on Shelter Records; the LP featured the Top 40 hit "Crazy Mama," as well as a re-recorded version of "After Midnight," which nearly reached the Top 40, and "Call Me the Breeze," which Lynyrd Skynyrd later covered. Cale followed Naturally with Really, which featured the minor hit "Lies," later that same year. Following the release of Really, J.J. Cale adopted a slow work schedule, releasing an album every other year or so. Okie, his third album, appeared in 1974. Two years later, he released Troubadour, which yielded "Hey Baby," his last minor hit, as well as the original version of "Cocaine," a song that Clapton would later cover. By this point, Cale had settled into a comfortable career as a cult artist and he rarely made any attempt to break into the mainstream. One more album on Shelter Records, 5, appeared in 1979 and then he switched labels, signing with MCA in 1981. MCA only released one album (1981s Shades) and Cale moved to Mercury Records the following year, releasing Grasshopper. In 1983, Cale released his eighth album, 8. The album became his first not to chart. Following its release, Cale left Mercury and entered a long period of seclusion, reappearing in late 1990 with Travel Log, which was released on the British independent label Silvertone; the album appeared in America the following year. 10 was released in 1992. The album failed to chart, but it re-established his power as a cult artist. He moved to the major label Virgin in 1994, releasing Close to You the same year. It was followed by Guitar Man in 1996. Cale returned to recording in 2003, releasing To Tulsa and Back in 2004 on the Sanctuary label and The Road to Escondido, a collaborative effort with Clapton, in 2006 on Reprise. Roll On appeared in 2009 on Rounder Records. A CD/DVD set drawn from sessions Cale recorded with Leon Russell on keyboards in 1979, In Session at the Paradise Studios, appeared early in 2013. In July of that year, Cale died of a heart attack in a hospital in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California; he was 74 years old. Clapton assembled a high-profile roster for The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale, which included himself, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks, Mark Knopfler, and more. A series of archival live recordings from Let Them Eat Vinyl followed, including In Session at the Paradise Studios - Los Angeles, 1979 with Leon Russell. In 2019, a compilation of unreleased tracks entitled Stay Around was curated and released by Cales widow, Christine Lakeland, for issue by Carolines Because Music label. Cale was famous for recording more than he needed for any given album. He held tracks back to either include as B-sides or for future recordings. This assemblage was performed by a cast that included Bobby Emmons, Jim Keltner, Reggie Young, David Briggs, and many more. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 34 Title: The Ultimate Collection Released: Tracks: 43 Duration: 2:14:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 After Midnight (02:21) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 Call Me the Breeze (02:37) 4 Magnolia (03:23) 5 Lies (02:55) 6 I’ll Kiss the World Goodbye (01:48) 7 If You’re Ever in Oklahoma (02:04) 8 Crying (02:35) 9 Cajun Moon (02:14) 10 Okie (01:57) 11 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:22) 12 Cocaine (02:52) 13 Travelin’ Light (02:50) 14 Hey Baby (03:16) 15 Cherry (03:21) 16 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:10) 17 Don’t Cry Sister (02:12) 1 Sensitive Kind (05:06) 2 Carry On (02:20) 3 Mama Don’t (03:49) 4 City Girls (02:48) 5 Don’t Wait (03:08) 6 Downtown L.A. (02:26) 7 Devil in Disguise (02:02) 8 Money Talks (04:18) 9 Hard Times (03:53) 10 Teardrops in My Tequilla (02:16) 11 Change Your Mind (02:25) 12 Lady Luck (02:40) 13 Lonesome Train (03:09) 14 Jailer (02:43) 15 Borrowed Time (04:11) 16 Low Down (02:46) 17 Guitar Man (04:02) 1 Midnight in Memphis (04:23) 2 Woke Up This Morning (03:26) 3 Durango (05:29) 4 Things Ain’t Simple (02:49) 5 Wish I Had Me a Dollar (live) (03:07) 6 Santa Cruz (03:30) 7 After Midnight (live) (03:02) 8 Cocaine (03:07) 9 Call Me the Breeze (05:35) |
| The Ultimate Collection : Allmusic album Review : There are numerous best-ofs from J.J. Cale, but The Ultimate Collection is a thorough overview. For starters, there are 43 cuts and three discs. The first two CDs are a true representation of Cales best work from the 1970s and 80s, and disc one would have made a killer hits collection all by itself. Disc two collects fine moments that have been overlooked by the multitudes of artists who have covered the songwriter (although no one does his tunes quite like he does). The third disc here is a nine-selection live set that brings the slow lazy approach that Cale has trademarked into focus with some slippery guitar work and some real brooding menace that belies the sleepy exterior of their author. This is the one. Get it. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 34 Title: After Midnight: The Best Of Released: Tracks: 18 Duration: 51:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Cocaine (02:53) 2 After Midnight (02:21) 3 Cajun Moon (02:15) 4 Crazy Mama (02:27) 5 Mama Don’t (03:50) 6 Call Me the Breeze (02:37) 7 Don’t Cry Sister (02:13) 8 Don’t Wait (03:09) 9 Money Talks (04:18) 10 Super Blue (02:42) 11 Magnolia (03:24) 12 Takin’ Care of Business (02:10) 13 Going Down (03:00) 14 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:17) 15 Let’s Go to Tahiti (02:52) 16 Keep Me Hangin’ On (03:27) 17 Carry On (02:20) 18 Don’t Go to Strangers (02:25) |
 | Album: 3 of 34 Title: Naturally Released: 1971-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 32:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 2 Call the Doctor (02:28) 3 Don’t Go to Strangers (02:25) 4 Woman I Love (02:39) 5 Magnolia (03:24) 6 Clyde (02:33) 7 Crazy Mama (02:25) 8 Nowhere to Run (02:27) 9 After Midnight (02:23) 10 River Runs Deep (02:42) 11 Bringing It Back (02:45) 12 Crying Eyes (03:13) |
