The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

I decided to twist the volume knob anti-clockwise and slow the pace a touch by presenting an artist who would be horizontal if he was any more laidback and I don’t mean because he is, sadly, no longer with us. J.J. Cale was a man for whom the rocking chair was invented. I suspect older readers recognise the name, not to be confused with the Welsh member of The Velvet Underground, but I have no idea though how well anyone is acquainted with his music.

I have long known the name. I distinctly recall an NME review of a 70’s gig of his at the Hammersmith Odeon that was the first time I encountered the laidback analogy I used above. My knowledge of his music back then was limited to some cover versions by Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I only began listening to the man himself in the 90’s when I purchased a double cd anthology of his work for reasons that I cannot recall.

Although J.J. ploughs a narrow musical furrow, I’ve added many of his albums to my collection because I really enjoy the sound he makes. His voice is a warm concoction of molasses and bourbon and his guitar picking flows like meandering river. The music is minimal and simple. Songs are short and to the point, making the Ramones sound like Rush. He fuses several types of music – folk, jazz, blues, rock and soul - into an intoxicating mix that uses a variety instruments to add splashes of colour to the guitar, bass and drums core – it became known at the “Tulsa sound”. The words match the music and feature some sly humour at times.

Naturally, released in 1972, was J.J. Cale’s first album and came about after Eric Clapton covered a single Cale had released in the late 60’s. Cale rerecorded that song - After Midnight - for Naturally but slowed it down to differentiate it from EC’s faster version, which took its tempo from Cale’s original. It’s one of the standout tracks on the album, as is opener Call Me the Breeze, which Skynyrd covered on their Second Helping and live albums. The standard though across the album is consistent though and the tight but loose playing is a joy.

Clapton was such an admirer of Cale that, following his passing, he recorded a tribute album to him featuring some heavyweight friends, including Mark Knopfler, who was undoubtedly also heavily influenced by the man from Oklahoma City.

Go shake your tambourines.
 
threespires said:
Definitely worth a watch and I think does add more to it.



Seems to be a common sentiment across a number of the reviews, think I would share it too; but nonetheless it's been interesting to listen to him in a way I wouldn't typically do.
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RobMCFC said:
I'm going to call this one early as most of the regular contributors have scored it.

The big bosses have decided that we are back in the office 2 days a week now, so this is probably a convenient time to do the changeover.

The Big O pulled in 13 votes at an average of 6.15. Thanks to @bennyboy for the nomination.

Next up is @OB1.
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Thanks for all the reviews.
It never occurred to me that the concert without the visuals would not be the same.
An interesting point one of many brought up in this great thread.
Hope it keeps going for years and years.
 
OB1 said:
No, the third clue has already been given. That was just a comment to Coatigan.

Third clue was:

It's going to take you lot until after midnight to guess and I thought those clues were a breeze.
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Those were actually better clues than the first ones! Even if hidden.

So what was the Welsh and overground part of the clue then?


Great pick btw (much better than the clues), used to listen to quite a lot of JJ, and it has been a while. Great guitar, fitting voice, and going to be a good mood for this week needing a bit of laying back.
 
This might be just the thing, for this evening anyway. Did a night last night and the usual thing is just battling to stay awake till a reasonable time, usually with some meaningless TV on. A bit of laid back music just the thing and I’ll just try and stay away from the investigation thread while I listen to it
 
bennyboy said:
Hope it keeps going for years and years.
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I'm sure we can. It will be interesting to see whether we're scraping the barrel with our 25th pick, or we've all moved away from our obvious picks and coming up with some really interesting and unusual stuff.

I get the sense that what others select, and how others react to our picks, shapes what we pick next!
 
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OB1 said:
I decided to twist the volume knob anti-clockwise and slow the pace a touch by presenting an artist who would be horizontal if he was any more laidback and I don’t mean because he is, sadly, no longer with us. J.J. Cale was a man for whom the rocking chair was invented. I suspect older readers recognise the name, not to be confused with the Welsh member of The Velvet Underground, but I have no idea though how well anyone is acquainted with his music.

I have long known the name. I distinctly recall an NME review of a 70’s gig of his at the Hammersmith Odeon that was the first time I encountered the laidback analogy I used above. My knowledge of his music back then was limited to some cover versions by Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I only began listening to the man himself in the 90’s when I purchased a double cd anthology of his work for reasons that I cannot recall.

Although J.J. ploughs a narrow musical furrow, I’ve added many of his albums to my collection because I really enjoy the sound he makes. His voice is a warm concoction of molasses and bourbon and his guitar picking flows like meandering river. The music is minimal and simple. Songs are short and to the point, making the Ramones sound like Rush. He fuses several types of music – folk, jazz, blues, rock and soul - into an intoxicating mix that uses a variety instruments to add splashes of colour to the guitar, bass and drums core – it became known at the “Tulsa sound”. The words match the music and feature some sly humour at times.

Naturally, released in 1972, was J.J. Cale’s first album and came about after Eric Clapton covered a single Cale had released in the late 60’s. Cale rerecorded that song - After Midnight - for Naturally but slowed it down to differentiate it from EC’s faster version, which took its tempo from Cale’s original. It’s one of the standout tracks on the album, as is opener Call Me the Breeze, which Skynyrd covered on their Second Helping and live albums. The standard though across the album is consistent though and the tight but loose playing is a joy.

Clapton was such an admirer of Cale that, following his passing, he recorded a tribute album to him featuring some heavyweight friends, including Mark Knopfler, who was undoubtedly also heavily influenced by the man from Oklahoma City.

Go shake your tambourines.
Click to expand...

How strange...last night my autoplay played a JJ Cale track for the first time ever to my recollection.

For my first listen I've just made a chilli in time to the album, very very promising. Both lads came into the kitchen to investigate and listen too.

Be interesting to see out how laid back people find this. One of my shortlist for my next pick makes this sound like it was made on amphetamines :-)
 
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Perfect vibe for sitting on a porch swing after a stressful day on a summers evening watching the sun fall with a glass of vino, lightening bugs and whipporwills, wonderful album.

I'm not playing put it's up there for me. All good, Magnolia is simply exquisite.
 
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Not what I expected first listen. Was reading while I had it on in the background, secret reading this being the second year running I’ve ducked out of Rob’s reading challenge thread and even earlier than last year.

Something about the music, quietly beguiling made me want to give it more attention so I put the kindle down, closed my eyes and… nodded off but only for a few minutes.

Bit of an effortlessly cool vibe about this. Will be interesting to see if it sustains my interest over repeated plays
 
denislawsbackheel said:
J J Cale!
Yes, yes, yes…
Every single album on vinyl in front of me now.
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On the subject of vinyl did people on here keep their vinyl collection intact over the years? I was one of those numpties who disposed of 90% of them once CD had 'triumphed' as the main format. My 15 year old is really pissed off about that given the price of vinyl these days. Only saving grace from his perspective is I did keep my Smiths, JD and NO.
 
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threespires said:
On the subject of vinyl did people on here keep their vinyl collection intact over the years? I was one of those numpties who disposed of 90% of them once CD had 'triumphed' as the main format. My 15 year old is really pissed off about that given the price of vinyl these days. Only saving grace from his perspective is I did keep my Smiths, JD and NO.
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Never really got into CD's. So my 2000 odd vinyl collection is still intact.
 
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