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DVDfever.co.uk – JJ Cale: Roll On CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Because Music Records
- Released: March 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
70… and still rollin on.
Reclusive Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter JJ Cale returns with his 14th studio album. His first, Shock Hop / Sneaky was way back in 1958. Cale is best known for covers of his After Midnight and Cocaine by Eric Clapton.
Though plugged as a new album, some tracks were recorded at David Teegardens studio in Tulsa Oklahoma in 2003.
A roll-call of 16 musical buddies help out including Eric Clapton, Jim Keltner and Teegarden himself on track one, as drummer.
In addition to self production, Cale has written all the songs. The Oklahoma-born artist continues his penchant near-whispered vocals with a string of radio-friendly gems which retains his laidback mellow rhythm and blues grooves. Also thrown in for good measure are dollops of jazz and country inflections like the simple (and Dylan-like folk) of Leaving In The Morning complete with cool lashings of pedal steel.
Rooted deep at Cales measured and often understated sublime workouts are boogie-like touchstones which are scattered throughout Roll On. It stars at a predictably gentle pace Who Knew- attributing much to swinging avante garde Jazz with his wiry guitar ghosting in and out of the shuffle. On Where The Sun Dont Shine, he hits an infectious funky groove, priming himself nicely for the albums jewel in the crown: the happy go-luck Down To Memphis, which would be an even a great introduction and better single release than Roll On.
He opts for a foot-tapping country-styled follow-on in the shape of Strange Days. Again, this would be a cracking single. The sparkling banjo is an absolute delight. Resurfacing is the bluesy pedal steel a la Allman Brothers which ties the pulsating shuffle of Cherry Street. The pace quickens even more for the lush and funky Fonda-Lina. Cales mastery of the understated guitar picks is at its maximum here.
Oh Marys groovy drive is truly inspirational while the brass section swings as if to save their lives, and a mind-boggling piano solo gives it a touch of earthy RocknRoll. Closing what can be described as a warm and cuddly album, he leaves us wanting more with appropriately titled Bring Down The Curtain.
He may only pop out to play now and again, but when he does, hes well worth waiting for.
The verdict: Next one please.
Weblink:because.tv
Radio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG atwrexham.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Who Knew
2. Former Me
3. Where The Sun Dont Shine
4. Down To Memphis
5. Strange Days
6. Cherry Street
7. Fonda-Lina
8. Leaving In The Morning
9. Oh Mary
10. Old Friend
11. Roll On feat. Eric Clapton
12. Bring Down The CurtainView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.