To Tulsa and Back

by J.J. Cale

Overview

On his first studio outing in eight years, the mythical Okie troubadour turns in a solid set of his trademark dusty blues tunes. What is not so typical, as with Travel Log from 1990, is that Cale steeps himself in technology and evokes the moods and frameworks of music that intersect with the blues or stand in opposition to them. The keyboards, drum loops, and horns on this record are as pervasive as the guitars. Needless to say, this requires an attitude adjustment on the part of the listener. This is not to say there aren't plenty of live musicians here; there are. It's just that the sheeny beats and clean synth lines feel odd when juxtaposed against the murky lyrics and Cale's wispy, smoke-weathered voice. His stinging Stratocaster lead lines, spare and razor taut -- especially when ringed with distortion -- are plentiful, as are his tight-knit song constructions. Standouts on this set include the new West funk of "New Lover," the shuffling "New Step," the skittering "The Problem," the delightfully rambling "Fancy Dancer," the burning road-dog rock of "Motormouth," and the jazzy, gypsy swing in "These Blues." There are a couple of ballads on the set that are unconventional, as well, in "Homeless," and in the beautiful "Blues for Mama." There is even a Latin track on "Rio" that feels more like a merengue than a samba. The album closes with Cale playing a lone banjo on "Another Song," a mournful Appalachian ballad that feels like it comes from out of the heart of the Dust Bowl, it's full of ghosts and shadows and aches with the weight and displacement of longing as history. A fine effort. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	04/26/2019
Label:	Because Music
UPC:	5060525434396
Rank:	44714

Tracks

Disc 1

1. My Gal
2. Chains of Love
3. New Lover
4. One Step
5. Stone River
6. The Problem
7. Homeless

Disc 2

8. Fancy Dancer
9. Rio
10. These Blues
11. Motormouth
12. Blues for Mama
13. Another Song

Disc 3

14. My Gal
15. Chains of Love
16. New Lover
17. One Step
18. Stone River
19. Problem
20. Homeless
21. Fancy Dancer
22. Rio
23. These Blues
24. Motormouth
25. Blues for Mama
26. Another Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

J.J. Cale   Primary Artist,Banjo,Guitar,Vocals,Synthesizer,Multi Instruments
Bill Raffenspeger   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Walter Richmond   Keyboards
Gary Gilmore   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Christine Lakeland   Guitar
Jimmy Markham   Harmonica
Rocky Frisco   Keyboards
Shelby Eicher   Fiddle,Mandolin
Walt Richmond   Keyboards
Jim Karstein   Drums
Don White   Guitar

Technical Credits

David Teegarden   Audio Engineer,Audio Production,Engineer,Producer
J.J. Cale   Composer
Bas Hartong   Executive Producer
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Mike Kappus   Executive Producer
David Chapman   Engineer
Steve Fallone   Assistant
Dana Brown   Engineer
Eric Pillault   Graphic Design
Charles Johnson   Producer
Mike Test   Producer
Stephane Sednaoui   Photography