| Naturally : Allmusic album Review : J.J. Cales debut album, Naturally, was recorded after Eric Clapton made "After Midnight" a huge success. Instead of following Slowhands cue and constructing a slick blues-rock album, Cale recruited a number of his Oklahoma friends and made a laid-back country-rock record that firmly established his distinctive, relaxed style. Cale included a new version of "After Midnight" on the album, but the true meat of the record lay in songs like "Crazy Mama," which became a hit single, and "Call Me the Breeze," which Lynyrd Skynyrd later covered. On these songs and many others on Naturally, Cale effortlessly captured a lazy, rolling boogie that contradicted all the commercial styles of boogie, blues, and country-rock at the time. Where his contemporaries concentrated on solos, Cale worked the song and its rhythm, and the result was a pleasant, engaging album that was in no danger of raising anybodys temperature. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 34 Title: Really Released: 1972-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 31:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Lies (02:56) 2 Everything Will Be Alright (03:15) 3 I’ll Kiss the World Goodbye (01:47) 4 Changes (02:25) 5 Right Down Here (03:14) 6 If You’re Ever in Oklahoma (02:07) 7 Ridin’ Home (02:39) 8 Going Down (03:00) 9 Soulin’ (02:20) 10 Playing in the Street (01:51) 11 Mo Jo (02:29) 12 Louisiana Women (02:56) |
| Really : Allmusic album Review : J.J. Cales guitar work manages to be both understated and intense here. The same is true of his seemingly offhand singing, which finds him drawling lines like "You get your gun, Ill get mine" with disarming casualness. But he has trouble coming up with original material as strong as that on his debut, and for some, his approach will be too casual; there are many times, when the band is percolating along and Cale is muttering into the microphone, that the music seems to be all background and no foreground. You may find yourself waiting for a payoff that never comes. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 34 Title: Okie Released: 1974-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 28:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Crying (02:35) 2 Ill Be There (If You Ever Want Me) (02:22) 3 Starbound (01:57) 4 Rock and Roll Records (02:07) 5 The Old Man and Me (02:02) 6 Everlovin Woman (02:12) 7 Cajun Moon (02:14) 8 Id Like to Love You Baby (02:47) 9 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:24) 10 Precious Memories (02:07) 11 Okie (01:59) 12 I Got the Same Old Blues (02:58) |
| Okie : Allmusic album Review : Cale moves toward country and gospel on some songs here, but since those are two of his primary influences, the movement is slight. And longtime producer Audie Ashworth attempts to place more emphasis on Cales vocals on some songs by double-tracking them and pushing them up in the mix. But much of this is still low-key and bluesy in what was becoming Cales patented style. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 34 Title: Troubadour Released: 1976 Tracks: 12 Duration: 36:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hey Baby (03:13) 2 Travelin’ Light (02:51) 3 You Got Something (04:00) 4 Ride Me High (03:35) 5 Hold On (01:59) 6 Cocaine (02:51) 7 I’m a Gypsy Man (02:43) 8 The Woman That Got Away (02:53) 9 Super Blue (02:42) 10 Let Me Do It to You (02:59) 11 Cherry (03:22) 12 You Got Me On So Bad (03:17) |
| Troubadour : Allmusic album Review : Producer Audie Ashworth introduced some different instruments, notably vibes and what sound like horns (although none are credited), for a slightly altered sound on Troubadour. But J.J. Cales albums are so steeped in his introspective style that they become interchangeable. If you like one of them, chances are youll want to have them all. This one is notable for introducing "Cocaine," which Eric Clapton covered on his Slowhand album a year later. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 34 Title: 5 Released: 1979 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Thirteen Days (02:53) 2 Boilin Pot (02:54) 3 Ill Make Love to You Anytime (03:17) 4 Dont Cry Sister (02:18) 5 Too Much for Me (03:17) 6 Sensitive Kind (05:12) 7 Friday (04:18) 8 Lou-Easy-Ann (02:53) 9 Lets Go to Tahiti (02:56) 10 Katy Cool Lady (02:26) 11 Fate of a Fool (02:55) 12 Mona (03:16) |
| 5 : Allmusic album Review : As Cales influence on others expanded, he just continued to turn out the occasional album of bluesy, minor-key tunes. This one was even sparer than usual, with the artist handling bass as well as guitar on many tracks. Listened to today, it sounds so much like a Dire Straits album, its scary. (Mark Knopfler & Co. had appeared in 1978, seven years after Cale.) | ||
 | Album: 8 of 34 Title: Shades Released: 1981-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Carry On (02:20) 2 Deep Dark Dungeon (02:09) 3 Wish I Had Not Said That (03:22) 4 Pack My Jack (05:13) 5 If You Leave Her (02:41) 6 Mama Don’t (03:49) 7 Runaround (02:42) 8 What Do You Expect (03:22) 9 Love Has Been Gone (02:13) 10 Cloudy Day (05:24) |
| Shades : Allmusic album Review : From 1981, this was J.J. Cales sixth album (following the succinctly titled NUMBER 5, and returning to his tradition of single-word album titles). Though Cale didnt use one constant band throughout the album, its got a remarkably unified feeling. This is in part due to the great musicians on hand (pianist Bill Payne, drummers Jim Keltner and Russ Kunkel, and guitarist James Burton among others), but primarily to Cale himself. His songs and his overal approach to music are all-encompassing; the seductive and laid-back grooves his rhythm sections empower are written into the very fabric of the songs. "Carry On," "Pack My Jack"--these are songs of simple, sturdy strengths, succinctly written and concisely rendered. There are never any stray notes or decorative filigrees. Friendly and inviting, SHADES sounds good in any season and at any time of day (and may be some of the best hangover cure music around). | ||
