J.J. Cale RIP
One evening in the early 70s, I was at my friend Kent’s place, down by the canal in Uxbridge, with Roger Brewer and Ron Quinten. We were relaxing, smoking some weed and listening to music, when I heard something that blew me away. It was an album called Naturally and I got completely taken with it. Every song was a masterpiece. I needed to know who it was. Kent said, “That’s J.J. Cale.”
It could be said that there is no such thing as a perfect album, but to me, it is just that. The mood of the music is sustained through every track and it remains one of my favourite albums of all time. I eagerly bought every release after that and heard some amazing songs but I always return to that first album. At a time when music was becoming louder, heavier and more exciting, this was an exercise in restraint; there was no apparent ego there, no straining to be heard above the din, no flash, but was so laid back and subtle that it was a shock. Even when I recorded Snapshot, decades later, I referred to the mood of Naturally as something that I could aspire to.
Now he is gone and another icon has left this world, but a world that is a better place for J.J. Cale having been in it.
RG
10 thoughts on “J.J. Cale RIP”
I could not have said it better. I have always enjoy his work. He total lack of Ego was one reason. His first album was one I must have played every day for a year after buying it. I never cared that Eric Clapton loved him and record not only his songs, but with him. At least that did bring his name out into the light. It you do not have that album do your self a favor and get it. You will not regret it. The best eulogy for J.J. Cale is to say: Thanks for the wonderful music.
Hi Roger! Nice thoughts. And BTW: Snapshot stands there next to Natural and other great albums for me. It still gets played very often and when the old girl heard it in my car I had to give my copy to her and get myself another one…It should have been…HUGE in my humble opinion.
Thank you for all the pleasure you brought to us during the years. (And for the beer back in the day in Mosbach… 😉 Some hope…for more to come. Of the good work, that is. All the best! Max
Hi Roger
So true and some wonderfull Words from you, which is NOT a surprise.
Warm regards
Bo – Denmark
Sorry JJ,up there in rock ‘n roll heaven.
Should of course be After Midnight.
Hi Roger,
very sad to hear of his passing over the weekend.Just been watching a youtube clip of him playing with Eric Clapton at Crossroads festival.
After Nidnight was one of his best among so many others.
Not visited this site for a long time but so sad to hear of the passing of your Dad ,Norman last year.
He was my boss at Plessey about 1972 time .He was a great bloke who used to take us down to various pubs in the London area at lunchtimes. He was very proud of his son who played bass in Deep Purple.
He would tell us young lads who loved music,what the band were up to.
Lost contact later in the ’70’s, but always remember him as a genuine,really nice guy.
I first heard J.J. Cale as a teenager in mid 1990s and I immediately became a fan. The first record I bought was “10” from 1992. It sounded so very wonderfully different to what I was listening to mostly at that time. My favourite album is, howerer, “Guitar Man” (1996). It’s always such a great musical experience – with that fantastic signature sound of Cale. I’m sure he’ll be remembered as one of the most influental artists in American music.
I happened to be listening to JJ Cale this morning… I had a general awareness of him, but never really dug into his music before today…. I was really into it and it did remind of Snapshot in terms of style. Gorgeous guitar phrasing, mellow but melodic. RIP JJ.
I first heard Naturally when i was hitchhicking home one day; it was playing on the car’s stereo and it totally floored me as well. That and Troubadour were among my favorite “comfort” records, ones that you could put on and just slip into a state of happiness.
I realize we are reaching that point in our life’s journey where more and more of our co-travellers who formed the backdrop on which it played out are going to be leaving the company, but it was still a shock to hear of JJ’s passing. As you said, the world was far better for his having been part of the trip.
Oh Roger, your review and deep love for JJ’s music moved me to tears. Naturally, that first album is indeed a masterpiece. Listening to it now… superb, supreme, sublime. JJ’s music will live on well after midnight. Farewell and thank you John Weldon Cale.
J.J.Cale’s “After midnight” is one of my all time fondest memories. First, when I met Stevie Ray Vaughan in an hotel in St.Gallen (Switzerland). We had a long chat – not a boring interview – and then went down on the lobby. Once in the elevator Stevie kept on singing “After midnight”. And that song was my opening when I hosted live jam sessions somwhere on this planet.