JJ Cale .
Τζέι Τζέι Κέιλ:Αμερικανός τραγουδοποιός, ιδιαίτερα αγαπητός στους μουσικούς και στους ροκάδες της δεκαετίας του '70. Aπό τους σκαπανείς του ''Ήχου της Τάλσα'' (Τulsa Sound), ενός υποείδους της ροκ μουσικής, που συνδυάζει το μπλουζ, το ροκαμπίλι, την κάντρι και την τζαζ. Μεγάλες του επιτυχίες τα τραγούδια ''After Midnight''και ''Cocaine'', που έκανε γνωστά ο Έρικ Κλάπτον.
Τζέι Τζέι Κέιλ
1938 – 2013
Ο Τζον Γουέλντον Κέιλ (John Weldon Cale), γνωστός ως Τζέι Τζέι Κέιλ (JJ Cale), γεννήθηκε στην Πόλη της Οκλαχόμα στις 5 Δεκεμβρίου 1938. Μεγάλωσε στην Τάλσα της Οκλαχόμα και αποφοίτησε από το τοπικό Λύκειο το 1956. Οι μουσικές του ανησυχίες τον οδήγησαν στο Λος Άντζελες, όπου αρχικά δούλεψε ως ηχολήπτης. Η αποτυχία του να καθιερωθεί ως μουσικός τον οδήγησε πίσω στην Τάλσα, όπου για μία δεκαετία τα ίχνη του χάνονται. Το 1966 τον βρίσκουμε μέλος των Leathercoated Minds. Το συγκρότημα ηχογραφεί ένα δίσκο με τίτλο A Trip down the Sunset Strip, που περιέχει διασκευές γνωστών ψυχεδελικών τραγουδιών.
Το 1970 γίνεται γνωστός, όταν ο Έρικ Κλάπτον ηχογραφεί το τραγούδι του After Midnight, που γνωρίζει μεγάλη επιτυχία στα τέλη της ίδιας χρονιάς. «Ένιωσα υπέροχα γιατί έβγαλα τα πρώτα μου χρήματα. Ήμουν άφραγκος εκείνη την περίοδο και δεν είχα να φάω. Και δεν ήμουν νέος. Είχα ξεπεράσει τα τριάντα» είπε σε μία συνέντευξή του. Την ίδια εποχή άλλαξε το όνομά του σε JJ Cale, για να ξεχωρίζει από τον συνονόματό του Τζον Κέιλ των Velvet Underground.
To 1972 o Κέιλ κυκλοφορεί τον πρώτο του δίσκο με τίτλο Naturally και αμέσως αποσπά την προσοχή των μουσικόφιλων για τον ξεχωριστό χαλαρό ήχο του, που συνδυάζει το μπλουζ, τη φολκ και την τζαζ, τα ρέοντα κιθαριστικά σόλο και τα λακωνικά φωνητικά, αλλά και για την υιοθέτηση προηγμένων τεχνικών ηχογράφησης. Η μεγαλύτερη προσωπική του επιτυχία από το πρώτο του άλμπουμ είναι το τραγούδι Crazy Mama, που έφθασε στο Νο22 του αμερικανικού πίνακα επιτυχιών.
Μέχρι το 2009 κυκλοφόρησε άλλα 13 άλμπουμ, πάντα στο ίδιο μοτίβο, που τον έκανε γνωστό. Το 2006 συνεργάστηκε με τον Έρικ Κλάπτον στο άλμπουμ The Road to Escondido, το οποίο τιμήθηκε με Γκράμι την επόμενη χρονιά.
Πολλά από τα τραγούδια του έγιναν επιτυχίες από άλλους καλλιτέχνες και συγκροτήματα: The Band (Crazy Mama), Τζεφ Μπεκ (Magnolia), Τζόνι Κας (Call Me The Breeze), Έρικ Κλάπτον (After Midnight, Cocaine), Μπομπ Ντίλαν (Cocaine), Γουάιλον Τζένιγκς (Clyde), Kansas (Bringing It Back), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Bringing It Back, Call Me The Breeze, Same Old Blues), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Thirteen Days, Call Me The Breeze, I'd Like to Love You, Baby), Τζόνι Ρίβερς (Crazy Mama, Don't Go To Strangers), Santana (Sensitive Kind), Captain Beefheart (Same Old Blues) και Ράντι Κρόφορντ (Cajun Moon).
