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J.J. Cale — Guitar Man
Album: Guitar Man
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1155









Released: 1996
Length: 3:46
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Guitar man, tell me what your secret is
Tell me please, can you put my mind at ease

When you're standing in the spotlight
With all the girls around
I was wondering how you do it
How you make that sound, guitar man
Tell me what your secret is
Tell me please, can you put my mind at ease

Your fingers move so swiftly
Across those silver strings
It looks so nice and easy
How you make it sing, guitar man
Tell me what your secret is
Tell me please, can you put my mind at ease

Guitar man, in a guitar jam
Playing low, playing slow
Playing loud, working the crowd
Playing high, you seem to fly
Guitar man, tell me what your secret is

Uh, hey man, have you seen my Stratocaster
Hand me that Gibson over there, will you
Let my try your Martin, man
Do you mind
Plug it in that Marshall
Turn it up a little bit louder
Comments (83)add comment
Where ever this man lands on the 'musical god' list (top ten),  he most definitely has to be number one on the 'cool' list.
Genius! Clapton doing JJ Cale in "I'll make love to you anytime" segueing into JJ Cale doing JJ Cale in "Guitar Man". That's why Clapton followed Cale around Tulsa.
 kbs wrote:

Maybe JJ's equivalent of Dave Davies' slashed speaker to get the sound he (the performer) wanted...? I'm struggling with some of the remasters of old favourites these days - they sound different, but do they sound right? I guess a similar dialogue with analogue vs digital.

Link Wray poked holes in the speakers of his amps to get that fuzzy sound. Didn't Van Halen chop one up and tape it back together?

There's a guitarist, can't recall who, who goes to a pawn shop and buys the crappiest one in the place, fixes it up before the gig, and uses it that night.

Speaking of fixing up guitars, I never realized Don Erlewine's shop is in Austin - same place for many years. I used to live around the corner. But since I don't play I never knocked on the door. And, you know, it's Don Erlewine.
c.

 BillG wrote:
calray wrote: No, it's not poorly mixed. Like a lot of JJ's material, it's *horribly* mixed. In this case, it sounds like he ran the whole mix through a crappy AM-radio compressor/limiter. On other recordings it sounds like he used a bunch of mics he bought on sale at Radio Shack. Too bad... Some people just should not self-produce.


Much can be learned here about remastering and modern mix techniques applied to vintage music. 
 BillG wrote:
calray wrote: No, it's not poorly mixed. Like a lot of JJ's material, it's *horribly* mixed. In this case, it sounds like he ran the whole mix through a crappy AM-radio compressor/limiter. On other recordings it sounds like he used a bunch of mics he bought on sale at Radio Shack. Too bad... Some people just should not self-produce.

Maybe JJ's equivalent of Dave Davies' slashed speaker to get the sound he (the performer) wanted...? I'm struggling with some of the remasters of old favourites these days - they sound different, but do they sound right? I guess a similar dialogue with analogue vs digital.

Nice - think of those that would have asked JJ the same questions - Mark, Eric, and many others.
 Proclivities wrote:

What?!
 

Nah pink zep.
 Tomasni wrote:
This is 7 - Quite Likeable  to me    BUT NOT MORE  
 
If it was more, you'd have rated it higher, right?  The mystery to me is why some  of your 7s are 7s, but other 7s are 3+SKIP.
Nice slow blues segue from Clapton. Nice one,Bill.
Rating down to 3 plus Skip
 Helter_Skelter wrote:
same Feb 2019


 


Tomasni wrote:
This is 7 - Quite Likeable  to me

 

Quite likable indeed!!
This is 7 - Quite Likeable  to me    BUT NOT MORE  
 Piranga wrote:
Moody Blues.

 
What?!  Ah, you mean a description not a comparison....  The upper-case letters threw me off.
oops... just happened again in the exact order.

algorthim is strong

Helter_Skelter wrote:


 


 TerryS wrote:
JJ pulls off JJ better than Clapton does.

 
I can't imagine why.
Moody Blues.
 jhorton wrote:
I don't know, you take away the history, and it's a pretty boring old song.

Just saying'. 

 
yep, JJ on auto-pilot
I don't know, you take away the history, and it's a pretty boring old song.

Just saying'. 
 kcar wrote:

Dammit Bill, don't beat around the bush so much!   {#Whipit}

 

Bill's occasional insights into the business are definitely one of many good reasons for hanging out at RP.
 The exact same line-up ten months later! Does Bill play the same playlist periodically?
Aud wrote:

Al Green
Black Keys
EC
JJ Cale

What a GREAT line-up!

