The featured image is of the cast of the 1939 comedy Midnight. It has nothing to do with today’s tune except the word midnight. I’ll have more about this classic film tomorrow.
J.J. Cale wrote After Midnight in 1966. He remained obscure until a British rock star recorded this song. Then Cale’s career as a singer-songwriter took off.
We begin with the songwriter:
The British rock star in question was Eric Clapton who recorded a frenetic version of After Midnight in 1970. It was Clapton’s first solo hit. We have that version as well as one Clapton recorded for a Michelob commercial. The beer ad version is closer in spirit to the Cale OG:
Maggie Bell is best known to me for her time as the lead singer for the Scottish band Stone the Crows.
FCH regular Sergio Mendes returns with a bossa nova version of the Cale classic:
Here’s Marc Cohn with a soulful take on this week’s tune:
Shannon McNally takes Cale’s song where it belongs: a bar. Party on, Shannon.
Finally, Clapton and Cale let it all hang out live:
What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, Chet Atkins and Brian Brown.
That’s it for this week. Let’s drink to the late, great J.J. Cale. Thanks for all the swell music, man. It’s what the stars of Midnight, Don Ameche and Claudette Colbert would want. Never argue with them.
