Eric Clapton has often stated that JJ Cale is one of the single most important figures in rock history, a sentiment echoed by many of his fellow musicians.  Cale’s influence on Clapton was profound, and his influence on many more of today’s artists cannot be overstated.   To honor JJ’s legacy, a year after his passing, Clapton gathered a group of like-minded friends and musicians for Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale scheduled to be released July 29, 2014.  With performances by Clapton, Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks and Don White, the album features 16 beloved JJ Cale songs and is named for the 1972 single Call Me The Breeze.

“I would like people to tap into what JJ Cale did – that’s the point. I’m just the messenger; I’ve always felt that that’s my job. I try to interpret things so that the public at large, or at least the people who listen to what I do, will become intrigued about where I got it from,” said Clapton.

After years admiring JJ Cale’s work and covering several of his songs such as After Midnight and Cocaine, Clapton finally collaborated with Cale for the first time in his career on the 2006 original album Road to Escondido.  At the time, Clapton said “This is the realization of what may have been my last ambition, to work with the man whose music has inspired me for as long as I can remember.” 

JJ Cale’s music consistently defied being labeled into any one category, but instead found influences across the spectrum of blues, rock, country and folk -- a hybrid sound that has influenced a long list of artists.  He was known for being reclusive. He let his music speak for itself and by his own choice never became famous in the conventional terms of the word.  Instead, he preferred to shun the spotlight for a more simple existence based on his musical creations. Ironically, doing just that, and focusing on music, turned him into a guitar legend. 

Cale grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and cited Chet Atkins, Les Paul and Chuck Berry as some of his earliest influences.  He was often quoted as saying, “In trying to imitate them, I missed it.  And I came up with my own kinda thing.”  And so, Cale began playing the local Tulsa club scene in the early 1950’s surrounded by other natives such as David Gates (Bread) and Leon Russell.  After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-60’s, he recorded the song After Midnight.

Already an accomplished guitarist with bands such as the Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith, Clapton ventured to a solo career with the release of his 1970 self-titled Eric Clapton album. Mutual friend Delaney Bramlett had given Clapton a copy of Cale’s song After Midnight. Clapton decided to cover the song and it was the first single from the album.  The song became a chart-topping success.  Clapton was quick to offer praise for Cale’s work while promoting the album.  Cale had been told of the cover but said that he didn’t pay much attention until the song came on the radio in Tulsa.

Years later, in April 1976, Cale was performing at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in support of his Troubadour album release. Clapton sat in on the performance and later during that trip surprised Cale in the studio with a version of Cocaine that would appear on his 1977 Slowhand release, again becoming a chart-topping success.

In 2004 Clapton organized a guitar festival called Crossroads that was a 3-day event featuring the world’s most elite guitarists.  Clapton invited Cale to perform at the first Crossroads Guitar Festival and Cale agreed to attend the event, where Clapton proudly sat in as a member of his band. 

Cale’s entire 40-plus year career produced only 15 albums. Lauded by his peers and completely unfazed by musical fads, JJ Cale is an American icon, a craftsman like no other.

Clapton’s career, also spanning more than 50 years, has resulted in 18 Grammy Awards and the distinct honor of being the only triple inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

ALBUM TRACK LISTING

1. Call Me The Breeze (Vocals Eric Clapton)
2. Rock And Roll Records (Vocals Eric Clapton & Tom Petty)
3. Someday (Vocals Mark Knopfler)
4. Lies (Vocals John Mayer & Eric Clapton)
5. Sensitive Kind (Vocals Don White)
6. Cajun Moon (Vocals Eric Clapton)
7. Magnolia (Vocals John Mayer)
8. I Got The Same Old Blues (Vocals Tom Petty & Eric Clapton)
9. Songbird (Vocals Willie Nelson & Eric Clapton)
10. Since You Said Goodbye (Vocals Eric Clapton)
11. I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) (Vocals Don White & Eric Clapton)
12. The Old Man And Me (Vocals Tom Petty)
13. Train To Nowhere (Vocals Mark Knopfler, Don White & Eric Clapton)
14. Starbound (Vocals Willie Nelson)
15. Don’t Wait (Vocals Eric Clapton & John Mayer)
16. Crying Eyes (Vocals Eric Clapton & Christine Lakeland)

MUSICIAN CREDITS:

Keys - Hammond Organ, Piano & Wurlitzer

Walt Richmond & Simon Climie

Drum Programming & Percussion

Simon Climie

Bass Nathan East

Drums Jim Keltner

Guitars

Eric Clapton (All tracks)

Mark Knopfler (Tracks 3 & 13)

John Mayer (Tracks 4, 7 & 15)

Willie Nelson (Tracks 9 & 14)

Don White (Tracks 3, 5 & 13)

Reggie Young (Tracks 2, 6 & 8)

Derek Trucks (Tracks 14 & 16)

Albert Lee (Tracks 1 & 11)

David Lindley (Tracks 9 & 16)

Don Preston (Track 3 & 13)

Christine Lakeland (Track 3)

Doyle Bramhall II (Track 10)

Pedal Steel Guitar

Greg Leisz (Track 12 & 14)

Dobro

Eric Clapton (Track 11)

Harmonica

Jimmy Markham (Track 13)

Mickey Raphael (Tracks 3, 9 & 14)

Backing Vocals

Michelle John (Tracks 4, 5, 9& 13)

Sharon White(Tracks 4, 5, 9& 13)

Christine Lakeland (Tracks 13 & 15)

Simon Climie (Track 9)

Additional Drums

James Cruce

Jim Karstein

Jamie Oldaker

David Teegarden

SatnamRamgotra (Tablas)

ALBUM CREDITS:

Produced by:

Eric Clapton

Simon Climie