 


It is not a secret the admiration of Clapton for JJ, just look at the memorial album he managed to compile with other great musicians that equally considered JJ a hero. The original is always JJ, but many (not only Clapton) made great covers of his songs.
TerryS wrote:
JJ pulls off JJ better than Clapton does.

 


 BillG wrote:

No, it's not poorly mixed. Like a lot of JJ's material, it's *horribly* mixed. In this case, it sounds like he ran the whole mix through a crappy AM-radio compressor/limiter. On other recordings it sounds like he used a bunch of mics he bought on sale at Radio Shack. Too bad... Some people just should not self-produce.
 
Dammit Bill, don't beat around the bush so much!   {#Whipit}
JJ pulls off JJ better than Clapton does.
JJ and Eric were such a fantastic duo.  Thank you, Bill, for putting these two Guitar Men back to back again.  RIP JJ.  Dancing in my backyard is dedicated to you.

Al Green
Black Keys
EC
JJ Cale

What a GREAT line-up!
 Cynaera wrote:

As always, you provide exactly what's necessary to pull all the comments, pro or con, into focus. This was a wonderful video of Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale - what a couple of old shoes they are! Thank you, Calypsus_1.  I, for one, appreciate your contributions to the forum. You don't often post words, but what you provide is a wealth of insight and information about the artists we're privileged to hear at RadioParadise.

I bow to you, dear one. {#Notworthy}   And I have some down-time, so I'll be checking out the things you've posted that I didn't have time to view/listen to before.  What a treasure you are! {#Sunny}
 
miss you so much, Cynaera...  wish you and J.J. Cale were both still with us...  love this song...
I am sure glad JJ was here on earth to give us his gift!!!!

Lots of good stuff! 
JJ Cale is so cool, the ice is jealous.

Sounds pretty good to me...

 
BillG wrote:

No, it's not poorly mixed. Like a lot of JJ's material, it's *horribly* mixed. In this case, it sounds like he ran the whole mix through a crappy AM-radio compressor/limiter. On other recordings it sounds like he used a bunch of mics he bought on sale at Radio Shack. Too bad... Some people just should not self-produce.
 


 calypsus_1 wrote:


J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRfdO2gsqt0

 
As always, you provide exactly what's necessary to pull all the comments, pro or con, into focus. This was a wonderful video of Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale - what a couple of old shoes they are! Thank you, Calypsus_1.  I, for one, appreciate your contributions to the forum. You don't often post words, but what you provide is a wealth of insight and information about the artists we're privileged to hear at RadioParadise.

I bow to you, dear one. {#Notworthy}   And I have some down-time, so I'll be checking out the things you've posted that I didn't have time to view/listen to before.  What a treasure you are! {#Sunny}
Ahhhh - JJ. Perfect song for this day - it rained all night, we had a bit of sun today, but mostly clouds. Perfect reason to kick back and just enjoy the smell of fresh air and ignore the housework. The yard-watering was already done, the birds are fed, and life isn't too bad. Loves me some JJ Cale at times like these... Mmmmm...{#Sunny}
JJ never gets old!
Give me that spliff - JJ!

S.R.


J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRfdO2gsqt0

                                   {#Bananajam}
Tasty.
joshfm wrote:
That's because J.J. Cale wrote "Traveling Light."


Well then that's just redundant. He must have been desperate for ideas.

 Old_Pat wrote:
JJ's homage to EC
 
Absolutely.  And a great homage it is too.