 | Album: 9 of 34 Title: Grasshopper Released: 1982 Tracks: 14 Duration: 35:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 City Girls (02:50) 2 Devil in Disguise (02:02) 3 One Step Ahead of the Blues (02:24) 4 You Keep Me Hangin’ On (03:27) 5 Downtown L.A. (02:26) 6 Can’t Live Here (02:13) 7 Grasshopper (01:38) 8 Drifters Wife (01:41) 9 Don’t Wait (03:09) 10 A Thing Going On (02:39) 11 Nobody but You (03:03) 12 Mississippi River (02:05) 13 Does Your Mama Like to Reggae (03:42) 14 Dr. Jive (01:44) |
| Grasshopper : Allmusic album Review : J.J. Cale drifts toward a more pop approach on this album, starting with the lead-off track, "City Girls," which could almost but not quite be a hit single. The usual blues and country shuffle approach is in effect, but Audie Ashworths production is unusually sharp, the playing has more bite than usual, and Cale, whose vocals are for the most part up in the mix, sounds more engaged. Its not clear, however, that this is an improvement over his usual laidback approach, and, in any case, it shouldnt be over-emphasized -- this is still a J.J. Cale album, with its cantering tempos and single-note guitar runs. Its just that, when you have a style as defined as Cales, little movements in style loom larger. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 34 Title: #8 Released: 1983 Tracks: 10 Duration: 29:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Money Talks (04:21) 2 Losers (02:42) 3 Hard Times (03:55) 4 Reality (02:24) 5 Takin’ Care of Business (02:11) 6 People Lie (02:11) 7 Unemployment (04:08) 8 Trouble in the City (03:24) 9 Teardrops in My Tequila (02:17) 10 Livin’ Here Too (02:18) |
| #8 : Allmusic album Review : Twelve years and eight albums into his recording career, Cales approach has changed little, and here is another collection of groove tunes that act as platforms for the artists intricate guitar playing. He is sometimes accompanied by a female vocalist, co-writer Christine Lakeland. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 34 Title: Special Edition Released: 1984 Tracks: 14 Duration: 39:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cocaine (02:51) 2 Don’t Wait (03:09) 3 Magnolia (03:24) 4 Devil in Disguise (02:03) 5 Sensitive Kind (03:38) 6 Carry On (02:20) 7 After Midnight (02:23) 8 Money Talks (04:17) 9 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 10 Lies (02:49) 11 City Girls (02:50) 12 Cajun Moon (02:15) 13 Don’t Cry Sister (02:13) 14 Crazy Mama (02:25) |
| Special Edition : Allmusic album Review : Sinuous rhythms, conversational singing, and, most of all, intricate, bluesy guitar playing characterize Cales performances of his own songs. This compilation, covering 11 years of recording, includes the songs Eric Clapton, who borrowed heavily from Cales style in his 1970s solo work, made famous: "After Midnight" and "Cocaine." | ||
 | Album: 12 of 34 Title: Travel-Log Released: 1989 Tracks: 14 Duration: 42:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Shanghaid (02:36) 2 Hold On Baby (03:03) 3 No Time (03:13) 4 Lady Luck (02:41) 5 Disadvantage (03:35) 6 Lean on Me (03:19) 7 End of the Line (03:09) 8 New Orleans (02:33) 9 Tijuana (03:54) 10 That Kind of Thing (02:18) 11 Whos Talking (03:27) 12 Change Your Mind (02:26) 13 Humdinger (03:24) 14 River Boat Song (03:06) |
| Travel-Log : Allmusic album Review : Cales first album in six years finds him taking a more aggressive stance in terms of tempos and playing, although he remains a man with a profound sense of the groove and, especially as a singer, a minimalist. But as he says, "Shuffle or die." | ||
 | Album: 13 of 34 Title: Best of J.J. Cale Released: 1989 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:15:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Cocaine (02:50) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 After Midnight (02:21) 4 Lies (02:49) 5 Carry On (02:20) 6 City Girls (02:50) 7 Dont Wait (03:09) 8 Magnolia (03:22) 9 Devil in Disguise (02:03) 10 Sensitive Kind (03:37) 11 Money Talks (04:16) 12 Call Me the Breeze (02:36) 13 Cajun Moon (02:16) 14 Don’t Cry Sister (02:14) 15 Woman I Love (02:37) 16 Clyde (02:31) 17 Nowhere to Run (02:27) 18 Bringing It Back (02:44) 19 Pack My Jack (05:13) 20 Cloudy Day (05:26) 21 Love Has Been Gone (02:13) 22 Right Down Here (03:17) 23 Everlovin’ Woman (02:09) 24 Friday (04:11) 25 Mona (03:16) |
 | Album: 14 of 34 Title: Strummin on the Porch...a Beer in Reach Released: 1990-06-30 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:09:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Crazy Mama (02:25) 2 Magnolia (03:24) 3 After Midnight (02:23) 4 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 5 Lies (02:51) 6 Cajun Moon (02:18) 7 Cocaine (02:51) 8 Cherry (02:55) 9 The Woman That Got Away (02:53) 10 You Got Something (04:00) 11 Sensitive Kid (05:10) 12 Don’t Cry Sister (02:13) 13 Ill Make Love to You (03:14) 14 Friday (04:12) 15 Carry On (02:20) 16 Mama Don’t (03:49) 17 Deep Dark Dungeon (02:09) 18 Wish I Had Not Said That (03:22) 19 City Girls (02:50) 20 Devil in Disguise (02:03) 21 Don’t Wait (03:09) 22 Drifters Wife (01:41) 23 Money Talks (04:14) |
 | Album: 15 of 34 Title: Number 10 Released: 1992-11-10 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Lonesome Train (03:10) 2 Digital Blues (03:32) 3 Feeling in Love (03:21) 4 Artificial Paradise (04:06) 5 Passion (02:25) 6 Take Out Some Insurance (02:41) 7 Jailer (02:50) 8 Low Rider (02:45) 9 Traces (03:28) 10 Shes in Love (03:44) 11 Shady Grove (03:57) 12 Roll On Mama (02:41) |