Ο Τζέι Τζέι Κέιλ, έχοντας υποστεί καρδιακή προσβολή, έφυγε από τη ζωή στις 26 Ιουλίου 2013, σε νοσοκομείο της πόλης Λα Χόγια της Καλιφόρνιας.
Προσωπική Δισκογραφία
Naturally (1972)
Really (1973)
Okie (1974)
Troubadour (1976)
5 (1979)
Shades (1981)
Grasshopper (1982)
#8 (1983)
Travel Log (1990)
Number 10 (1992)
Closer to You (1994)
Guitar Man (1996)
Live (2001)
To Tulsa and Back (2004)
Roll On (2009)
Cocaine
If you want to hang out, you`ve got to take her out, cocaine
If you want to get down, get down on the ground, cocaine
She don`t lie, she don`t lie, she don`t lie, cocaine
If you got bad news, you want to kick them blues, cocaine
When your day is done and you got to run, cocaine
She don`t lie, she don`t lie, she don`t lie, cocaine
If your thing is gone and you want to ride on, cocaine
Don`t forget this fact, you can`t get it back, cocaine
She don`t lie, she don`t lie, she don`t lie, cocaine
After midnight
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna chug-a-lug and shout.
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion;
We're gonna give an exhibition.
We're gonna find out what it is all about.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna shake your tambourine.
After midnight, it's all gonna be peaches and cream.
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion;
We're gonna give an exhibition.
We're gonna find out what it is all about.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang out.
Crazy Mama
Crazy Mama, where you been so long?
Crazy Mama, where you been so long?
You've been hiding out, I know that's true
Crazy Mama, I sure need you
Crazy Mama, where you been so long?
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Standing on the corner, looking for you, babe
Lord have mercy, can I see,
that Crazy Mama coming back to me?
Crazy Mama, where you been so long?
Carry On
If life's little downs they keep coming around
Carry on, carry on
With darkness all about, you want to scream and shout
Carry on, carry on
Don't cry baby, look at where you've been
Everybody knows you just need a friend
Please, please, please, if you're down on your knees
Carry on, carry on
Your head is full of doubt, you can't figure it out
Carry on, carry on
Between the time it takes to make all those mistakes
Carry on, carry on
It don't matter what you say or do
It just seems to work out if you want it to
Let out all the slack, take it off your back
Carry on, carry on
Let me bend your ear, never shed a tear
Carry on, carry on
Carry on, carry on
Don't cry sister cry
Don't cry sister cry, it'll be alright in the morning
Don't cry sister cry, everything'll be just fine
Don't cry sister cry, it'll be alright, I tell you no lie
Don't cry sister cry, don't do it, don't do it
When Old Man Trouble knocks on your door
Don't give him no key, he just wants more
He'll turn your life to misery
Kick you down, just like me
Don't cry sister cry, it'll be alright, it'll be alright
Don't cry sister cry, everything'll be just fine
Woke downhearted and you feel so bad
Somebody wants something of nothing you had
Love don't come too easy, you see
A little bit of you and a little bit of me
Don't cry sister cry, it'll be alright, it'll be alright
Don't cry sister cry, everything'll be just fine
Everything'll be just fine
Everything'll be just fine
JJ Cale
The legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist, JJ Cale passed away on July 26, 2013 but the legacy he left behind is a treasured one for fans that has and no doubt will continue to inspire upcoming artists as well as rock icons around the world. Rolling Stone has stated that "his influence is immeasurable," a point reinforced by the fact that a genre-spanning list of stars including Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Captain Beefheart, Santana, The Allman Brothers, Jerry Garcia, The Band, Chet Atkins, Freddie King, Beck, Band of Horses, Jose Feliciano, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Waylon Jennings, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Lee Fields, Deep Purple, Widespread Panic, John Mayall and many more have covered his timeless music.
