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Clapton and Cale Take the Road to Escondido

On November 7, J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton released their first collaborative release entitled The Road to Escondido. After more than three decades of mutual admiration, the two performers finally entered the studio together for the first time in August of 2005. The resulting 14 songs - 11 of which were written by Cale - are a testament to the artistry and musicianship of the two performers whose careers have been intertwined since the beginning of their respective solo careers in the early 1970s. Over this period the two artists established a personal relationship which - until now - had never manifested itself in an actual musical partnership.  

In the mid-1960s, Oklahoma native Cale found himself in Los Angeles after a brief period as a session man in Nashville. In L.A., Cale recorded a handful of songs which included an early demo version of a song called "After Midnight." Success eluded Cale on the West Coast, and he soon returned to Tulsa after another unsuccessful attempt to launch a recording career in Nashville.

Meanwhile, Clapton was embarking on a solo career after the demise of the ill-fated supergroup Blind Faith. Clapton’s first solo project was produced by Delaney and Bonnie co-founder Delaney Bramlett. Bramlett had befriended Clapton after the Oklahoma-based band opened for Blind Faith on their U.S. tour. Clapton then joined Delaney and Bonnie on tour and used the band as support on his self-titled debut release in 1970. During the recording sessions, Bramlett introduced Clapton to Cale’s rough early version of "After Midnight." Clapton loved the song and recorded the memorable cover version for his solo debut.

The success of Clapton’s version of "After Midnight" provided Cale with the financial reward and public recognition which had eluded him for years. Cale responded by writing material which would soon be recorded and assembled for his solo debut. The resulting album - entitled Naturally - would emerge as a landmark recording featuring a re-recorded version of "After Midnight, " the timeless "Call Me the Breeze" (later covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd), and "Crazy Mama."

Cale’s 1976 release Troubadour would provide another source for Clapton material. "Cocaine" would emerge as one of Clapton’s biggest hit singles. Meanwhile, "Travelin’ Light" would appear on the guitarist's 2001 release Reptile.

On his 1977 release Slowhand, Clapton not only scored a hit with "Cocaine," he also found success with "Lay Down Sally" which was written and recorded as a tribute to Cale. Clapton’s follow-up release Backless included yet another Cale tune - "I’ll Make Love To You Anytime."

Despite the symbiotic relationship between the two artists, Clapton and Cale avoided the opportunity to collaborate until the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas. Clapton invited Cale to perform at the event and the two musicians performed together on stage in one of the highlights of the event. The pairing led to Clapton’s invitation to Cale to produce his next album. The project evolved into the full-fledged collaborative effort The Road to Escondido.

Joined in the studio by artists including John Mayer, Taj Mahal, Derek Trucks, Albert Lee and the late Billy Preston, the result is a surprisingly refreshing collection of laid-back county, rock, folk and Americana. Cale’s influence is most striking. In addition to the 11 songs penned by Cale, the CD bears his unmistakable influence and laid-back groove.

Given that this was undoubtedly the sound which Clapton sought to achieve, The Road to Escondido is the perfect marriage of two performers whose years of mutual respect have culminated in this remarkable musical document.       

(December 3, 2006)