J.J. Cale
To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale
Director: Jörg Bundschuh
Featuring: J.J. Cale, Eric Clapton, Joan Cale Sommers
Studio: Time Life
First Appeared in The Music Box, July 2006, Volume 13, #7
Written by Tracy M. Rogers
Though it provides both the personal history of
J.J. Cale as well as a chronicle of the Tulsa music scene, the documentary To
Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale centers on the legendary guitarist’s
tour through the Western U.S. in support of his latest album (from which the
film took its name). Beginning with dreamy opening scenes of the Western
landscape (as seen from Cale’s tour bus) and incorporating family photos and
band interviews, To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale is
content-heavy but light on music. This, however, is not necessarily a criticism.
Cale’s early bands, his 1960s departure from Oklahoma to join the California
music scene, and his long-running association with Eric Clapton are recounted
through interviews and archival footage, while a series of low-key musical
interludes introduce the audience to a handful of his most famous compositions.
In ruminating about his past, Cale is decidedly laid back and philosophical, and
his longtime friends-turned-touring entourage follow suit. Throughout, the
landscapes and cinematography are sublime. All of this creates a mellow, organic
documentary that is insightful without being overbearing or forced. ½
To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale is available
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2006 The Music Box