ERIC CLAPTON & J.J. CALE LOOK AT BUSH'S WAR-- WHEN IT HAPPENS IN THE STREET, THEY CALL IT A CRIME

I'm not the world's most knowledgeable Eric Clapton scholar, just a garden variety fan, certainly since before I booked 2 of his bands, Cream and the Yardbirds, to play at my college. Later, by some miracle I wound up as the head of the record label that he recorded for. I don't recall him as ever getting too political with his music. So wasn't I in for a shock this afternoon when a mutual friend took me for a drive and played me The Road to Escondido the new Clapton/J.J. Cale album due out November 7, election day.

The "political" song is called "When This War is Over" and, like most of the album, it is sung by Eric and J.J.

When this war is over
It will be a better day
But it won't bring back
Those poor boys in their grave

I don't have a copy of the CD and I can't recall all the lyrics but I remember asking if they sat down and wrote some lines with Jack Murtha:

Gotta get a plan
Change our ways, you know

The album is chillingly beautiful at times and powerful and vibrant throughout. Anyone who's ever listened to Clapton's astounding covers of "After Midnight" and "Cocaine," might have guessed these two guys would work together someday. This someday has resulted in 14 songs that defy simple genre categorization. There's rock, blues, country, folk... even a gorgeous children's song I can't get out of my head that Eric wrote for his three daughters. (Eric also wrote a song with John Mayer, who plays on the album, as do Taj Mahal, Albert Lee and Derek Trucks.)

"This was the realization of what may have been my last ambition, to work with the man who's music has inspired me for as long as I can remember," said Clapton. "There are not enough words for me to describe what he represents to me, musically and personally, and anyway I wouldn't want to embarrass him by going overboard, for he is a truly humble man... I think it's enough to say that we had fun, made a great record, and I for one already want to make another."

Maybe next week I'll be able to get some music I can post. Until then, here's a great live version of Eric with J.J. and his band at the Crossroads concert doing "After Midnight" (which is not one of the Cale covers on the new album).



For anyone who wants the tracklisting: Danger, Heads in Georgia, Missing Person, When This War Is Over, Sporting Life Blues, Dead End Road, It’s Easy, Hard To Thrill, Anyway The Wind Blows, Three Little Girls, Don’t Cry Sister, Last Will and Testament, Who Am I Telling You, and Ride The River.