JJ's homage to EC
JJ is de guitar man.
sharkartist wrote:
I just love that gritty ol' J.J.
I just love that gritty ol' J.J.
GREAT SONG. Nice transition.
Nabla wrote:
Oh yes, that's great to hear them again!
I don't think Eric played on this album....
radioparadisehead wrote:
This sounds just like "Traveling Light" by Widespread Panic.
That's because J.J. Cale wrote "Traveling Light."
radioparadisehead wrote:
This sounds just like "Traveling Light" by Widespread Panic.
Perhaps because it's a cover of JJ's original "Traveling Light".
This sounds just like "Traveling Light" by Widespread Panic.
thatch wrote:
Great guitar player and composer, but a minimalist when it comes to vocals.
JJ would be the first to tell you that. But between ZZ Top and Clapton covering his songs, I don't think he much cares. Bob Dylan isn't much a vocalist—so others claim—yet do we enjoy listening to his stuff? You bet!
Oh yes, that's great to hear them again!
there's a tobacconist's in Johannesburg South Africa called JJ Cale named after the guitarist. Any other musicians have tobacconists named after them?
BillG wrote:
No, it's not poorly mixed. Like a lot of JJ's material, it's *horribly* mixed. In this case, it sounds like he ran the whole mix through a crappy AM-radio compressor/limiter. On other recordings it sounds like he used a bunch of mics he bought on sale at Radio Shack. Too bad... Some people just should not self-produce.
Some people know exactly the mix they want and self produce all they like. Great sound!!
calray wrote:
this tune sounds poorly mixed.
No, it's not poorly mixed. Like a lot of JJ's material, it's *horribly* mixed. In this case, it sounds like he ran the whole mix through a crappy AM-radio compressor/limiter. On other recordings it sounds like he used a bunch of mics he bought on sale at Radio Shack. Too bad... Some people just should not self-produce.
this tune sounds poorly mixed.
Wicked tune!!! Just discovered Radio Paradise last night via Shoutcast. Awesome tunes all night long! You guys rock!!!
Farquwaar wrote:
Hey Bill... Looks like nobody liked the cross fade last time you did it either...so KNOCK IT OFF! !!!
Read his comment on the Dire Straits song...
Hey Bill... Looks like nobody liked the cross fade last time you did it either...so KNOCK IT OFF!!!!
Saw JJ with Christine Lakeland at a small bar back around '87. Great show and partied with Christine at the bar.
UltraNurd wrote:
Bad Bill! You cut off the awesome guitar bit of "Sultans of Swing"!!
Sobient wrote:
I agree, it's better to burn out than to fade away.
Much as I love JJ I could have waited another minute easily
Great guitar player and composer, but a minimalist when it comes to vocals.
UltraNurd wrote:
Bad Bill! You cut off the awesome guitar bit of "Sultans of Swing"!!
I agree, it's better to burn out than to fade away.
Aint nothing like a little Tulsa Soul.
It's just, so, so coooool. I feel coool just listening to this. Bad-ass!
Really diggin' on this one. Great groove.
All we need now is "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens
Bad Bill! You cut off the awesome guitar bit of "Sultans of Swing"!!
That guitar sound in the final solo is so reminiscent of Dire Straits 'money for nothin' JJ was there first of course. Seminal artist.
Ditto! Pyro wrote:
Been listening to JJ for 30 something years, but had never heard this cut. THANKS BILL! (This place rawks!)
Been listening to JJ for 30 something years, but had never heard this cut. THANKS BILL! (This place rawks!)
radiojunkie wrote:
Okay, Bill, you made your point...came on right after Knopfler and I thought, "Wow, he's playing two songs in a row by the same artist?" They're both true originals, even if they do sound alike.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... #-o
This breathes *Life* into the ethers...
Nice to hear some JJ after way too many years. I could tell it was him from the first lead guitar licks. The high-compression guitar sound has been a JJ Cale trademark of sorts.
Bill, I would like to hear "Santa Cruz", I checked and it is in the rp library, so give it a go!
Okay, Bill, you made your point...came on right after Knopfler and I thought, "Wow, he's playing two songs in a row by the same artist?" They're both true originals, even if they do sound alike.
Gregorama wrote:
ALWAYS good to hear some J.J. Cale. He has a TON of stuff that you never hear. May have to upload some more. His stuff always sounds similar, but having said that, it's consistently good.
Hey, Gregorama, how's that new device you won in last month's raffle? This musician is very good. Ditto on the invetigating and acquiring deal mentioned below.
been a long time fan myself.
Wow...so many young listeners....J.J. Cale belongs in everyones collection
a good jam...1st time I've ever heard of him. I will have to investigate further :sunny.gif:
ALWAYS good to hear some J.J. Cale. He has a TON of stuff that you never hear. May have to upload some more. His stuff always sounds similar, but having said that, it's consistently good.
JJ's been one of the great "unknown" artists of the rock world. He's got a new album out after many years and it's awsome! Definitely a good Xmas stocking stuffer!
One of the best songwriters out there, so under-known if there is such a word...
I don't think I've ever been the first to comment on a song before ... I really like this. Didn't recognize the name, but read up on him & turns out he wrote "Cocaine" and "After Midnight".