| Number 10 : Allmusic album Review : There are no major surprises on Cales tenth outing; fans get the same dependable, unassuming, comfy results, like a well-worn but form-fitting pair of slippers. Subtle licks percolate and resonate from the front-porch jam session on "Jailer" and "Low Rider." "Lonesome Train" and "Shady Grove" choogle along, as amiable as they are hypnotic. The closest thing to a twist comes with the phased vocals and spiralling guitar runs of "Digital Blues." It would be easy to imagine Number 10 getting completely buried behind a wash of 90s white noise, but for those prepared to kick off their boots and sit a spell, Cales latest offers up some seductive rewards. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 34 Title: Closer to You Released: 1994-05-30 Tracks: 12 Duration: 43:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Long Way Home (02:56) 2 Sho-Biz Blues (03:46) 3 Slower Baby (05:06) 4 Devils Nurse (03:50) 5 Like You Used To (03:06) 6 Borrowed Time (04:17) 7 Rose in the Garden (03:05) 8 Brown Dirt (03:32) 9 Hard Love (04:25) 10 Aint Love Funny (02:50) 11 Closer to You (02:52) 12 Steves Song (04:02) |
| Closer to You : Allmusic album Review : On the two albums that preceded CLOSER TO YOU, TRAVEL LOG and NUMBER 10, J.J. Cale adopted a more basic musical approach. This album continues the trend. Cale plays a few songs alone (though the overdubbed parts sound remarkably spare), including the title track. "Closer to You" finds him electronically treating his vocals, a technique that surprisingly makes him sound as down-to-earth as ever. The set ends with the hypnotically grooving instrumental "Steves Song." The set is bolstered by two bass players (electric and acoustic), three percussionists (including Jim Keltner), three guitarists (including Cale), two keyboardists (Spooner Oldham and Bill Payne), and three horn players. With the dazzling CLOSER TO YOU, J.J. Cale finds ever-newer surprises in his own remarkable corner of the musical world. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 34 Title: Guitar Man Released: 1996-04 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Death in the Wilderness (04:57) 2 Its Hard to Tell (02:39) 3 Days Go By (03:27) 4 Low Down (02:47) 5 This Town (02:54) 6 Guitar Man (04:01) 7 If I Had a Rocket (03:02) 8 Perfect Woman (02:10) 9 Old Blue (02:42) 10 Doctor Told Me (03:12) 11 Miss Ol St. Louie (02:32) 12 Nobody Knows (03:51) |
| Guitar Man : Allmusic album Review : J.J. Cales albums usually sound interchangeable, and his 12th release, Guitar Man, is no exception. Although he has recorded Guitar Man as a one-man band effort, it sounds remarkably relaxed and laid-back, like it was made with a seasoned bar band. That doesnt mean theres much excitement on the album, but Cales music has never been about excitement -- its more about laying back and letting the music flow. Of course, that approach results in remarkably uneven records, and Guitar Man is no exception. Theres a handful of very good songs, but theres nothing on the level of his previous classics. Its just another pleasant J.J. Cale album, nothing more but nothing less, either. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 34 Title: The Very Best of J.J. Cale Released: 1997 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:00:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 Magnolia (03:24) 4 After Midnight (02:23) 5 Lies (02:56) 6 Midnight in Memphis (04:25) 7 Cajun Moon (02:16) 8 Rock and Roll Records (02:05) 9 Cocaine (02:51) 10 Hey Baby (03:18) 11 Ill Make Love to You Anytime (03:12) 12 Don’t Cry Sister (02:13) 13 Thirteen Days (02:50) 14 Sensitive Kind (05:08) 15 Carry On (02:20) 16 Mama Don’t (03:51) 17 City Girls (02:49) 18 Devil in Disguise (02:02) 19 Don’t Wait (03:09) 20 Money Talks (04:18) |
 | Album: 19 of 34 Title: Anyway the Wind Blows: The Anthology Released: 1997-06-17 Tracks: 50 Duration: 2:32:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 Magnolia (03:24) 4 After Midnight (02:23) 5 Lies (02:56) 6 Changes (02:25) 7 If You’re Ever in Oklahoma (02:07) 8 Midnight in Memphis (04:25) 9 Cajun Moon (02:16) 10 Rock and Roll Records (02:05) 11 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:18) 12 Crying (02:36) 13 Everlovin’ Woman (02:09) 14 I Got the Same Old Blues (02:58) 15 Woke Up This Morning (03:27) 16 Cocaine (02:51) 17 The Woman That Got Away (02:56) 18 Ride Me High (03:40) 19 Hey Baby (03:18) 20 Durango (05:30) 21 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:12) 22 Don’t Cry Sister (02:13) 23 Thirteen Days (02:49) 24 Things Ain’t Simple (02:50) 25 Sensitive Kind (05:08) 1 Carry On (02:20) 2 Runaround (02:42) 3 Mama Don’t (03:51) 4 City Girls (02:49) 5 Devil in Disguise (02:02) 6 You Keep Me Hangin’ On (03:28) 7 Downtown L.A. (02:26) 8 A Thing Going On (02:39) 9 Don’t Wait (03:09) 10 Wish I Had Me a Dollar (03:08) 11 Money Talks (04:18) 12 Hard Times (03:55) 13 People Lie (02:11) 14 Unemployment (04:08) 15 Trouble in the City (03:21) 16 Santa Cruz (03:30) 17 Shanghaid (02:36) 18 Change Your Mind (02:26) 19 New Orleans (02:33) 20 Humdinger (03:23) 21 Lonesome Train (03:10) 22 Jailer (02:44) 23 Artificial Paradise (04:04) 24 Long Way Home (02:51) 25 Closer to You (02:45) |
