Song:Cocaine
Album:The Very Best Of J.J. Cale
J.J. Cale had his only top 40 pop hit with Crazy Mama in 1972. But he's probably best known for the songs Cocaine and After Midnight as covered by Eric Clapton. Cale is known for his laid back performing style and reclusiveness. But he still has a very loyal following. He is also frequently confused with the legendary Welsh musician John Cale. Though they share the same name, the are obviously very different. J.J. Cale was born John Weldon Cale Dec. 5, 1938 in Oklahoma City and grew up in Tulsa. He played in local bands as a teen where he met Leon Russell. He moved to Nashville in 1959 to work for the Grand Ole Opry touring band. When he returned to Tulsa in 1964, Cale, Russell and Carl Radle moved to Los Angeles. A Los Angeles club owner renamed him J.J. Cale to avoid confusion with John Cale. Cale first recorded After Midnight in 1965 and recorded with the psychedelic band Leathercoated Minds. He moved back to Tulsa in 1967 and signed with Leon Russell and Denny Cordell's new label Shelter Records in 1969. Then Eric Clapton had a top 20 hit with After Midnight in 1970 earning Cale plenty of royalties. He released his debut album Naturally in 1971 and Crazy Mama was his only top 40 hit in 1972. He first recorded Cocaine on his 1974 album Troubador. Eric Clapton recorded it on Slowhand and though it never was released as a single, it's probably Cale's best known song. Clapton is obviously a big fan and the two recorded the CD The Road To Escondido in 2006. Cale has recorded for MCA, Mercury and Virgin but his attitude towards stardom is as laid back as his performing style. His latest CD Roll On was released Feb.2009 on Rounder Records. This 1998 Mercury comp is a good intro to his music. Here's J.J. Cale with Leon Russell performing Cocaine on In Session 1979.
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