Audio CD review:
J.J. Cale - Naturally

J.J. Cale - Naturally

Band: J.J. Cale Title: Naturally Rating: Release Date: 25 October, 1990 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Call Me The Breeze 2: Call The Doctor 3: Don't Go To Strangers 4: Woman I Love 5: Magnolia 6: Clyde 7: Crazy Mama 8: Nowhere To Run 9: After Midnight 10: River Runs Deep 11: Bringing It Back 12: Crying Eyes

Customer Reviews Crème de la crème Hopkins, R. Best Cale in my opinion, must-have for anyone interested in blues beyond the founding fathers (L. Johnson, M. Waters, H. Wolf). I first heard songs from this record as a grad student in Berkeley, recently arrived from Brazil in 1983, on KFOG, the rock SF station. They used to play Bringing it Back and it took me a few auditions to get the name of the artist. When I did I went to the Tower store on Durant and bought it. Then I realized he was the composer of After Midnight (known through Clapton's version), and Cale has been a favourite since. His last, a partnership with Clapton (Road to Escondido) is also very good, in fact, Clapton is better there than in most of his solo albums, and his singing somehow lost the usual high-key stridency, certainly influenced by the zen-like ways of Cale. Naturally, with its fairy-tale like cover, would be among my DIDs. By the way, one also guesses, through this record, a strong influence on M. Knopfler , both as guitar man and composer. Highly recommended. Bringing it back "Naturally" features the original "After Midnight" that many Clapton fans will recognize, though they are unaware of being Cale's composition. I have trouble deciding my favourite Cale's album but this one is a strong candidate for the first place (the other ones are "Okie" and "Shades" and, to some extent, his latest Live recordings). Actually few people know that Clapton himself declared that Cale's music was like mentorship to him. This is a very misty album. Due to the recording, all tunes have a shadow of damping of the hi-key dynamics which make them more fit for the general atmosphere of the music. I've always wondered if it's not a trick of the recording engineer because the vinyl is exactly the same. The music is absolutely marvelous. I have it also on the vinyl but I order it on CD because I listen it VERY often. "Magnolia" and "After Midnight" are may favourites. Listening these tunes I feel the same as being awakened from a beautiful dream in a warm summer morning. Very mellow but not sweet, exactly as they should be. The cover of the CD says it all: it is like Alice in Wonderland. Thats why they call him the breeze I just cant put to words how this album moved my soul (now i own all j j cale albums!) from the concentrated guitar work to the smoky singing of j j to the sheer genius songwriting which has influenced many including eric clapton himself! I urge every true music lover to buy this album , this cannot be compared to anything else. I have to admit that i stumbled on this cd accidentally , i knew who jj cale was , i knew his songs , but i never actually listened to his versions of his own songs like they call me the breeze and after midnight, i only bought it because i have a hidden urge to buy all the albums which were originally released between 1969 and 1973 . . . You can see a complete list of all J.J. Cale discography, or go back to the J.J. Cale tabs