| Anyway the Wind Blows: The Anthology : Allmusic album Review : Although it is a little too extensive for casual fans, the double-disc, 50-track Anyway the Wind Blows: The Anthology is a definitive retrospective of J.J. Cales career, featuring all the highlights over the years. Cales albums often sound similar, but they are remarkably uneven in terms of quality, which is what makes Anyway the Wind Blows essential for both neophytes and collectors. Not only is it a perfect introduction, containing of such essentials as "Cocaine," "Call Me the Breeze," and "After Midnight," but it is one of his most consistently listenable and enjoyable discs. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 34 Title: Classic Released: 1999 Tracks: 18 Duration: 48:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 After Midnight (02:23) 2 Magnolia (03:25) 3 Crazy Mama (02:25) 4 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 5 Lies (02:56) 6 Cajun Moon (02:16) 7 Rock And Roll Records (02:05) 8 Cocaine (02:51) 9 Hey Baby (03:17) 10 Dont Cry Sister (02:12) 11 Carry On (02:21) 12 Mama Dont (03:50) 13 Devil In Disguise (02:03) 14 Downtown LA (02:28) 15 Shanghied (02:34) 16 Change Your Mind (02:26) 17 Lonesome Train (03:09) 18 long Way Home (02:52) |
 | Album: 21 of 34 Title: Live Released: 2001-05-21 Tracks: 14 Duration: 54:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 After Midnight (03:07) 2 Old Man (02:52) 3 Call Me the Breeze (05:36) 4 Sensitive Kind (04:06) 5 Cocaine (03:07) 6 Money Talks (04:32) 7 River Boat Song (03:09) 8 Living Here Too (03:32) 9 Mama Dont (04:32) 10 People Lie (03:02) 11 Humdinger (04:26) 12 Thirteen Days (03:30) 13 Magnolia (03:02) 14 Ride Me High (05:51) |
 | Album: 22 of 34 Title: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of J.J. Cale Released: 2002-07-23 Tracks: 11 Duration: 32:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 Magnolia (03:24) 4 After Midnight (02:23) 5 Lies (02:56) 6 Cajun Moon (02:16) 7 Travelin Light (02:56) 8 Cocaine (02:51) 9 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:12) 10 Sensitive Kind (05:08) 11 Carry On (02:20) |
 | Album: 23 of 34 Title: In Session at the Paradise Studios, Los Angeles, 1979 Released: 2003 Tracks: 20 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Nowhere to Run (?) 2 Cocaine (?) 3 Ten Easy Lessons (?) 4 Sensitive Kind (?) 5 Hands Off Her (?) 6 Louisiana (?) 7 Going Down (?) 8 Roll On (?) 9 No Sweat (?) 10 Crazy Mama (?) 11 Fate of a Fool (?) 12 Boilin’ Pot (?) 13 After Midnight (?) 14 Same Old Blues (?) 15 Don’t Cry Sister (?) 16 Call Me the Breeze (?) 17 Ever Lovin’ Woman (?) 18 Katy Kool Lady (?) 19 Lies (?) 20 Don’t Wait (?) |
 | Album: 24 of 34 Title: After Midnight Released: 2003 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:01:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:40) 2 Devil in Disguise (02:04) 3 Don’t Wait (03:11) 4 Cajun Moon (02:18) 5 Cocaine (02:55) 6 Magnolia (03:26) 7 Hey Baby (03:20) 8 Mama Don’t (03:53) 9 Lies (02:58) 10 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:14) 11 Rock and Roll Records (02:07) 12 Money Talks (04:19) 13 Don’t Cry Sister (02:15) 14 Sensitive Kind (05:08) 15 City Girls (02:51) 16 Crazy Mama (02:32) 17 Midnight in Memphis (04:27) 18 After Midnight (02:25) 19 Carry On (02:23) 20 Thirteen Days (02:50) |
 | Album: 25 of 34 Title: To Tulsa and Back Released: 2004-06-07 Tracks: 13 Duration: 49:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 My Gal (04:23) 2 Chains of Love (03:37) 3 New Lover (03:12) 4 One Step (03:20) 5 Stone River (03:42) 6 The Problem (04:31) 7 Homeless (03:25) 8 Fancy Dancer (04:50) 9 Rio (03:46) 10 These Blues (03:49) 11 Motormouth (03:17) 12 Blues for Mama (04:07) 13 Another Song (03:23) |
| To Tulsa and Back : Allmusic album Review : On his first studio outing in eight years, the mythical Okie troubadour turns in a solid set of his trademark dusty blues tunes. What is not so typical, as with Travel Log from 1990, is that Cale steeps himself in technology and evokes the moods and frameworks of music that intersect with the blues or stand in opposition to them. The keyboards, drum loops, and horns on this record are as pervasive as the guitars. Needless to say, this requires an attitude adjustment on the part of the listener. This is not to say there arent plenty of live musicians here; there are. Its just that the sheeny beats and clean synth lines feel odd when juxtaposed against the murky lyrics and Cales wispy, smoke-weathered voice. His stinging Stratocaster lead lines, spare and razor taut -- especially when ringed with distortion -- are plentiful, as are his tight-knit song constructions. Standouts on this set include the new West funk of "New Lover," the shuffling "New Step," the skittering "The Problem," the delightfully rambling "Fancy Dancer," the burning road-dog rock of "Motormouth," and the jazzy, gypsy swing in "These Blues." There are a couple of ballads on the set that are unconventional, as well, in "Homeless," and in the beautiful "Blues for Mama." There is even a Latin track on "Rio" that feels more like a merengue than a samba. The album closes with Cale playing a lone banjo on "Another Song," a mournful Appalachian ballad that feels like it comes from out of the heart of the Dust Bowl, its full of ghosts and shadows and aches with the weight and displacement of longing as history. A fine effort. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 34 Title: The Definitive Collection Released: 2005-05-07 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:00:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 Magnolia (03:25) 4 After Midnight (02:23) 5 Lies (02:57) 6 Midnight in Memphis (04:26) 7 Cajun Moon (02:16) 8 Rock and Roll Records (02:05) 9 Cocaine (02:51) 10 Hey Baby (03:18) 11 Ill Make Love to You Anytime (03:12) 12 Dont Cry Sister (02:14) 13 Thirteen Days (02:50) 14 Sensitive Kind (05:09) 15 Carry On (02:21) 16 Mama Dont (03:51) 17 City Girls (02:49) 18 Devil in Disguise (02:03) 19 Dont Wait (03:09) 20 Money Talks [1983] (04:18) |
