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After Midnight (J. J. Cale song)

January 01, 1970

"After Midnight" is a rock song by J. J. Cale, first released in 1966. Eric Clapton later covered it for his eponymous album, released in 1970. Clapton's rendition became a success, prompting Cale to re-record the song for his own 1971 album Naturally. In 1987, Clapton later re-recorded the song for a Michelob beer commercial and then released the re-recording as a single. "After Midnight" has been considered one of Clapton's signature songs throughout his career.[2] Other artists covered the song in later years.

"After Midnight"
1970 UK vinyl single
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album Eric Clapton
B-side"Easy Now"
ReleasedOctober 1970
RecordedJanuary 1970
StudioIsland (London)[1]
GenreBlues rock
Length3:15 (or 2:51)
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)J. J. Cale
Producer(s)Delaney Bramlett
Eric Clapton singles chronology
"After Midnight"
(1970) 		"Blues Power"
(1970)
"After Midnight"
Single by J.J. Cale
from the album Naturally
B-side"Slow Motion" (1966)
"Crying Eyes" (1972)
ReleasedNovember 1966
1972 (re-recording)
Length2:37
2:54 (re-recording)
LabelLiberty Records (1966)
Shelter Records (1972)
Songwriter(s)J.J. Cale
Producer(s)Johnny Cale
Official Audio
"After Midnight" on YouTube

Background and releases edit

Cale recorded the song and then released it in 1966 as a single with its flipside track "Slow Motion".[3][4] When Eric Clapton was working with Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett introduced Clapton to the music of J.J. Cale.[5][6] "After Midnight" was the first of several Cale cover songs released by Clapton and appeared on his self-titled debut album. The performers on this version were Clapton on vocals and guitar, Bobby Whitlock on organ and vocals, Jim Gordon on drums, Delaney Bramlett on rhythm guitar, Carl Radle on bass, Leon Russell on piano, Jim Price on trumpet, and Bobby Keys on saxophone.[7] It also appears on Just One Night, a live album recorded in Japan in 1979.

In 1987, Clapton re-recorded the song for a Michelob beer commercial.[8] The 1988 re-recording was released on the anthology box set Crossroads and as a single with different B-side tracks: "I Can't Stand It" for the seven-inch vinyl, "Whatcha Gonna Do" for the twelve-inch vinyl and the CD, and live recording "Sunshine of Your Love" as the CD's one of three tracks.[9] Another live version was released on Live from Madison Square Garden with Steve Winwood on organ.

Clapton said in his 2014 interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune:

The construction of "After Midnight" was great and it had everything[.] The thing that summed up J.J. for me is it had a little country, a little blues, it was rock and there was this guitar part that was baffling. That has always been the fascinating part; I still don’t think we got it right [on my version]. I’ve always been in awe of J.J.’s technique... He was a rhythm guitar player and a great lead guitar player, too. But when he played rhythm, it was very difficult to get it and know what he was doing.

When we [recorded] it, me and Delaney both did [the guitar part] it at [the] same time, and it was a really difficult claw-hammer [picking] thing. I thought: "This is too hard," so we made a meal out of it. What got me is that it appeared to be a very complex track and I was just intrigued, and thought: "I've got to try and get this [right]." Cale was coming from this very soulful white music. It was at Delaney's insistence that I did ['After Midnight'], and that was probably one of the first songs we decided to record. And that began my association with J.J., really.[10]

Cale was unaware of Clapton's recording of the song until it became a radio hit in 1970. He recalled to Mojo magazine that when he heard Clapton's version playing on his radio, "I was dirt poor, not making enough to eat and I wasn’t a young man. I was in my thirties, so I was very happy. It was nice to make some money."[11] Cale's friend and producer Audie Ashworth then encouraged him to capitalize on the song's success by recording a full album, Naturally, released in 1971. Cale issued the re-recorded version as a single the following year with its B-side track, "Crying Eyes."[3] The re-recorded version reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12]

Cale told The San Diego Union-Tribune in his 1990 interview about Clapton's version:

I thought: 'Well, that won't go anywhere'. [...] A year later, they started playing it on every radio station, including in my hometown. The first time I heard it on my car radio I just drove off to the side of the road. Because I'd never heard anything of my own on the radio before...

All record companies want big-selling records, and my music is a little too raw for commercial success. People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric Clapton. But I have a hard time drawing a crowd, because I have been a songwriter. I've never sold a lot of records; my music's gotten much more famous than me.[13]

Cale released a live version on the album Live in 2001.

