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Music Monday: Happy Birthday JJ Cale

by Scott Lydon


Happy Music Monday! JJ Cale is one of those artists that is all but invisible by name, but has somehow overlapped all the major rock figures. Today Scott's gathered five songs that JJ Cale had a hand in writing. You've certainly heard his work before, even if you don't yet know you have.

Eric Clapton - Cocaine

 

This ode to the troubles of the rock star drug is best known as an Eric Clapton song. But before it belonged to him, it belonged to JJ Cale. Just goes to show. Cocaine isn't the monogamous sort.

Oh, but that's not all! More JJ Cale songs to come.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Call Me The Breeze

 

This one's kind of a double, really. Most people (especially southerners) can already sing this song just by reading the title. But they also CLEARLY lifted it for use in this Busch beer commercial as well. And if you're as old as me, you saw that commercial over and over and over again.

Poco - Magnolia

 

This drifting and lovely song is very much tied to a specific era of music. You can hear it in the guitar and the way it's produced. And yet, it could easily be something modern with just a few small twists. Such is the JJ Cale magic. And, of course, Poco.

Kansas - Bringing It Back

 

Like many people, I discovered Kansas in high school. Through this song, I indirectly discovered JJ Cale as well. I just wouldn't know it for a few more years.

The Starlighters - Creepin

 

This is one of my rare Hail Mary entries, because I really am not sure if JJ Cale is actually playing on this song! However, I do know that he was in a band with the late, great Leon Russell called The Starlighters, so I'm hoping he was in this specific incarnation. If not, I apologize.

Head over to Facebook, why don't'cha, and see if you can win yourself some JJ Cale vinyl! Also let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. See you next week.