| The Definitive Collection : Allmusic album Review : J.J. Cales The Definitive Collection is an excellent single-disc collection from one of the most influential singer/songwriters to emerge from America during the 70s. Just as Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark define Texas songwriting, Cale is the epitome of the Oklahoma writers. Although most people know him as the writer of Eric Claptons hit "Cocaine," Cale constantly offered up other quality material that could only be defined by his vocal style, which can accurately be described as "reclining in the groove." Popular tunes such as "Call Me the Breeze," "Hey Baby" and "Crazy Mama" have a deceptively laid-back intensity that to a large degree influenced such rockers as Lowell George of Little Feat and the previously mentioned Clapton. Cales guitar work proved to be influential as well (again on Clapton), but also popular swamp rockers such as Delaney Bramlett. The Definitive Collection offers a comprehensive collection from Cales early-70s recordings in Nashville, to Muscle Shoals in Alabama, to his later work on Hollywood. If youre going to explore Cales groove, this is the place to start. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 34 Title: Collected Released: 2006-07-13 Tracks: 60 Duration: 3:09:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 After Midnight (02:23) 2 Crazy Mama (02:25) 3 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 4 Magnolia (03:24) 5 Crying Eyes (03:13) 6 Lies (02:56) 7 I’ll Kiss the World Goodbye (01:47) 8 If You’re Ever in Oklahoma (02:07) 9 Changes (02:25) 10 Crying (02:36) 11 Cajun Moon (02:15) 12 Okie (01:59) 13 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:23) 14 Cocaine (02:51) 15 Travelin’ Light (02:51) 16 Hey Baby (03:18) 17 Cherry (03:22) 18 You Got Something (04:00) 19 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:12) 20 Don’t Cry Sister (02:13) 1 Sensitive Kind (05:09) 2 Thirteen Days (02:49) 3 Mona (03:16) 4 Carry On (02:20) 5 Mama Don’t (03:51) 6 If You Leave Her (02:41) 7 City Girls (02:49) 8 Don’t Wait (03:09) 9 Downtown L.A. (02:26) 10 Devil in Disguise (02:02) 11 Grasshopper (01:35) 12 Money Talks (04:18) 13 Hard Times (03:55) 14 Teardrops in My Tequila (02:17) 15 Trouble in the City (03:24) 16 Change Your Mind (02:26) 17 Lady Luck (02:41) 18 Lonesome Train (03:10) 19 Jailer (02:44) 20 Borrowed Time (04:11) 1 Low Down (02:47) 2 Guitar Man (04:01) 3 Stone River (03:42) 4 The Problem (04:31) 5 Midnight in Memphis (04:25) 6 Woke Up This Morning (03:27) 7 Durango (05:30) 8 Things Ain’t Simple (02:50) 9 Wish I Had Me a Dollar (live) (03:09) 10 Santa Cruz (03:30) 11 Cocaine (live) (03:08) 12 After Midnight (live) (03:03) 13 Call Me the Breeze (live) (05:34) 14 Travelin Light (2 Meter Sessie) (03:34) 15 Tijuana (2 Meter Sessie) (04:01) 16 Hold On (2 Meter Sessie) (02:37) 17 Rose in the Garden (2 Meter Sessie) (02:55) 18 After Midnight (2 Meter Sessie) (03:41) 19 Ride Me High (2 Meter Sessie) (03:16) 20 Devil in Disguise (2 Meter Sessie) (03:05) |
 | Album: 28 of 34 Title: The Road to Escondido Released: 2006-11-03 Tracks: 14 Duration: 57:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Danger (05:35) 2 Heads in Georgia (04:12) 3 Missing Person (04:27) 4 When This War Is Over (03:50) 5 Sporting Life Blues (03:31) 6 Dead End Road (03:30) 7 It’s Easy (04:19) 8 Hard to Thrill (05:12) 9 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:56) 10 Three Little Girls (02:45) 11 Don’t Cry Sister (03:11) 12 Last Will and Testament (03:57) 13 Who Am I Telling You? (04:09) 14 Ride the River (04:36) |
| The Road to Escondido : Allmusic album Review : Two artists had an enormous impact on Eric Claptons music in the 70s: Delaney & Bonnie and J.J. Cale. Clapton joined Delaney & Bonnies backing band after Cream dissolved, an experience that helped him ease away from the bombast of the power trio and into the blend of soul, blues, pop, and rock that defined his solo sound. Delaney Bramlett helped steer Claptons eponymous 1970 solo debut, which not only came very close to replicating the sound of Delaney & Bonnies records from that time, but also had a rollicking version of J.J. Cales "After Midnight" that was Claptons first solo hit. Cales influence surfaced again a few years later on Claptons 1978 album Slowhand, which not only had J.J.s sardonic "Cocaine" as its centerpiece but also drew heavily from Cales laconic groove. Although Clapton progressively polished his sound over the course of the 80s, dabbling in pop along the way, he never quite strayed from the blueprint that he wrote based on his love of Cales music, so his decision to team up with Cale for a full-fledged duet album called The Road to Escondido in 2006 felt natural, perhaps even overdue. After all, Claptons work has borne the imprint of Cales sound for over three decades now, so a duet record 36 years after Eric had a hit with "After Midnight" feels right. Initially, Clapton planned to cut a record with Cale functioning as a producer, but the project morphed into a duet album where Cale has a stronger presence than Clapton: the superstar might have brought in his longtime producer/collaborator Simon Climie, who has helmed every one of his records since 1998s Pilgrim, but Cale brought in members of his backing band and wound up writing 11 of the albums 14 tracks, effectively dominating The Road to Escondido. Even if Cale is the driving force behind the album, its easy to listen to the album and think otherwise, since Climie gives this a precise, polished production thats entirely too slick for the rootsy music the duo plays, which in turn makes it sonically similar to all Clapton albums of the past ten years. Also, there are a lot of cameos from familiar pros (drummer Steve Jordan; bassist Pino Palladino; guitarists Albert Lee, Derek Trucks, and John Mayer; the late Billy Preston in some of his last sessions), giving this a crisp, professional vibe more in line with Clapton than Cale. But the real reason that it would be easy to mistake The Road to Escondido as a solo Eric Clapton effort is that its