Chart performance edit

Critical reception edit

Thom Owens of AllMusic said in his review about Cale's 1972 album Naturally, including Cale's re-recorded version of the song, that "Cale effortlessly capture[s] a lazy, rolling boogie" opposite to the early 1970s mainstream "styles of boogie, blues, and country rock."[26]

Cash Box said of Clapton's version that "driving dance rhythm and Clapton's guitar work unite to create sales force behind the effort."[27] Record World said that Eric Clapton sings 'After Midnight' in a soulful way and lays down some boss riffs."[28]

Album title edit

There was also a DVD accompanied by two audio CDs (released in 2006) from a concert (featuring former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler) filmed at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, on 21 September 1988, which contains 14 tracks that span Clapton's entire career including classic hits from his stint with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos, as well as his successful solo work.

Other cover versions edit

In addition to Clapton, the song has been recorded by various artists, like Chet Atkins, Jerry Garcia Band, Pretty Lights, Phish, Maggie Bell, The Disco Biscuits, Marc Cohn, Danny Elfman, and Mark Gillespie. Sérgio Mendes and his band Brasil '77 covered the song for their 1971 album País Tropical.[29] It was also recorded by the reggae band the Pioneers under the title "Let It All Hang Out" on the album Yeah, from 1971, released by Trojan Records. Both, Furthur and Yonder Mountain String Band, performed the song live at All Good Music Festival in 2010. The modern bluegrass band Seldom Scene recorded the song as the title track of their 1981 album of the same name, and often featured an extended-jam version in their concerts.[citation needed] The John Mayer Trio performed a version of the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers on February 27, 2014.

See also edit

  • "Cocaine", another Cale song made famous by Clapton.

References edit

  1. ^ "The HeliosCentric Helios Console: Constructed in 1996 through an amalgamation of part of the Island Records Basing Street Studio 2 Helios Console (1970-1974) used by artists such as; Led Zeppelin to record their 'Album IV' which includes the timeless hit "Stairway to Heaven", and Bob Marley & the Wailers to record the albums 'Burnin' and 'Catch A Fire'; with the other part being from Alvin Lee's Helios Console from Space Studios (1973–1979); with the final construction installed at HeliosCentric Studios (1996–Present)". Bonhams.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. ^ Bowling, David (2013). "I Swear It Was Self-Defense: Surviving the Seventies". Eric Clapton FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Slowhand. Hal Leonard. ISBN 9781617135743. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Popoff, Martin (2010). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications via F+W. p. 195. ISBN 9781440216213. Retrieved November 27, 2016 – via Google Books. This source names "After Midnight" the A-side track of the 1966 single.
  4. ^ Clarke, Donald; Cackett, Alan; Balmer, Paul (1998). The Penguin encyclopedia of popular music. p. 199. ISBN 9780140513707. Retrieved November 27, 2016 – via Google Books. This source puts "Slow Motion" before "After Midnight."
  5. ^ Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton
  6. ^ Schumacher, Michael (2003) [1995]. "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (1969–70)". Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton (Updated ed.). pp. 135–136. ISBN 9780806524665. Retrieved November 27, 2016 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Timepieces - The Best of Eric Clapton (Media notes). Eric Clapton.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Reilly, Dan (2013-07-27). "J.J. Cale, Songwriter of 'After Midnight' and 'Cocaine,' Dead at 74". Spin. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  9. ^ Schumacher 2003, p. 369.
  10. ^ Varga, George (July 25, 2014). "Eric Clapton speaks up for J.J. Cale". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  11. ^ "After Midnight by Eric Clapton Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  12. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "J.J. Cale | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  13. ^ Varga, George (November 4, 2016). "Eric Clapton/JJ Cale 'Live in San Diego' album revisits rare collaboration". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  14. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: This reference gives Australian albums and singles information. It is used for chart peak positions as early materials were released before ARIA regulated the Australian charts itself (1989).
  15. ^ . CHUM Charts. 1050 Chum. Archived from the original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  16. ^ . RPM Magazine. 14 (16). Library and Archives Canada. December 5, 1970. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  17. ^ Tatsaku, Ren (2011). The Oricon Sales Report (in Japanese). Tokyo: Oricon Style – Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Clapton" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  19. ^ "Eric Clapton – After Midnight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  20. ^ "Eric Clapton – After Midnight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  22. ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  23. ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  24. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 26, 1970
  25. ^ "J J Cale Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  26. ^ Owens, Thom. Review of Naturally by J. J. Cale. All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues (2003), edited by Vladimir Bogdanov, et al. p. 94.
  27. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 3, 1970. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  28. ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 3, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  29. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. October 2, 1971. p. 48. Retrieved November 27, 2016 – via Google Books.

