News
Eric Clapton Featured In New J.J. Cale Documentary
18 Nov 05
Press release from Films Transit inc. / Kick Film Productions:
To Tulsa and back – On tour with J.J. Cale
A film by Jörg Bundschuh (2005) 90 min.
He is a legend wrapped in mystery whose records and persona have earned him a devoted cult following worldwide. J.J. Cale has quietly made a major impact on rock music but remains an enigma as perhaps the most unpretentious man in popular music. Although he has written some of the biggest rock hits ever and is regularly offered major concert dates, he lived for years in a trailer away from the public eye taking years off between recordings and performances.
J.J. Cale is credited with creating the Tulsa Sound, a laid back mix of Rock’n’ Roll, Country, Blues and Jazz. When Mojo Magazine asked Eric Clapton which other musician he would most like to be, he answered "Cale", calling him "one of the masters of the last three decades of music." Neil Young is quoted in his biography Shakey as saying "He’s so sensitive. Of all the players I ever heard, it’s gotta be Hendrix and J.J. Cale who are the best electric guitar players." Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler also admits to having based their sound on Cale’s unique style. Among Cale’s devoted fans are musicians of all generations, such as Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and Widespread Panic. J.J.Cale is a musician’s musician.
"One of the masters of the last three decades of music". — Eric Clapton
While Clapton had two of his biggest hits with Cale’s After Midnight and Cocaine, other artists as varied as Johnny Cash, the Allman Brothers, Brian Ferry, Captain Beefheart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, Jerry Garcia, Deep Purple and many more have covered Cale songs such as Call Me The Breeze, Anyway The Wind Blows, Cajun Moon, Call the Doctor, Crazy Mama, Magnolia, Sensitive Kind, Travelin Light.
For the first time, Cale has agreed to have a film made about his music, his life and career. The documentary follows him and his band through six American states on his recent To Tulsa and Back Tour.
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Eric Clapton was interviewed for this documentary to discuss not only J.J. Cale. but how Cale has influenced his own music, including his first solo album, his 1974 blockbuster 461 Ocean Boulevard and the songs "After Midnight", "Cocaine" and "Golden Ring’". The producers have included footage of Clapton and Cale performing together at the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival.
TO TULSA AND BACK will premiere at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on 26 November 2005. Screenings will continue through 2 December. Screen dates are as follows:
Saturday 26 November 2005: City 5, Amsterdam, Netherlands at 22:45
Tuesday 29 November 2005: Rock Temple Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands at 20:30
Friday 02 December 2005: City 2, Amsterdam, Netherlands at 23:15
A DVD of To Tulsa and Back will be released in November / December 2005 in German, France and the UK. It is scheduled for a March 2006 release in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy and possibly Scandinavia. A US release is expected later in 2006.