Eric Clapton has often stated
that JJ Cale is one of the single most important figures in rock history, a
sentiment echoed by many of his fellow musicians. Cale’s influence on
Clapton was profound, and his influence on many more of today’s artists cannot
be overstated. To honor JJ’s legacy, a year after his passing,
Clapton gathered a group of like-minded friends and musicians for Eric
Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Calescheduled
to be released July 29, 2014. With performances by Clapton, Mark
Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks and Don White, the
album features 16 beloved JJ Cale songs and is named for the 1972 single “Call
Me The Breeze.” The album is available for pre-order at http://amzn.com/B00K0X1PYM.
“I would like people to tap into what JJ Cale did – that’s
the point. I’m just the messenger; I’ve always felt that that’s my job. I try
to interpret things so that the public at large, or at least the people who
listen to what I do, will become intrigued about where I got it from,” said
Clapton.
After years
admiring JJ Cale’s work and covering several of his songs such as “After
Midnight” and “Cocaine”, Clapton finally collaborated with Cale for the first
time in his career on the 2006 original album Road to Escondido.
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.”
JJ Cale’s music consistently defied being labeled into any one
category, but instead found influences across the spectrum of blues, rock,
country and folk -- a hybrid sound that has influenced a long list of
artists. He was known for being reclusive. He let his music speak for
itself and by his own choice never became famous in the conventional terms of
the word. Instead, he preferred to shun the spotlight for a more simple
existence based on his musical creations. Ironically, doing just that, and
focusing on music, turned him into a guitar legend.
Cale 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.” And so, Cale began playing the local Tulsa club scene
in the early 1950’s surrounded by other natives such as David Gates (Bread) and
Leon Russell. After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-60’s, he recorded
the song “After Midnight.”
Already an accomplished guitarist with bands such as the
Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith, Clapton ventured to a solo career with the
release of his 1970 self-titled Eric Clapton album. Mutual friend
Delaney Bramlett had given Clapton a copy of Cale’s song “After Midnight.”
Clapton decided to cover the song and it was the first single from the
album. The song became a chart-topping success. Clapton was quick
to offer praise for Cale’s work while promoting the album. Cale had been
told of the cover but said that he didn’t pay much attention until the song
came on the radio in Tulsa.
Years later, in April 1976, Cale was performing at London’s
Hammersmith Odeon in support of his Troubadour album release. Clapton sat in on
the performance and later during that trip surprised Cale in the studio with a
version of “Cocaine” that would appear on his 1977 Slowhand release, again
becoming a chart-topping success.
In 2004 Clapton organized a guitar festival called Crossroads that
was a 3-day event featuring the world’s most elite guitarists. Clapton
invited Cale to perform at the first Crossroads Guitar Festival and Cale agreed
to attend the event, where Clapton proudly sat in as a member of his
band.
Cale’s entire 40-plus year career produced only 15 albums. Lauded
by his peers and completely unfazed by musical fads, JJ Cale is an American
icon, a craftsman like no other.
Clapton’s career, also spanning more than 50 years, has resulted
in 18 Grammy Awards and the distinct honor of being the only triple inductee
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: w
The Breeze will be available JULY 29,
2014
ALBUM TRACK LISTING
- Call Me The Breeze
(Vocals Eric Clapton)
- Rock And Roll Records
(Vocals Eric Clapton & Tom Petty)
- Someday (Vocals Mark
Knopfler)
- Lies (Vocals John Mayer
& Eric Clapton)
- Sensitive Kind (Vocals
Don White)
- Cajun Moon (Vocals Eric
Clapton)
- Magnolia (Vocals John
Mayer)
- I Got The Same Old Blues
(Vocals Tom Petty & Eric Clapton)
- Songbird (Vocals Willie
Nelson & Eric Clapton)
- Since You Said Goodbye
(Vocals Eric Clapton)
- I’ll Be There (If You
Ever Want Me) (Vocals Don White & Eric Clapton)
- The Old Man And Me
(Vocals Tom Petty)
- Train To Nowhere (Vocals
Mark Knopfler, Don White & Eric Clapton)
- Starbound (Vocals Willie
Nelson)
- Don’t Wait
(Vocals Eric Clapton & John Mayer)
- Crying Eyes
(Vocals Eric Clapton & Christine Lakeland)
MUSICIAN CREDITS:
Keys - Hammond Organ, Piano & Wurlitzer
Walt Richmond & Simon Climie
Drum Programming & Percussion
Simon Climie
Bass Nathan East
Drums Jim Keltner
Guitars
Eric Clapton (All tracks)
Mark Knopfler (Tracks 3 & 13)
John Mayer (Tracks 4, 7 & 15)
Willie Nelson (Tracks 9 & 14)
Don White (Tracks 3, 5 & 13)
Reggie Young (Tracks 2, 6 & 8)
Derek Trucks (Tracks 14 & 16)
Albert Lee (Tracks 1 & 11)
David Lindley (Tracks 9 & 16)
Don Preston (Track 3 & 13)
Christine Lakeland (Track 3)
Doyle Bramhall II (Track 10)
Pedal Steel Guitar
Greg Leisz (Track 12 & 14)
Dobro
Eric Clapton (Track 11)
Harmonica
Jimmy Markham (Track 13)
Mickey Raphael (Tracks 3, 9 & 14)
Backing Vocals
Michelle John (Tracks 4, 5, 9& 13)
Sharon White(Tracks 4, 5, 9& 13)
Christine Lakeland (Tracks 13 & 15)
Simon Climie (Track 9)
Additional Drums
James Cruce
Jim Karstein
Jamie Oldaker
David Teegarden
SatnamRamgotra (Tablas)
ALBUM CREDITS:
Produced by:
Eric Clapton
Simon Climie