JJ Cale had every opportunity to be a much bigger worldwide star but he was notorious for declining the greatest of those opportunities. He baffled many in the industry who weren't accustomed to such a determination to stay grounded and real, disregarding the fame and fortune that most artists crave. His philosophy allowed him to live more than comfortably on his own terms, avoiding so many of the superficial trappings of stardom and enabling him to focus on what really mattered to him - the music. That said, an offer to play Carnegie Hall on March 29, 1996 was one that struck a special chord and got an enthusiastic green light. Cale felt this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to play the legendary venue and making the deal that much sweeter was that it represented yet another chance to share the bill with his friends in The Band.
Eric Clapton has proclaimed that JJ Cale is one of the single most important figures in rock history. Cale's influence on Clapton has been profound and, after years admiring Cale's work and covering several of his songs such as "After Midnight" and "Cocaine", the two guitar giants finally collaborated for the first time in their careers on the 2006 original album, The Road to Escondido. That project earned Cale his first Grammy® for Best Contemporary Blues Album and his first RIAA Certified Gold Award. At the time, Clapton said, "This is the realization of what may have been my last ambition, to work with the man whose music has inspired me for as long as I can remember."
After Cale passed away in 2013, to honor his legacy, Clapton gathered a group of like-minded friends and musicians for The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale, released July 29, 2014 (three days after the anniversary of Cale's passing). With performances by Clapton, Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks and Don White as well as David Lindley, David Teegarden, Jamie Oldaker, Greg Leisz, Nathan East, Albert Lee, Jim Keltner and Cale's wife, Christine Lakeland Cale, the album is named for Cale's 1972 single "Call Me The Breeze". The album features fifteen Cale originals, including three previously unreleased tracks, plus a cover of Ray Price's "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)", which Cale had recorded on his Okie album. Eric also created a very special tribute within a tribute by starting the new album with "Call Me The Breeze", which was also the first track on Cale's debut record. Eric then made it that much more special by using Cale's original 1972 recording of the count-in to the song before Eric and Albert Lee segue into their new version.
In a July 2014 NPR interview about The Breeze, Clapton discussed his own playing when drawing on Cale's unique style:
"I wanted to... try to find a way to make it minimal, but still have a great deal of substance. That was the essence of JJ's music to me, apart from the fact that he summed up so many of the different essences of American music: rock and jazz and folk and blues. He just seemed to have an understanding of it all... I regard him as one of the roots of the tree of American folklore... Making this record was a way for me to say thank you for all the inspiration over the years. I suppose at some point I started to feel mildly outraged that he hadn't got the recognition that, at least I thought, he should have had."
Since its release, the tribute album has received immense media attention and worldwide commercial success, entering the charts at #1 in The Netherlands, #1 Denmark, #2 in the US, #2 in Germany, #2 in Canada, #3 in the UK and #4 in Belgium. Clapton also produced a behind-the-scenes documentary for the tribute, which had multiple TV airings on both VH1 Classic and Palladia, and features interviews with Clapton, John Mayer, Mark Knopfler, Derek Trucks, Don White and Christine Lakeland Cale.
JJ Cale Background
John Weldon Cale was born on December 5, 1938 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and cited Chet Atkins, Les Paul and Chuck Berry as some of his earliest influences. He was often quoted as saying, "In trying to imitate them, I missed it. And I came up with my own kinda thing." His "own kinda thing," which played a pivotal role in establishing the laid-back groove known as the "Tulsa Sound," illuminated the idea for rock greats at the time that the high volume, acrobatic guitar playing that developed in the 1960s and 1970s might be gainfully cast aside for a more subdued, yet highly substantive sound. In his 2003 biography, Shakey, Neil Young stated about Cale's playing:
"Most of the songs and the riffs - the way he plays the f...ing guitar is so… great. And he doesn't play very loud, either - I really like that about him. He's so sensitive. Of all the players I ever heard, it's gotta be Hendrix and JJ Cale who are the best electric guitar players… musically, he's actually more than my peer, because he's got that thing. I don't know what it is."
