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J.J. Cale - Remembering his unique Laidback Music

The book about the legendary songwriter and founder of the Tulsa sound


In the same series (“Laidback” music history) as the new book on Mark Knopfler, Richard Koechli's 336-page book on J.J. Cale (it was released in 2020 exclusively in music stores as a CD booklet) – is now in bookstores and available as a paperback (ISBN 978-3-384-55942-5), as a hardcover (ISBN 978-3-384-55943-2) and E-book (ISBN 978-3-384-55944-9), including a free mp3 download of the successful tribute album “The Real Chill, Remembering J.J. Cale”.

Order the book at one of these retailers here (click on the logo) or directly from the --> tredition publishing house (tredition delivers worldwide). Worldwide distribution: Unfortunately, it takes time for a indie book-distribution to take off worldwide. In the US, f.e., the printed version of the book is currently hardly available (unlike the original German edition...), but we hope that this will change soon. The good news: you can order the book directly in the UK from wordery.com (--> softcover, --> hardcover), wordery delivers worldwide free of charge!

These retailer links are already working (though some only work for the e-book version). More links will be added soon – thank you for your patience ...

                                                                                           

The successful album "The Real Chill, Remembering J.J. Cale"

-> the video for the album    -> press review

The album on streaming platforms:

            

In 2020, Swiss Blues Award winner Richard Koechli respectfully and idiosyncratically interpreted a total of 10 of Cale's immortal songs and also wrote a book about the laid-back pioneer; about Cale's music and career, the myths surrounding him, the historical context and the philosophy of musical restraint. The release hit the mark; the reviews were enthusiastic, the album reached the blues top 10 in the UK and France and received a lot of praise in the immediate J.J. Cale circle in the USA (management, former fellow musicians) and from the legendary Albert Lee (picture), for example. Koechli's bluesy interpretation of the Cale song “Sensitive Kind” attracted the most international attention; the video for it, produced in the USA, is one of the most successful Swiss music clips, with almost 6 million clicks.

The recordings were made during the Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2020; Koechli holed up in his studio, working in a hermit-like manner (as Cale often did at the time), with occasional support from his live band at a distance – and conjured up 10 songs that don't even try to come close to the originals. A very personal album that brings the master's gems to new life without betraying their fundamental spirit. As an encore, the album contains three more songs from Koechli's pen that demonstrate Cale's influence.

The 336-page book was initially not available in bookstores, but exclusively as a free supplement with the CD. In the meantime, it has also been released in bookstores (including an mp3 album download); see above for retailer links.

The CD version including the book is still available at music stores; --> order it worldwide!

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