nearly impossible to distinguish him from J.J. Cale throughout the entire record. Sure, there arent nearly as many synths as there were on Reptile or the stilted adult pop of Back Home, but the laid-back groove -- even when the music starts jumping, it never breaks a sweat -- sounds like a Clapton record through and through. More than that, The Road to Escondido reveals exactly how much Clapton learned from Cales singing; their timbre and phrasing is nearly identical, to the point that its frequently hard to discern who is singing when. Disconcerting this may be, but its hardly bad, since it never feels like Clapton is copying Cale; instead, it shows their connection, that theyre kindred spirits. And if Clapton popularized Cales sound, hes paying him back with this record, which will bring him to a wider audience -- and Cale, in turn, has given Clapton his best record in a long time by focusing Clapton on this soulful, mellow groove and giving him a solid set of songs. While it is hard not to wish that there was a little less NPR slickness and a little more grit to the record -- this is roots music after all, so it should have some dirt to it -- this is still a very appealing record, capturing the duo working the same territory thats served them both well over the years but still finding something new there, largely because theyre doing it together and clearly enjoying each others company. Its relaxed and casual in the best possible sense: it doesnt sound lazy, it sounds lived-in, even with Climies too-clean production, and that vibe -- coupled with Cales sturdy songs -- makes this is an understated winner. This CD was nominated for a Grammy award in 2007 for Best Contemporary Blues Album. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 34 Title: Gold Released: 2007-04-27 Tracks: 36 Duration: 1:45:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Call Me the Breeze (02:38) 2 Magnolia (03:24) 3 After Midnight (02:23) 4 River Runs Deep (02:43) 5 Woman I Love (02:39) 6 Crazy Mama (02:25) 7 Lies (02:57) 8 If You’re Ever in Oklahoma (02:07) 9 Ridin’ Home (02:39) 10 Going Down (03:00) 11 Cajun Moon (02:15) 12 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:24) 13 I Got the Same Old Blues (02:58) 14 Rock and Roll Records (02:05) 15 Let Me Do It to You (02:58) 16 Super Blue (02:42) 17 Cocaine (02:51) 18 Ride Me High (03:34) 1 Hey Baby (03:13) 2 Thirteen Days (02:49) 3 Dont Cry Sister (02:13) 4 Mona (03:16) 5 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:12) 6 Sensitive Kind (05:09) 7 Boilin Pot (02:51) 8 Carry On (02:20) 9 Wish I Had Not Said That (03:22) 10 Love Has Been Gone (02:13) 11 Dont Wait (03:09) 12 Devil in Disguise (02:03) 13 City Girls (02:50) 14 A Thing Going On (02:39) 15 Money Talks (04:17) 16 Hard Times (03:55) 17 Teardrops In My Tequila (02:17) 18 Trouble in the City (03:24) |
| Gold : Allmusic album Review : With his laconic vocal style and a guitar style that matched it in depth, tone, and weariness all laid over easy, loping shuffle rhythms, J.J. Cale also happened to be a heck of a songwriter, and he established less a persona with his approach than his own brand of blues roots rock, and he has stuck to it throughout his career, never adjusting or deviating for the pop market. All of this means his recorded output is remarkably consistent, as this two-disc set of Cales hit songs and other key tracks clearly shows. The big ones are here, including "Crazy Mama," "Call Me the Breeze," "Magnolia," "After Midnight," and "Cocaine," along with several essential album sides, and they portray an artist who knows exactly what he does well and then does it, no matter what storms are swirling around in the tides of current pop culture. | ||
 | Album: 30 of 34 Title: Rewind: Unreleased Recordings Released: 2007-10-08 Tracks: 14 Duration: 37:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Guess I Lose (02:50) 2 Waymores Blues (02:39) 3 Rollin (02:55) 4 Golden Ring (03:06) 5 My Cricket (02:35) 6 Since You Said Goodbye (02:47) 7 Seven Day Woman (02:20) 8 Bluebird (01:27) 9 My Baby and Me (02:22) 10 Lawdy Mama (02:57) 11 Blue Sunday (03:15) 12 Out of Style (02:24) 13 Ooh La La (03:28) 14 All Mamas Children (02:23) |
| Rewind: Unreleased Recordings : Allmusic album Review : The folks at Time Life would like you to think that this is a treasure box filled with forgotten gems from J.J. Cales long career. Its full, all right, of tracks recorded between 1971 and 1993. But there was good reason to leave them off the albums they were recorded for. Most were cut with a band between 1973 and 1982, though even the cover is wrong here, since there is a reading of Waylon Jennings classic "Waymores Blues" cut with largely uncredited musicians in 1971. Unfortunately, it adds nothing to the original. The players included here have been among Nashville and Los Angeles prize session musicians, from drummer Kenny Buttrey and keyboardist David Briggs to bassist Tommy Cogbill and guitarist Steve Gibson. Add Bobby Emmons on B-3 as well as Glen D. Hardin, Richard Thompson, Spooner Oldham, Tim Drummond, and vocalist Christine Lakeland (who wrote "Seven Day Woman" back in 1983), and you have quite a collection of stars. But these feel more like finished demos than polished recordings. The plethora of covers -- such as the Jennings tune, Randy Newmans "Rollin," Leon Russells "My Cricket," and Eric Claptons "Golden Ring" (which is so close to Claptons own phrasing that its difficult for a minute or two to tell who the vocalist is) -- suffer from Cales limited vocal abilities and the rather lazy presentation. Theyre laid-back, to be sure, but thats pretty much all they are. Needless to say, Cales own tunes come off a bit better, such as those cut at Bradleys Barn in 1973 like "Since You Said Goodbye" with Mac Gayden and Drummond, and the country weeper "My Baby and Me," recorded at another studio in Tennessee. They lope and crawl, but they contain the soul and gut feel of some of Cales better work. His 1982 demo version for "Lawdy Mama" is great, as is "Ooh La La," written by Cale and Lakeland. Recorded in 1980, the pair sing beautifully together; its a sexy blues and swamp rock tune with a horn section that works like a charm, as does the aforementioned "Seven Day Woman," which seems like it was written specifically for Cale by Lakeland. About half of this is interesting; the rest is for devoted fans only. | ||
