Customer Reviews

Travel-Log

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Initially I dismissed this album, as I'm skeptical about JJ's newer material. But while this release fails to capture the earthy, analog grit of classics like Naturally and Troubador it is still well worth owning.

Tunes like No Time and Lean On Me are vintage JJ. He also does a nice job of mixing genres on Lady Luck and Tijuana. End Of The Line, however, really makes the album - as Cale gets back to the raw precision that seems to have eluded his blues in recent decades...

In '94, this was my first exposure to JJ Cale, and I played it hundreds of times. I have since purchased quite a few of his earlier CDs. Though all his work seems fairly even and similar, I think this album has the greatest variety, the most sophisticated mixing of the ensemble players, and the most original and clever lyrics. The production mix is wonderfully layered and complex, yet somehow maintains the feel that it could have been recorded in a smoke filled garage. It has all the traditional sounds but steps outside of the reliance on blues and traditional themes.

J J Cale has produced many albums over the years, some of which have had many good songs. Among my favourites are Okie and Troubadour, for the number of good songs on each. However Cale excelled himself in Travel-Log. The good songs just keep coming. There is a diversity of atmosphere between the songs also, making the title Travel-Log rather appropriate: Shanghaid has an oriental feel, while Tijuana talks of Mexicans wishing to cross the border into the USA. In this song Cale showcases his abilities on a Spanish-style guitar. But probably the highlight of the album is the exceptional number of blues- influenced songs. The End of the Line is creative, as well as humorous, in a typically wry sort of way. Humdinger has a raucous guitar riff, and River Boat Song calls to mind a riverside scene: "River Goddamn, bring my baby home." Altogether a consistently good album, which far outshines Number 10 and Closer to You.

Ill start off by saying that I'm a big Jam fan. I love stuff like The Dead, String Cheese Incident, Phish, Particle, etc. So the other day, I was sitting at my computer listening to some Keller Williams (and if you like jam and havnt heard/heard of him, go listen to some right now) when my dad asked me what I was listening to. I told him, and he said it sounded kind of like this JJ Cale guy he likes. He gave me Travel Log, and I LOVED it. It had the same feel that all my favorite jam bands have. It was down to earth, bluesy, full of amazing riffs solos and harmonies, and packed full of energy and enthusiasm. This is a review by a jam fan, for other jam fands. If you like bluesy jam like leftover salmon, give this one a try. I bet youll like it.

This was the first album released after I discovered JJ, though the first one I purchased was Grasshopper. Once you've settled in to the dry warmth of albums like Naturally and Really, some of his later stuff can sound a little thin. But what you'll see is a progression from a drier sound to an overall wetter sound. Judging by the fact that his vocals remain virtually unmoved in the mix and in terms of EQ, you'd have to figure this is a willful decision on his part, in part prompted by the onset of digital recording/tachnology in general, and in part a function of his changing personal approach. Travel Log is a key transition from the higher presence of 5 through the analog/digital Yin & Yang of Grasshopper to the later more digitally dominated Number 10. If you're a fan of his followers Dire Straits, you've noticed a similar transition, and this would fall somewhere between Making Movies and Brothers In Arms (though quieter overall).

If you listen to interviews, you'll see that JJ has grabbed what technology has allowed him to record directly himself, but retained much of his original songwriting approach, born in the age where you had to be under 3 minutes just to "get on wax". On this album, you feel him stretch out a bit, though it's all JJ. Shanghaid and New Orleans have a bigger, more produced sound, while Lady Luck and End Of The Line have an intimate, almost casual sound that is really a breakthrough for JJ, whose best can often sound a bit distant. His guitar sound bounces around among the sounds of resonator, Stratocaster, and acoustic guitar. Tijuana is a high point for me, full of Latin atmosphere and his laid back wit, nimble acoustic plucking and electric bell tones.

If you have 5, Really, Grasshopper, and Naturally, this is in the very next tier, so pick it up. If you intend to collect them all, pick this one up sooner rather than later.

This was the first recorded material J.J. Cale had released in some years at that time.Not his best effort, but one us J.J. Cale fans grasped with open arms.We J.J. Cale fans have been grooving to his material some 20 years at that time .I personally would have wanted more,but still had some fabulous recordings.This album is not up to his classics "Naturally" or "5" or "Grasshopper" or "Really" or "Troubadour" or "Okie" or "8" or "Special Edition".However, that same classic sound is woven throughout and makes it a worthwile purchase.Some food for thought-While browsing through an upscale record store,I asked to see what they had by J.J. Cale.The owner took me to the section and low and behold I had hit the jackpot-John Cale.As I explaned to the owner(who had a broad grin),this was the wrong artist.He smiled ,shook his head,and said,"In my 35 years in this business I have learned that people who buy J.J. Cale-keep their J.J. Cale.ENOUGH SAID!

Having been on to J.J. Cale for quite awhile (since around '72 and, yeah, I know, hard to believe people live that long, huh?)I've had the opportunity to watch his career evolve although it sort of hasn't: J.J. Cale has ALWAYS been good and you can find stuff on his earliest albums that are just as good as anything more recent. Anyway, long story short: out of his distinguished body of work (and it is because Cale is a master, a genius and a true original) there are two truly "best" albums, this and "Troubadour." And I have to say that as much as I love "Troubadour," I actually listen to "Travel Log" more. The grooves on this album simply sizzle.

I have every JJ CD and have to say this is my favorite. Matter of fact that's why I'm here on Amazon.com right now - got to buy a new copy because the old one is worn out.

This is great stuff with guitar hooks that scratch that special place and excellent wry lyrics sung in the inimitable JJ way

If your looking for the drug hazed John Cale from NYC your in the wrong place.....JJ Cale from Tulsa is who this fabulous CD
is put out by.
Keep JJ Cale a real music lovers secret performer and let the rest of the derelicts listen to the VU John Cale garbage

This CD listed above with song titles such as "Heartbreak Hotel", "Guts", and "Dirty Ass Rock n Roll", is indeed a collection of some classic rock, but the listing states "J.J. Cale" as the artist, as well as several reviews listed refer to this as a good introduction to "J.J. Cale", but not only does J.J. Cale not have an album called "Guts", he never recorded any of the above listed songs. So, before anyone gets too royally confused, ignore those reviews from folks who obviously have been smoking too much wacky weed and stop to realize this is INDEED a CD from Velvet Underground founder JOHN CALE, not J.J. Cale (of "Cocaine" & "After Midnight" fame). Once you get past amazon.com listing the artist wrong and the reviews referring to the wrong artist, as well, you'll find out this is quite an enjoyable set of hard avant-rockers. No rootsy blues & country of J.J. here. It is too bad that such COMPLETELY different artists have such similar names, it creats MUCH confusion.