Collaborative albums usually suffer from the "too many chefs" syndrome, but "The Road to Escondido" proves to be a smooth consummation of talent. The blues, jazz and country-infused album is the product of a long-overdue collaboration between guitar gurus J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton.
Cale, who wrote Clapton's hits "Cocaine" and "After Midnight," wrote 11 of the 14 tracks on the record. In the past J.J. Cale has often been overlooked. Luckily, Clapton has decided to employ his talent.
The album maintains Cale's format, but Clapton contributes his slow-hand, bluesy guitar and nearly raspy yet completely soothing vocals. Cale and Clapton brought in several other extraordinary musicians, including John Mayer, who co-wrote and lends his vigorous blues guitar sound to the track "Hard to Thrill."
The mixture of Cale and Clapton is easily distinguished in "Dead End Road." The fast-paced lyrics are similar to Clapton's first hit, "After Midnight," but the hoedown fiddling and finger popping jazz piano solos make the song stand out. It is a remarkable fusion of melodies.
The anti-war song, "When This War Is Over" blends the vocals of Cale and Clapton with a surprisingly upbeat blues groove following the lyrical conversation.
"When this war is over, it will be a better day/ But it won't bring back those poor boys in the grave," and Clapton responds, "Ain't any sensible action, killing people all the time/ When it happens on the street we call that a crime," Cale sings.
Escondido is a town in California, near where Cale resides and Clapton has been seen hanging out. The Mayor of Escondido proclaimed Nov. 7 as "The Road to Escondido Day," in honor of the CD release.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