 | Album: 31 of 34 Title: Roll On Released: 2009-02-24 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Who Knew (03:30) 2 Former Me (02:48) 3 Where the Sun Don’t Shine (03:07) 4 Down to Memphis (03:05) 5 Strange Days (03:10) 6 Cherry Street (03:44) 7 Fonda-Lina (03:21) 8 Leaving in the Morning (02:37) 9 Oh Mary (03:34) 10 Old Friend (03:56) 11 Roll On (04:43) 12 Bring Down the Curtain (02:54) |
| Roll On : Allmusic album Review : While songwriter J.J. Cale has established himself as an elusive and even reluctant legend in popular music with his sporadic string of releases over the last 38 years, hes never drastically changed his approach. Cale is a workmanlike songwriter whose roots in blues, Okie folk, and roots rock music have been informing his tales of travel, nocturnal pleasure, and everyday life all the while. Even the acclaimed but spaced out Travel Log (which was Cales equivalent to Neil Youngs Trans) never managed to root his sound that far afield from its wellspring. 2009s Roll On, is more strange, laid-back grooves and road-weary tales of quark strangeness and charm from an inveterate master. Where the erratic but acclaimed Road to Escondido with Eric Clapton reeked of laziness and kitsch, Roll On is steeped deep in slow boogie, slower jump jazz, swampy blues, and minor-key laid-back guitar workouts. Cale not only plays guitar and sings here, but on almost all of these cuts he does double and triple duty on drums, bass, and even Rhodes piano! His guests -- including Dave Teegarden and Jim Keltner on drums on a track each, and Clapton on one number -- only appear on four of these dozen tracks. Check, "Who Knew?," the jazzy shuffle that opens the set. Cale plays everything but the drum kit (Teegarden), and lays down a smoking set of Wes Montgomery-esque chords as well as some funky Rhodes. His syncopated vocals all slip right down the backbone of the blues with lyrics worthy of Louis Jordan. "Where the Sun Dont Shine" commences with some spooky synth loops (that could have come from Travel Log), and beefy guitars, with a rudimentary snare and hi-hat keeping the I-IV-V progression moving and popping. The guitars are pure Cale choogle and the bassline is just off enough from the main rhythmic progression to add a freaky twist. Other standouts include the acoustic electric boogie "Strange Days," with some mutant five-string banjo and mandolin work from the artist; the triple-time, space groove of "Fonda-Lina" that feels like it was taken from a B-movie soundtrack during a motel lounge scene, and the popping roots rock of the title track with Slowhand and Keltner. This is a set that proves that Cale is still a vital artist who has a few interesting tricks up his sleeve, even if he doesnt change his attack all that much. Hell, he doesnt need to, hes got weight, sleight of hand, and the Okie soul in every cell of his being, and it all comes out in the tunes. This one is solid from top to bottom. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 34 Title: The Silvertone Years Released: 2011-02-07 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:18:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hold On Baby (03:03) 2 Artificial Paradise (04:06) 3 Lean on Me (03:19) 4 Lonesome Train (03:10) 5 Tijuana (03:54) 6 That Kind of Thing (02:18) 7 Shanghaid (02:36) 8 River Boat Song (03:09) 9 No Time (03:13) 10 Whos Talking (03:29) 11 Shady Grove (03:57) 12 New Orleans (02:33) 13 Lady Luck (02:41) 14 Shes in Love (03:44) 15 Passion (02:25) 16 Take Out Some Insurance (02:41) 17 Jailer (02:50) 18 Change Your Mind (02:26) 19 Feeling in Love (03:21) 20 Humdinger (03:24) 21 Traces (03:28) 22 Roll On Mama (02:41) 23 Low Rider (02:45) 24 Disadvantage (03:35) 25 End of the Line (03:09) |
 | Album: 33 of 34 Title: The J.J. Cale Collection Released: 2011-04-08 Tracks: 36 Duration: 1:48:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Hey Baby (03:11) 2 Cocaine (02:48) 3 Carry On (02:18) 4 Call Me the Breeze (02:35) 5 Devil in Disguise (02:01) 6 Don’t Wait (03:09) 7 Downtown L.A. (02:25) 8 City Girls (02:49) 9 Rock and Roll Records (02:05) 10 Crazy Mama (02:25) 11 Cajun Moon (02:16) 12 Midnight in Memphis (04:24) 1 After Midnight (02:23) 2 Sensitive Kind (05:07) 3 I’ll Make Love to You Anytime (03:11) 4 Change Your Mind (02:25) 5 Lies (02:54) 6 Magnolia (03:23) 7 Mama Don’t (03:48) 8 Thirteen Days (02:48) 9 Shanghied (02:33) 10 Lonesome Train (03:09) 11 Don’t Cry Sister (02:12) 12 Money Talks (04:18) 1 Anyway the Wind Blows (03:18) 2 Mona (03:17) 3 Let Me Do It to You (02:57) 4 Ride Me High (03:34) 5 Woman I Love (02:36) 6 Boilin’ Pot (02:51) 7 Trouble in the City (03:23) 8 Going Down (03:01) 9 Wish I Had Not Said That (03:21) 10 Teardrops in My Tequila (02:16) 11 Hard Times (03:55) 12 I Got the Same Old Blues (03:00) |
 | Album: 34 of 34 Title: Stay Around Released: 2019-04-26 Tracks: 15 Duration: 48:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Lights Down Low (02:20) 2 Chasing You (04:26) 3 Winter Snow (03:25) 4 Stay Around (04:42) 5 Tell You ’Bout Her (03:45) 6 Oh My My (01:51) 7 My Baby Blues (03:04) 8 Girl of Mine (03:02) 9 Go Downtown (03:32) 10 If We Try (02:49) 11 Tell Daddy (03:24) 12 Wish You Were Here (02:45) 13 Long About Sundown (02:48) 14 Maria (03:38) 15 Don’t Call Me Joe (03:01) |