Cale began playing local Tulsa clubs in the 1950's surrounded by other natives like David Gates (Bread) and Leon Russell. After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-60's, he recorded his iconic song, "After Midnight", that would later be made famous by Eric Clapton. In 1970, Clapton's version of "After Midnight" reached #18 on the Billboard charts and became a catalyst for Cale's career. Cale stated about that crucial event, "I had already given up on the business part of the record business and had moved back to Tulsa and had gotten me a job playing with some friends of mine. When Eric cut that song it opened up a bunch of doors and I drove over to Nashville and that's when Naturally was done." Naturally was Cale's debut album released in 1972, and it achieved commercial success with one single, "Crazy Mama", breaking into the Billboard Top 25 while the tracks "Call Me the Breeze", "Bringing It Back", "Crazy Mama" and "Clyde" were covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, The Band and Waylon Jennings, respectively. Since Naturally, Cale has recorded fifteen albums, including the Clapton collaboration, The Road to Escondido.
Cale's last solo record, Roll On (2009), saw him assuming the versatile jack of all trades role as he had on many previous projects – playing guitars, bass, drums, synthesizers, singing as well as producing and engineering the whole album. Rolling Stone described the music as "supremely chill, utterly ageless," and what makes Roll On so special is that it actually broke new ground. Parts of the album sound like classic Cale and could have come out thirty years ago, while other songs found him traveling in completely new directions. The banjo picking and earthy feel of "Strange Days", and a similar vibe on "Leaving In The Morning", sound like they could have come off the Naturally sessions, while the crunching guitar on "Where The Sun Don't Shine" is in the vein of "Cocaine", and the gypsy funk of "Fonda-Lina" could be the sophisticated cousin of "Travelin' Light" from 1976's Troubadour. At the same time, you can hear Cale jazz-scatting for the first time ever on disc opener "Who Knew" and later loping along behind a restrained jazz piano on "Former Me".
Even though Cale received great recognition from his contemporaries and, as time went on, other rising stars, his nature was to always avoid the spotlight. Over the years he declined many offers for awards and honors he clearly deserved. After his passing, though, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame reiterated their long-standing offer to induct Cale. Feeling that Cale's legacy certainly deserved recognition in the Hall, his family accepted the invitation this time for his induction into the Hall on November 1, 2014. (He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame on November 16, 2013.) While uncomfortable with public acclaim, he surely would have appreciated the respect and admiration he continues to receive after his passing from his peers, his long-time fans and a new generation still discovering his music.
JJ Cale was absolutely one of a kind in the music business. His impact was immeasurable but, as he intended, his personal life remained very much below the radar. Cale enjoyed being the person who focused on the crafts of writing, engineering and production rather than the pursuit of commercial success. While he has now passed on, we are fortunate that he left behind music that has and will continue to comfort us the rest of our lives. In the meantime, plenty of new music will surely be made by others that will reflect his broad influence for decades to come.
ΠΗΓΕΣ-ΠΑΡΑΠΟΜΠΕΣ:
Guitar man
Guitar man, tell me what your secret am
Tell me please, can you put my mind at ease
When you're standing in the spotlight
With all the girls around
I was wondering how you do it
How you make that sound, guitar man
Tell me what your secret am
Tell me please, can you put my mind at ease
Your fingers move so swiftly
Across those silver strings
It looks so nice and easy
How you make it sing, guitar man
Tell me what your secret am
Tell me please, can you put my mind at ease
Guitar man, in a guitar jam
Playing low, playing slow
Playing loud, working the crowd
Playing high, you seem to fly
Guitar man, tell me what your secret am
Uh, hey man, have you seen my Stratocaster
Hand me that Gibson over there, will you
Let my try your Martin, man
Do you mind
Plug it in that Marshall
Turn it up a little bit louder
Perfect woman
Got me a woman, boy she's fine
Love me in the morning, love me at night
One thing about her I think is cool
A perfect woman, she's got no rules
Soft to the touch, silky smooth
She got everything a man could use
Ain't no doubt about it, when we make love
She's good down under, she's good up above
She's a perfect woman, she's fine
I want to make love to her all the time
Perfect woman, when we make love
