The Definitive Collection

J.J. Cale’s laid-back magic as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist earned him a fervent cult following and the admiration of his peers. Though he's best known as the composer of hits for Eric Clapton (“After Midnight,” “Cocaine”) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Call Me the Breeze”), Cale's own recorded work remains worthy of wider discovery. The Very Best of J.J. Cale gathers 20 key tracks from his productive stint with Mercury in the ’70s and early ‘80s. Cale’s parched yet supple vocals and fluid, deeply expressive guitar work remain the focus, though the settings range from bare-bones arrangements to more elaborate orchestrations. These songs have a timeless quality, invoking Delta blues joints and sultry romantic rendezvous. Loping grooves and murmuring fretwork lend “Cajun Moon,” “Midnight in Memphis," and “Crazy Mama” (Cale’s biggest single) a mellow charm. “Lies” and “Devil in Disguise” turn up the energy quotient, while “Mama Don’t” and “City Girls” lean toward country. There’s a wry wisdom to these tunes, as well as an easy virtuosity that seduces rather than screams.