Candles and Cale: Party Time

His songs have been covered by the likes of Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, Tom Petty, Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash and more. A no-flash, just pick guitarist, he began playing what would be known as the Tulsa Sound...a blending a 1950's to 1960's country, rock, blues and rockabilly. The group of musicians creating that sound also included Leon Russell, Elvin Bishop, David Gates and Dwight Twilley, among others.

Today we focus on the birthday boy, JJ Cale.

Back to the songs. After Clapton recorded two of Cale's songs, "After Midnight" and "Cocaine," Cale finally started getting noticed by people outside the music community. Hell, one of his songs, "Travelin' Light" was even played to wake up the crews of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station before one of their spacewalks. The man has played with everyone, and the list of musicians influenced by his songs grows daily.

Let's taste a few.

"Crazy Mama" ...his biggest single, laid-back and bluesy
"They Call Me the Breeze" ...covered by Skynyrd, taste a little JJ with Clapton sittin' in
"After Midnight" ...a songwriter's pure version
"Cajun Moon" ...sweet sample of Tulsa sound
"Down to Memphis" ...delicious track off his latest CD Roll On

JJ Cale. Blow out the candles and play some blues.

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Road Trip: Let's Ride

Road Trip.

Two words, eight letters that get my blood pumping every time. This afternoon, we take off for an evening out, in a venue about 70 miles away.

Returning tonight, it's gonna be a lot of driving, on a lot of back country roads.

Time for a little traveling music.

Now there are different types of traveling music. Some bands themselves, just have a sound that works when the sun is shining and you are rolling down the highway. The Allman Brothers are a great example of this. Put on Eat a Peach or Live at the Fillmore, and you are always good to go.

Then there are specific songs that just put you in the mood for an adventure. Let's taste a few of those today.


Lynryd Skynyrd "The Breeze"
Doobie Brothers "Rocking Down the Highway"
Tom Cochrane " Life is a Highway"

and for a destination mood setter...
Survivor "Caught in the Game"

Turn up the volume, pedal to the metal and drive...
oh yeah baby...that's what I'm talking about.

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Time To Kick It Up...Outlaw Style

Coming out of Tampa, today's taste is more proof of the incredible talent that came out of the south in the 70s. Legend has it, when they opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1974, Ronnie Van Zant of Skynyrd yelled out to Clive Davis who was in the audience. “If you don’t sign the Outlaws, you’re the dumbest music person I’ve ever met—and I know you’re not.”  Indeed, they signed with Arista Records under Clive Davis.

The Outlaws featured heavy guitars, thunderous bass and plenty of drum work. Good old kick ass southern rock.


Let's take a taste of a few fine examples.


"Hurry Sundown"
"There Goes Another Love Song"

and a killer cover of
"Ghost Riders in the Sky"

Music on a Saturday afternoon doesn't get better than this.

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