I still can't listen to J J Cale without thinking about the many ways Eric Clapton and Dire Straits made millions by borrowing his mellow Tulsa sound. But on to Okie. Because there were four different recording sessions for this album-- in four different studios-- J J Cale's third album, Okie, lacks the one thing that makes J J Cale "J J Cale" : consistency. The lead off cut has a reggae beat. "Precious Memories" sounds like gospel.
Something else noted in Rolling Stone critic Jon Landau's harsh review ( he called Okie "generally boring and lifeless"): Cale seems bent on fading tunes out about halfway through. ( That's even true for the single "Cajun Moon"). To me, Okie is perfectly fine as background music and that subdued driving beat of his songs is always good for , well, driving.
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