External links edit

  • Eric Clapton - After Midnight on YouTube

January 01, 1970
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After Midnight is a rock song by J J Cale first released in 1966 Eric Clapton later covered it for his eponymous album released in 1970 Clapton s rendition became a success prompting Cale to re record the song for his own 1971 album Naturally In 1987 Clapton later re recorded the song for a Michelob beer commercial and then released the re recording as a single After Midnight has been considered one of Clapton s signature songs throughout his career 2 Other artists covered the song in later years After Midnight 1970 UK vinyl singleSingle by Eric Claptonfrom the album Eric ClaptonB side Easy Now ReleasedOctober 1970RecordedJanuary 1970StudioIsland London 1 GenreBlues rockLength3 15 or 2 51 LabelPolydorSongwriter s J J CaleProducer s Delaney BramlettEric Clapton singles chronology After Midnight 1970 Blues Power 1970 After Midnight Single by J J Calefrom the album NaturallyB side Slow Motion 1966 Crying Eyes 1972 ReleasedNovember 19661972 re recording Length2 37 2 54 re recording LabelLiberty Records 1966 Shelter Records 1972 Songwriter s J J CaleProducer s Johnny CaleOfficial Audio After Midnight on YouTube Contents 1 Background and releases 2 Chart performance 3 Critical reception 4 Album title 5 Other cover versions 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBackground and releases editCale recorded the song and then released it in 1966 as a single with its flipside track Slow Motion 3 4 When Eric Clapton was working with Delaney amp Bonnie Bramlett Delaney Bramlett introduced Clapton to the music of J J Cale 5 6 After Midnight was the first of several Cale cover songs released by Clapton and appeared on his self titled debut album The performers on this version were Clapton on vocals and guitar Bobby Whitlock on organ and vocals Jim Gordon on drums Delaney Bramlett on rhythm guitar Carl Radle on bass Leon Russell on piano Jim Price on trumpet and Bobby Keys on saxophone 7 It also appears on Just One Night a live album recorded in Japan in 1979 In 1987 Clapton re recorded the song for a Michelob beer commercial 8 The 1988 re recording was released on the anthology box set Crossroads and as a single with different B side tracks I Can t Stand It for the seven inch vinyl Whatcha Gonna Do for the twelve inch vinyl and the CD and live recording Sunshine of Your Love as the CD s one of three tracks 9 Another live version was released on Live from Madison Square Garden with Steve Winwood on organ Clapton said in his 2014 interview with The San Diego Union Tribune The construction of After Midnight was great and it had everything The thing that summed up J J for me is it had a little country a little blues it was rock and there was this guitar part that was baffling That has always been the fascinating part I still don t think we got it right on my version I ve always been in awe of J J s technique He was a rhythm guitar player and a great lead guitar player too But when he played rhythm it was very difficult to get it and know what he was doing When we recorded it me and Delaney both did the guitar part it at the same time and it was a really difficult claw hammer picking thing I thought This is too hard so we made a meal out of it What got me is that it appeared to be a very complex track and I was just intrigued and thought I ve got to try and get this right Cale was coming from this very soulful white music It was at Delaney s insistence that I did After Midnight and that was probably one of the first songs we decided to record And that began my association with J J really 10 Cale was unaware of Clapton s recording of the song until it became a radio hit in 1970 He recalled to Mojo magazine that when he heard Clapton s version playing on his radio I was dirt poor not making enough to eat and I wasn t a young man I was in my thirties so I was very happy It was nice to make some money 11 Cale s friend and producer Audie Ashworth then encouraged him to capitalize on the song s success by recording a full album Naturally released in 1971 Cale issued the re recorded version as a single the following year with its B side track Crying Eyes 3 The re recorded version reached 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 12 Cale told The San Diego Union Tribune in his 1990 interview about Clapton s version I thought Well that won t go anywhere A year later they started playing it on every radio station including in my hometown The first time I heard it on my car radio I just drove off to the side of the road Because I d never heard anything of my own on the radio before All record companies want big selling records and my music is a little too raw for commercial success People are familiar with my songs especially through Eric Clapton But I have a hard time drawing a crowd because I have been a songwriter I ve never sold a lot of records my music s gotten much more famous than me 13 Cale released a live version on the album Live in 2001 Chart performance editEric Clapton versions Chart 1970 1988 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 14 51 Canada CHUM 15 9 Canadian Top Singles RPM 16 10 Japanese Singles Oricon 17 87 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 18 25 Netherlands Single Top 100 19 19 New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 20 17 UK Singles OCC 21 99 US Billboard Hot 100 22 18 US Mainstream Rock Billboard 23 4 US Cash Box Top 100 24 13 J J Cale version Chart 1972 Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100 25 42Critical reception editThom Owens of AllMusic said in his review about Cale s 1972 album Naturally including Cale s re recorded version of the song that Cale effortlessly capture s a lazy rolling boogie opposite to the