Back in the day I had a few JJ Cale albums on the shelf. 'Naturally', 'Okie' and 'Troubadour'. I was going to feature 'Naturally' as the main album, it has so many stories and so much history, but I went for a compilation instead to get more range.
Johnny Cale and the Johnny Cale Quintet had released a few singles from 1958 through '65 without causing any ripples. In 1965 he was performing at the Whiskey A Go Go where Johnny Rivers was also playing. The owner suggested he change his name so as not to be confused with either Johnny (Rivers) or John Cale from Velvet Underground. So, JJ Cale was born.
In 1966 Cale released a single, 'Slow Motion' with his composition 'After Midnight' on the b-side. Again, the record failed to make any waves. For the next few years Cale basically hit survival mode. By 1970, in his own words "I was dirt poor, not making enough to eat and I wasn't a young man." That's when he heard that Eric Clapton had recorded 'After Midnight' on Clapton's debut album. On the strength of that, JJ was persuaded to record his own debut album, 'Naturally', to make the most of this new found fame. One reviewer described Cale's style and songs as .. "a lazy, rolling boogie that contradicted all the commercial styles of boogie, blues, and country-rock at the time."
When Cale recorded 'After Midnight' on the failed single, he did an upbeat version, which is the one Clapton heard and imitated. When it came to doing it again for this album he decided to do a slower laid back track.
On the same album he did 'Call Me the Breeze' which was covered by Lynard Skynard and his own hit 'Crazy Mama'. Both those tracks were recorded using a drum machine, as JJ said "I didn't use a real drummer because I had no money."
'Crazy Mama' made it to the US top 40, but once again, the hit track was initially buried. 'Crazy Mama' was the b-side of 'Magnolia' until a Little Rock DJ turned the record over and played the flip side till it melted.
As an insight into JJ Cale's view on fame and fortune, he was invited to perform 'Crazy Mama' on 'American Bandstand' which would have virtually assured him of a #1 hit. When he found out he wouldn't be actually playing the song, only lip-synching, he refused to appear.
'Cocaine' was a hit for JJ after it was taken from the 1976 'Troubadour' album, but it was also covered again by Eric Clapton on his 1977 album 'Slowhand'. The influence of JJ on people like Clapton and Mark Knopfler is unmistakeable, often credited and definately well documented.
He eventually did team up with Clapton when they did the 2006 album 'The Road To Escondido' together, re-recording two of JJ's songs from the 70s 'Any Way The Wind Blows' and 'Don't Cry Sister'. One review said that Clapton had learned so much from Cale that it was sometimes hard to know who was singing what and when. My favourite track from the album would have to be 'Ride the River'.
JJ passed away in 2013 aged 74 and the following year, Clapton recorded a commemorative album of JJ's music, 'The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale', enlisting an array of musicians to pay tribute. Mark Knopfler was there of course, along with JJ's wife and fellow performer Christine Lakeland. Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and some of the best backup singers and musicians completed the ensemble.
A nice touch is on the opening track 'Call Me The Breeze' from which the album gets it's name. Clapton used JJ's original spoken intro and drum machine to start the track before coming in with his take.
J.J. Cale is probably better known for covers of his songs done by others, but his own albums really should feature strongly in any collection.
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