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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1221









Released: 1996
Length: 3:56
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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.
Posted 2 years ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 2 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 2 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 2 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 2 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
Nice - think of those that would have asked JJ the same questions - Mark, Eric, and many others.
Posted 2 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

What?!
 

Nah pink zep.
Posted 4 years ago by SRAY    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 4 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
Nice slow blues segue from Clapton. Nice one,Bill.
Posted 4 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Rating down to 3 plus Skip
Posted 5 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
 Helter_Skelter wrote:
same Feb 2019


 

Posted 5 years ago by charbo    [ Reply ]

Tomasni wrote:
This is 7 - Quite Likeable  to me

 

Quite likable indeed!!
Posted 6 years ago by diannemck56    [ Reply ]
This is 7 - Quite Likeable  to me    BUT NOT MORE  
Posted 6 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
 Piranga wrote:
Moody Blues.

 
What?!  Ah, you mean a description not a comparison....  The upper-case letters threw me off.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
oops... just happened again in the exact order.

algorthim is strong

Helter_Skelter wrote:


 


Posted 7 years ago by tallboy1968    [ Reply ]
 TerryS wrote:
JJ pulls off JJ better than Clapton does.

 
I can't imagine why.
Posted 7 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
Moody Blues.
Posted 7 years ago by Piranga    [ Reply ]
 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
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
I don't know, you take away the history, and it's a pretty boring old song.

Just saying'. 
Posted 8 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 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!

 


Posted 9 years ago by Helter_Skelter    [ Reply ]
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.

 


Posted 9 years ago by hugogdt    [ Reply ]
 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}
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
JJ pulls off JJ better than Clapton does.
Posted 10 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 10 years ago by amoreena    [ Reply ]

Al Green
Black Keys
EC
JJ Cale

What a GREAT line-up!
Posted 10 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
 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...
Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
I am sure glad JJ was here on earth to give us his gift!!!!

Lots of good stuff! 
Posted 11 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
JJ Cale is so cool, the ice is jealous.

Posted 13 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
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.
 


Posted 13 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
 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}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
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}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
JJ never gets old!
Give me that spliff - JJ!

S.R.
Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]


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

Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
                                   {#Bananajam}
Posted 15 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
Tasty.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
joshfm wrote:
That's because J.J. Cale wrote "Traveling Light."


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

Posted 15 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
 Old_Pat wrote:
JJ's homage to EC
 
Absolutely.  And a great homage it is too.

Posted 16 years ago by paraclete    [ Reply ]
JJ's homage to EC
Posted 16 years ago by Old_Pat    [ Reply ]
JJ is de guitar man.
Posted 16 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
sharkartist wrote:
I just love that gritty ol' J.J.
Posted 16 years ago by prickelpit96    [ Reply ]
I just love that gritty ol' J.J.
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
GREAT SONG. Nice transition.
Posted 16 years ago by Ericac    [ Reply ]
Nabla wrote:
Oh yes, that's great to hear them again!
I don't think Eric played on this album....
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
radioparadisehead wrote:
This sounds just like "Traveling Light" by Widespread Panic.
That's because J.J. Cale wrote "Traveling Light."
Posted 17 years ago by joshfm    [ Reply ]
radioparadisehead wrote:
This sounds just like "Traveling Light" by Widespread Panic.
Perhaps because it's a cover of JJ's original "Traveling Light".
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
This sounds just like "Traveling Light" by Widespread Panic.
Posted 17 years ago by radioparadisehead    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 17 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Oh yes, that's great to hear them again!
Posted 17 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
there's a tobacconist's in Johannesburg South Africa called JJ Cale named after the guitarist. Any other musicians have tobacconists named after them?
Posted 17 years ago by MatClarke    [ Reply ]
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!!
Posted 17 years ago by maxmox    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
this tune sounds poorly mixed.
Posted 17 years ago by calray    [ Reply ]
Wicked tune!!! Just discovered Radio Paradise last night via Shoutcast. Awesome tunes all night long! You guys rock!!!
Posted 18 years ago by robg    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 18 years ago by phineas    [ Reply ]
Hey Bill... Looks like nobody liked the cross fade last time you did it either...so KNOCK IT OFF!!!!
Posted 18 years ago by Farquwaar    [ Reply ]
Saw JJ with Christine Lakeland at a small bar back around '87. Great show and partied with Christine at the bar.
Posted 18 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Great guitar player and composer, but a minimalist when it comes to vocals.
Posted 18 years ago by thatch    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by Sobient    [ Reply ]
Aint nothing like a little Tulsa Soul.
Posted 18 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
It's just, so, so coooool. I feel coool just listening to this. Bad-ass!
Posted 18 years ago by chucklesalmon    [ Reply ]
Really diggin' on this one. Great groove.
Posted 18 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
All we need now is "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens
Posted 19 years ago by rixtar99    [ Reply ]
Bad Bill! You cut off the awesome guitar bit of "Sultans of Swing"!!
Posted 19 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
That guitar sound in the final solo is so reminiscent of Dire Straits 'money for nothin' JJ was there first of course. Seminal artist.
Posted 19 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
Ditto! Pyro wrote:
Been listening to JJ for 30 something years, but had never heard this cut. THANKS BILL! (This place rawks!)
Posted 19 years ago by noetic    [ Reply ]
Been listening to JJ for 30 something years, but had never heard this cut. THANKS BILL! (This place rawks!)
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 19 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
This breathes *Life* into the ethers...
Posted 19 years ago by nuggler    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
Bill, I would like to hear "Santa Cruz", I checked and it is in the rp library, so give it a go!
Posted 19 years ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Beastie    [ Reply ]
been a long time fan myself.
Posted 19 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]
Wow...so many young listeners....J.J. Cale belongs in everyones collection
Posted 19 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
a good jam...1st time I've ever heard of him. I will have to investigate further :sunny.gif:
Posted 19 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 19 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
One of the best songwriters out there, so under-known if there is such a word...
Posted 19 years ago by fireguy    [ Reply ]
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".
Posted 19 years ago by hcaudill    [ Reply ]