Naturally is the debut album by J. J. Cale. First released in 1972, it includes his song “After Midnight” which was first recorded by Eric Clapton in 1970. Cale, who was languishing in obscurity at the time, had no knowledge of Clapton’s recording of “After Midnight” until it became a radio hit in 1970. Cale’s friend and producer, Audie Ashworth, encouraged Cale to record a full album in order to capitalize on the success of his song. Naturally was recorded independently, “on spec”, the musicians being paid demo fees. Some songs, such as “Call Me the Breeze”, were recorded with Read Full BioNaturally is the debut album by J. J. Cale. First released in 1972, it includes his song “After Midnight” which was first recorded by Eric Clapton in 1970. Cale, who was languishing in obscurity at the time, had no knowledge of Clapton’s recording of “After Midnight” until it became a radio hit in 1970. Cale’s friend and producer, Audie Ashworth, encouraged Cale to record a full album in order to capitalize on the success of his song.
Naturally was recorded independently, “on spec”, the musicians being paid demo fees. Some songs, such as “Call Me the Breeze”, were recorded with primitive drum machine accompaniment and sound almost like demos.
The album showcased Cale’s distinctive, understated style, and it successfully established his solo recording career which continues to the present day. The album was originally released on Leon Russell’s “Shelter” label, spawning the 1972 hits “Crazy Mama” (Billboard Hot 100 #22- his only Top 40 hit) and “After Midnight” (#42) as well as turntable hits “Bringing it Back” (recorded by Kansas in their first album), “Call Me the Breeze” (later recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd) and “Clyde” (later recorded by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, and a 1980 country hit for Waylon Jennings).
Track listing
01. Call Me the Breeze
02. Call the Doctor
03. Don’t go to Strangers
04. Woman I Love
05. Magnolia
06. Clyde
07. Crazy Mama
08. Nowhere to Run
09. After Midnight
10. River Runs Deep
11. Bringing it Back
12. Crying Eyes
Personnel
JJ Cale – guitar, vocals
Karl Himmel – drums
Chuck Browning – drums
Tim Drummond – drums
Carl Radle – bass
Norbert Putnam – bass
Bob Wilson – piano
David Briggs – piano, organ
Jerry Whitehurst – piano
Weldon Myrick – steel guitar
Buddy Spicher – fiddle
Shorty Lavender – fiddle
Walter Hayness – dobro
Mac Gayden – slide guitar
Ed Colis – harmonica
Diane Davidson – backing vocals
Produced by Audie Ashworth
Naturally was recorded independently, “on spec”, the musicians being paid demo fees. Some songs, such as “Call Me the Breeze”, were recorded with primitive drum machine accompaniment and sound almost like demos.
The album showcased Cale’s distinctive, understated style, and it successfully established his solo recording career which continues to the present day. The album was originally released on Leon Russell’s “Shelter” label, spawning the 1972 hits “Crazy Mama” (Billboard Hot 100 #22- his only Top 40 hit) and “After Midnight” (#42) as well as turntable hits “Bringing it Back” (recorded by Kansas in their first album), “Call Me the Breeze” (later recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd) and “Clyde” (later recorded by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, and a 1980 country hit for Waylon Jennings).
Track listing
01. Call Me the Breeze
02. Call the Doctor
03. Don’t go to Strangers
04. Woman I Love
05. Magnolia
06. Clyde
07. Crazy Mama
08. Nowhere to Run
09. After Midnight
10. River Runs Deep
11. Bringing it Back
12. Crying Eyes
Personnel
JJ Cale – guitar, vocals
Karl Himmel – drums
Chuck Browning – drums
Tim Drummond – drums
Carl Radle – bass
Norbert Putnam – bass
Bob Wilson – piano
David Briggs – piano, organ
Jerry Whitehurst – piano
Weldon Myrick – steel guitar
Buddy Spicher – fiddle
Shorty Lavender – fiddle
Walter Hayness – dobro
Mac Gayden – slide guitar
Ed Colis – harmonica
Diane Davidson – backing vocals
Produced by Audie Ashworth
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Call Me The Breeze
J.J. Cale Lyrics
They call me the breeze,
I keep blowing down the road
They call me the breeze,
I keep blowing down the road
I ain't got me nobody,
I ain't carrying me no load
Ain't no change in the weather,
Ain't no change in me
Ain't no change in the weather,
Ain't no change in me
I ain't hidin' from nobody,
Ain't nobody hidin' from me
I got that green light, babe,
I got to keep moving on
I got that green light, babe,
I got to keep moving on
I might go out to California,
Might go down to Georgia,
Might stay home
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John J. Cale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Rick Hartline
JJ never got the credit he deserved...Absolutely brilliant musician.
SCoop923
Could not agree more
Gary Schultz
They know all about E.Clapton .....
Eric always gives JJ credit but Eric gets the all the GLORY ...I've talked to guys who never heard of JJ & thought After Midnight & Cocaine were written by Clapton.....oh well
Lifes not always fair...
Valerie Worboyes
Rick so correct
Fernando Garcia
He choose not to be on the lime light. Glad Eric introduce his song outside of the US
Mr.mystery
What’s credit? Learn truth
Mouka Faslouka
I had just lost my dad in a stupid desert war in Morocco in January of 1976. My uncle invites me to the deep desert in south Morocco. He lived in a sleepy small town of maybe 20000 people. They had a small club there where they had a HiFi player. They had a decent vinyl records collection. I was grieving sad and bored. The manager somehow was nice enough to let me browse through their vinyl collection. For some unknown reason JJ Cale's album caught my eyes. It was the one with the Raccoon with the hat. I didn't speak a word of English back then. I decided to play it for the gallery. Needless to say how it all ended up. I bought every album in tape, vinyl and CD. I did not understand the lyrics. However the music spoke to me in that universal language: art. JJ Cale will always remain one of the most underrated musicians ever.
I came to the US in the mid 1990. My one regret is that I never made enough money to go see him in person.
D Heyman
God bless you brother. Thanks for sharing.
Simon Zabell
wonderful
jj Finigan
I grew up in Oklahoma, it's a shame he's not recognized even here, he's a Tulsa native.