(RockAndMetal.com) (06/08/04)

Edited By Michael Bennett

NEW YORK, NY, USA - "To Tulsa And Back," released today, is J.J. CALE's first new studio album since 1996's "Guitar Man."

But as Cale says, "It doesn't seem that long."

You just can't rush the good things in life, and that includes J.J. Cale, who, for his Sanctuary Records debut, went back to his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma to record.

"To Tulsa And Back" is at once different than albums before it, while reassuringly retaining the trademark sound that has made Cale an American music legend for more than 30 years.

Cale is best known for his compositions -- some of them hits for Eric Clapton and others for himself -- including 'After Midnight,' 'Cocaine,' 'Call Me The Breeze,' and 'Crazy Mama.'

His songs have been covered by everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, The Allman Brothers Band, Johnny Cash, The Band and Santana to Captain Beefheart and Bryan Ferry.

Beyond the songs, his style profoundly influenced Dire Straits, Clapton and many others.

Fittingly, the album has been released right in the eye of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival which took place this past weeekend in Dallas, Texas - at which J.J. Cale made a rare live appearance.

The initial plan for Cale's new studio CD was to regroup with his old friend and original collaborator, Audie Ashworth, who began producing his albums in 1971.

"We were going to do a record in Nashville like we did in the old days, two friends sitting around talking about music and playing songs," he said.

When Ashworth passed away several years back, that idea was shelved and Cale dedicated his 2001 "Live" CD to Ashworth instead.

The concept lingered on, though, and Cale revived it after bringing many of his old friends out to join him on tour in 2002.

Cale, who lives nowadays in the Southern California desert, decided to return to his hometown of Tulsa to tackle the project on his own.

Cale loaded his gear into the studio of drummer and friend David Teagarden (Teagarden & Van Winkle) and looked up some of their old friends.

"I played with some of these guys 40 years ago," Cale laughs.

"I don't think there's anyone on this record who's under 60 years old."

The result is a warm, rhythmic, relaxed record that preserves the down-home flavor that's come to define J.J. Cale's sound. His fans like it that way.

Cale began playing Tulsa clubs in the 1950s with his own band, Johnny Cale & The Valentines.

He later played with fellow Tulsa emigrees Leon Russell and Delaney & Bonnie.

Then Eric Clapton recorded "After Midnight" and the rest is history.

Lately, Cale garnered a new generation of fans when Widespread Panic and other jam bands covered some of his songs.

Cale says of the jam band experience, "Those guys make a three minute song last 15 minutes and everybody does a solo. But they still need songs."

"How they discovered mine, I don't know. But they did. Then through those songs, a whole new generation discovered me."

Among the songs to be found on the new album are 'Stone River,' which he wrote for the environmental Earthjustice campaign, and the sharply political 'The Problem,' find him addressing new concerns about the world in which we live.

Another touching commentary on our times is the moving 'Homeless.'

Almost as rare as a new J.J. Cale studio album is thes chance to see him live, and that opportunity is on the horizon too.

Watch for updates soon.

"To Tulsa And Back" Track Listing:
1. My Gal
2. Chains Of Love
3. New Lover
4. One Step
5. Stone River
6. The Problem
7. Homeless
8. Fancy Dancer
9. Rio
10. These Blues
11. Motormouth
12. Blues For Mama
13. Another Song

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