Grasshopper (1982)

About this title: J.J. Cale drifts toward a more pop approach on this album, starting with the lead-off track, "City Girls," which could almost but not quite be a hit single. The usual blues and country shuffle approach is in effect, but Audie Ashworth's production is unusually sharp, the playing has more bite than usual, and Cale, whose vocals are for the most part up in the mix, sounds more engaged. It's not clear, however, that this is an improvement over his usual laidback approach, and, in any case, it shouldn't be over-emphasized -- this is still a J.J. Cale album, with its cantering tempos and single ... read more

Tracks:

1. City Girls [Cale]
2. Devil in Disguise [Cale]
3. One Step Ahead of the Blues [Cale/Tillison]
4. You Keep Me Hangin' On [Cale]
5. Downtown L.A. [Cale]
6. Can't Live Here [Cale]
7. Grasshopper [Cale]
8. Drifters Wife [Cale]
9. Don't Wait [Cale/Lakeland]
10. A Thing Going On [Cale]
11. Nobody But You [Cale]
12. Mississippi River [Cale]
13. Does Your Mama Like to Reggae [Cale/Lakeland]
14. Dr. Jive [Cale]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.