4 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUDE

A reissue of an album widely hailed as the best of J.J. Cale’s seventies heyday (if not the best of his career): "Troubadour". This sensational masterpiece is a consummation of its author’s brand of hazy hypnosis. Each song deals with sex or seduction, each burning slow on blue flame heat. This was the fourth album released by J.J. Cale, an artist whose genius and influence (just as those of Nick Drake or Big Star’s Alex Chilton) far outweigh his popularity. Released in 1976, "Troubadour" is notable for introducing the Top-hit “Cocaine,” which Eric Clapton would cover on his Slowhand album a year later with far greater repercussion.

J.J. Cale is also remarkable (along with his Oklahoma mate Leon Russell) for being one of the highest exponents of the socalled “Tulsa Sound”, a mix of rockabilly,country, rock ‘n’ roll, and blues of the late 1950s and early 1960s, or as Eric Clapton described it, “…a strange hybrid, not really blues, not really folk or country or rock’n’roll. It’s somewhere in the middle.” Troubadour is a truly timeless recording, one of those ten desert island records to seriously consider owning. Highly recommended.

SIDE ONE:

01. HEY BABY
02. TRAVELIN’ LIGHT
03. YOU GOT SOMETHING
04. RIDE ME HIGH
05. HOLD ON
06. COCAINE

SIDE TWO

01. I’M A GYPSY MAN
02. THE WOMAN THAT GOT AWAY
03. SUPER BLUE
04. LET ME DO IT TO YOU
05. CHERRY
06. YOU GOT ME ON SO BAD