early 1970s mainstream styles of boogie blues and country rock 26 Cash Box said of Clapton s version that driving dance rhythm and Clapton s guitar work unite to create sales force behind the effort 27 Record World said that Eric Clapton sings After Midnight in a soulful way and lays down some boss riffs 28 Album title editThere was also a DVD accompanied by two audio CDs released in 2006 from a concert featuring former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler filmed at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View California on 21 September 1988 which contains 14 tracks that span Clapton s entire career including classic hits from his stint with Cream Blind Faith Derek amp The Dominos as well as his successful solo work Other cover versions editIn addition to Clapton the song has been recorded by various artists like Chet Atkins Jerry Garcia Band Pretty Lights Phish Maggie Bell The Disco Biscuits Marc Cohn Danny Elfman and Mark Gillespie Sergio Mendes and his band Brasil 77 covered the song for their 1971 album Pais Tropical 29 It was also recorded by the reggae band the Pioneers under the title Let It All Hang Out on the album Yeah from 1971 released by Trojan Records Both Furthur and Yonder Mountain String Band performed the song live at All Good Music Festival in 2010 The modern bluegrass band Seldom Scene recorded the song as the title track of their 1981 album of the same name and often featured an extended jam version in their concerts citation needed The John Mayer Trio performed a version of the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers on February 27 2014 See also edit Cocaine another Cale song made famous by Clapton References edit The HeliosCentric Helios Console Constructed in 1996 through an amalgamation of part of the Island Records Basing Street Studio 2 Helios Console 1970 1974 used by artists such as Led Zeppelin to record their Album IV which includes the timeless hit Stairway to Heaven and Bob Marley amp the Wailers to record the albums Burnin and Catch A Fire with the other part being from Alvin Lee s Helios Console from Space Studios 1973 1979 with the final construction installed at HeliosCentric Studios 1996 Present Bonhams com Retrieved 1 December 2021 Bowling David 2013 I Swear It Was Self Defense Surviving the Seventies Eric Clapton FAQ All That s Left to Know About Slowhand Hal Leonard ISBN 9781617135743 Retrieved November 27 2016 a b Popoff Martin 2010 Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948 1991 Iola Wisconsin Krause Publications via F W p 195 ISBN 9781440216213 Retrieved November 27 2016 via Google Books This source names After Midnight the A side track of the 1966 single Clarke Donald Cackett Alan Balmer Paul 1998 The Penguin encyclopedia of popular music p 199 ISBN 9780140513707 Retrieved November 27 2016 via Google Books This source puts Slow Motion before After Midnight Clapton The Autobiography by Eric Clapton Schumacher Michael 2003 1995 Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad 1969 70 Crossroads The Life and Music of Eric Clapton Updated ed pp 135 136 ISBN 9780806524665 Retrieved November 27 2016 via Google Books Timepieces The Best of Eric Clapton Media notes Eric Clapton a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Reilly Dan 2013 07 27 J J Cale Songwriter of After Midnight and Cocaine Dead at 74 Spin Retrieved 2018 08 03 Schumacher 2003 p 369 Varga George July 25 2014 Eric Clapton speaks up for J J Cale The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved November 27 2016 After Midnight by Eric Clapton Songfacts Songfacts com Retrieved 2013 09 04 Stephen Thomas Erlewine J J Cale Awards AllMusic Retrieved 2013 09 04 Varga George November 4 2016 Eric Clapton JJ Cale Live in San Diego album revisits rare collaboration The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved November 27 2016 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Note This reference gives Australian albums and singles information It is used for chart peak positions as early materials were released before ARIA regulated the Australian charts itself 1989 1050 CHUM CHUM Charts gt Clapton Eric CHUM Charts 1050 Chum Archived from the original on February 22 2006 Retrieved October 21 2015 Canadian RPM Top Singles RPM Magazine 14 16 Library and Archives Canada December 5 1970 Archived from the original on 2015 12 08 Retrieved October 21 2015 Tatsaku Ren 2011 The Oricon Sales Report in Japanese Tokyo Oricon Style Recording Industry Association of Japan Nederlandse Top 40 Eric Clapton in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved October 21 2015 Eric Clapton After Midnight in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved October 21 2015 Eric Clapton After Midnight Top 40 Singles Retrieved October 21 2015 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved November 27 2020 Eric Clapton Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved October 21 2015 Eric Clapton Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved October 21 2015 Cash Box Top 100 Singles December 26 1970 J J Cale Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved November 27 2020 Owens Thom Review of Naturally by J J Cale All Music Guide to the Blues The Definitive Guide to the Blues 2003 edited by Vladimir Bogdanov et al p 94 CashBox Record Reviews PDF Cash Box October 3 1970 p 22 Retrieved 2021 12 09 Single Picks of the Week PDF Record World October 3 1970 p 1 Retrieved 2023 04 24 Album Reviews Billboard October 2 1971 p 48 Retrieved November 27 2016 via Google Books External links editEric Clapton After Midnight on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title After Midnight J J Cale song amp oldid 1222884211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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