She's good down under, she's good up above
She's a-ready, she's a-willin'
She's got that thing
Ordinary man
Feel like a king
She's got her hand on love for shure
Forget your troubles, boy
She's got the cure
She's a perfect woman
She's fine
I want to make love to her all the time
Perfect woman, when we make love
She's good down under, she's good up above
She's a perfect woman
When we make love
She's good down under, she's good up above
Sensitive Kind
Don't take her for granted, she had
a hard time
Don't misunderstand her or play
with her mind
Treat her so gently, it will pay you
in time
You've gotta know she's the
sensitive kind
Tell her you love her each and
every night
You will discover she will treat
you right
If you believe, I know you will find
There ain't nothin' like the
sensitive kind
She gets so lonely waitin' for you
You are the only thing to help
her through
Don't take her for granted
She has a hard time
You got to know she's the
sensitive kind
You got to know she's the
sensitive kind
I Got the Same Old Blues
Have you heard that rumour that's going around
You got it made, way across town
It's the same old story, tell me where does it end
Yes, I heard the news, it's the same old blues again
When I wrote you a letter, you must have read it wrong
I stood at your doorway, but you was gone
I took a lot of courage and let the telephone ring
It's the same old blues, same old blues again
When you give me the business, you know I get a mind
'Cause I've got a lot of patience and I've got a lot of time
It's the same old story, tell me where does it end
It's the same old blues, same old blues again
I'm gonna find me a mountain, I'm gonna hide out
I ain't talking to you and I ain't coming out
Yeah, I heard that rumour, tell me where does it end
It's the same old blues, same old blues again
Days Go By
When you light that funny cigarette
Would you pass it back to me
I'm feeling a little down and out
And it'll keep me company
I'm just a long lost sinner
Living life here on the line
I'll give it right back to you
I know it's not really mine
Now don't put it out, not right yet
It's burning pretty good
Maybe I'll have one more toke
You think I should
OO-oo, days go by
I just sit around and get real high
OO-oo, what a glow
I just hang out, they come and go
Hey, the walls are starting to move
The floor is way down there
What a buzz it is
There's electricity in the air
Boy, I'm feeling really gone
I'm feeling really cool
I think I'll have another one
I'm just another fool
You know they say it's illegal
But what isn't these days
No matter what you do
There'll be somebody on your case
OO-oo, days go by
It just seems like I sit around and get high
OO-oo, shame on me
They're going to put me in a penitentiary
I must not be together
Look at the shape I'm in
I just know people are saying
"He's looking awful thin"
I guess I can count my blessings
Though I've always been this way
I guess I'll quit tomorrow
Maybe another day
OO-oo, days go by
I guess I'll sit around and get real high
You know time has no absolute
It's a just seems like it's spent
Everything has a tendency to be so warped and bent
While looking here and there
I'm surprised to see
Everybody's gone here
Everybody's gone but me
OO-oo, days go by
I just sit around and get real high
OO-oo, what a glow
I just hang out, they come and go
Down to Memphis
Well I'm going down to Memphis
With my heart in my hand
Funny frisky woman that do needs to love me mad
I'm gonna tell her what she wants to, dear
I'll be kissing soft and low
Yes I'm going down to Memphis
Ain't got too far to go
I'll be figuring 'round them bushes, searching everywhere
It's all about them Memphis girls, they're everywhere
They can spread their wings around me
Let them flew in flock
Yes I'm going down to Memphis
Ain't got too far to go
Ain't no detours on my pathway
No crossroads I can see
Having fun down in Memphis
Memphis Tennessee
With those everlovin' women
The reason that I know
Yes I'm going down to Memphis
Ain't got too far to go
You can talk about that costume ball that goes most everywhere
You can see that ol' man river rollin'
Past the city square
You can feel the heat of summer
But there's one thing that I know
Well I'm going down to Memphis
Ain't got too far to go
Yes I'm going down to Memphis
Ain't got too far to go
Old Blue
I had an old dog, and his name was Blue
Bet your life he was a good dog too
Blue chased a possum up a hollow limb
Possum won, got the best of him
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Blue he died, and he died so hard
He shook the ground in my backyard
We lowered him down with a golden chain
Every link we'd call his name
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
My old Blue was a good old hound
You could hear him holler for miles around
When I get to heaven, first thing I'll do
I'll grab my horn and call Old Blue
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Bye-bye Blue
You good dog, you
Bye-bye Blue