- Audio CD (7 Jun 2004)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: EMI
- ASIN: B000260QZ6
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 29,813 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This is surely the musical credo of JJ Cale as To Tulsa and Back sees him deliver yet another collection of heart-warmingly laid-back and uncluttered blues. Though half the album was recorded with his old bar-room buddies back in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, nothing much has changed on Planet Cale. He still comes across as the world's most easy-going musician, the Baloo-the-Bear of the Blues. Perhaps a new genre, the Baloos, could be named in his honour? But this is not to say the album is simply an easy listen. Though it opens with the mooching rock'n'roll of "My Gal", a comic paean to a young lady who spends all her time getting wasted and having sex, there's also the environmentally aware "Stone River", the anti-capitalist "The Problem" and the desolate, intensely human "Blues for Mama", facing death without morbidity. There's some musical variety, occasional Latin inflections and jittery R&B, but mostly this is Cale giving the people exactly what they want, rootsy blues marked by that innately groovy vocal style and a guitar technique that was such a heavy influence on Mark Knopfler. --Dominic Wills
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Cale is an example of a irony who has many victims in the history of Rock and Blues, he belongs to a select group of musicians who has inspired many of the people you probably admired but never receive the recognition than those who learned from the master. In Cale's case the two most famous instances of this are, undoubtedly Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton -the latter even saying once in an interview that he felt he was the closest thing a British musician can get to Cale, and who turned huge hits out of JJ's "Cocaine" and "After Midnight.
This album finds Cale back in great form and, after several years of not visiting a studio, just as laidback and sensual in his playing as in some of his classics from years past. What you can expect is his trademark tasteful picking, solos that say everything they need to say with hardly half of the notes used by the average aspiring "guitar god," and a voice that will not necessarily stir you yet it's exactly the way to sing whatever song he's singing.
So, no surprises here, no experimenting with new sounds or genres nor the trite parade of guests who often appear and contribute more to an album's marketing but hardly anything to the songs they play in.
This is JJ Cale's unadulterated, bluesy mastery of the guitar, again accompanied by a tight band seasoned through his continued touring and playing like they are hanging out in Cale's living room. No pretense, no pyrotechnics, nothing but inspired playing some new great tunes.
For those who know Cale already, suffice to say that this is one of the albums they may be most satisfied having purchased. Listen to "New Lover," "Stone River" or "The Problem" -probably his most political song to date- for proof of that. For something somewhat different, you may try "Rio" which is touched by some Brazilian overtones but one hundred percent Cale, or "Blues for Mama" which is likely to be one of his slow and sensuous best songs in along time.
This album finds Cale back in great form and, after several years of not visiting a studio, just as laidback and sensual in his playing as in some of his classics from years past. What you can expect is his trademark tasteful picking, solos that say everything they need to say with hardly half of the notes used by the average aspiring "guitar god," and a voice that will not necessarily stir you yet it's exactly the way to sing whatever song he's singing.
So, no surprises here, no experimenting with new sounds or genres nor the trite parade of guests who often appear and contribute more to an album's marketing but hardly anything to the songs they play in.
This is JJ Cale's unadulterated, bluesy mastery of the guitar, again accompanied by a tight band seasoned through his continued touring and playing like they are hanging out in Cale's living room. No pretense, no pyrotechnics, nothing but inspired playing some new great tunes.
For those who know Cale already, suffice to say that this is one of the albums they may be most satisfied having purchased. Listen to "New Lover," "Stone River" or "The Problem" -probably his most political song to date- for proof of that. For something somewhat different, you may try "Rio" which is touched by some Brazilian overtones but one hundred percent Cale, or "Blues for Mama" which is likely to be one of his slow and sensuous best songs in along time.
Where so many people out there lose themselves trying to change to attract new fans, Cale again chooses to remain himself, to do what he does well, and returns to form-in vintage Cale's style- without even breaking a sweat.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After 8 years of silence Cale records his best album in many years! 13 great songs, session musicians are back, songs are beautiful and bluesy. It's just unbelievable music for 2004 and from the man who is 66 years old. Check out songs like Rio or Stone River.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I may be biased but I have not yet heard anything bad or even mediocre from JJ Cale. His blend of different genres creates what many Europeans consider the "ultimate American music", which he delivers with a unique taste, guitar, voice and sound. On the new album, JJ Cale continues what he has always done: his music. No change. Thank God. I tend to prefer pieces on which JJ plays with other musicians, rather than playing all the instruments himself, and I would like to have more such songs here but this is just nidpicking. It is perfect, and I hope that he will do some more soon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A class act
When I bought this CD, I somehow thought it would be the soundtrack to the (superb) documentary DVD of the same name. In fact, it's a studio album, and a great one at that. J.J. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2007 by Friendlycard
Keep it up JJ
More of the same from JJ. For those who know his music that's all they'll need to hear. I've never heard a bad (or even mediocre) piece from him in the 21 years... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2005 by "noddythecaver"
The perfect antidote to modern living
From the first beat of the opener “My Gal”, I found myself in familiar territory. A wonderful, laid-back JJ Cale world where the roads are empty, the beer is cold and... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2005 by "andyalfa156"
JJ Cale at his best!
This is a surprisingly upbeat album for JJ Cale.
If you're one of his fans (I am) you will NOT be disappointed.
Even after a first listen, you'll want more!
If you're one of his fans (I am) you will NOT be disappointed.
Even after a first listen, you'll want more!
Published on 18 Dec 2004 by D. GRAHAM
More of the same (but a return to form, too)
Gotta confess a bias here ... I'll give J.J. 5 stars, pretty much whatever ... I mean, I'll give "Closer To You" 5 stars and that's a ropey album, in truth ... I just dig J.J. ... Read more
Published on 17 July 2004 by Clement Wether
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