I'd say writing songs is, for me, as much playing the tape recorder as it is playing guitar or writing words. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Sometimes the simplest forms of music are the hardest to play. Especially for musicians that are accomplished. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I always wrote for musicians, especially guitarists. I write songs that people who aren't great virtuosos can play. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I make my living writing songs and, you know, I'm not a show biz kind of guy. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
All record companies want big-selling records, and my music is a little too raw for commercial success. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I tried to play anything people would hire me to play, because I was a musician. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
People have heard my music, but all my famous songs were made famous by somebody else... But that was my goal. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
The music is the same if you go all the way back to the first albums I made or the middle or… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Working in bars back then, in the '50s, to get a job you had to play all kinds of music. There'd be… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Widespread Panic discovered a couple of my songs and started doin' 'em on the gigs. They'd take a song and expand it… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
A lot of people are coming down on people taking old rock 'n' roll songs and making commercials out of them, but… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
So, my records really didn't sell, but musicians started picking up on my sound and my songs and cutting my songs and… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I didn't really get any success till I was 30 years old. I played music when I was young fella, but I… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Music is a kind of magical thing, and you can't make magic every time, but you try. Every once in a while… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric Clapton. But I have a hard time drawing a crowd, because I have… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
There are entertainers and there are musicians, and I never was an entertainer. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I wanted to be able to play music, and then when I went out in my private life, my personal life, I… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Playing out in a band all the time at least you made money. Even if you have a hit song, it takes… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Yes, I've been down the pike and back. And through the years, I've heard different songs with scatting in it, and it… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
There's a couple of songs of my own I wished I'd have never put out, that, you know, I'd like to burn.… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I think it goes back to me being a recording mixer and engineer. Because of all the technology now you can make… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Ask any guitar player - it's hard to feed yourself when you're picking for a living. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I wanted to be able to play music, and then when I went out in my private life, my personal life, I didn't want… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I cut all my early records in Nashville, so I guess that makes me country. I call it country pop, but my love of… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I'm an electronic manipulator. Most people think J.J. Cale, he's organic. There ain't nothing organic about me. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
That's kinda what happened to me: I listened to jazz, country, R&B, rock 'n' roll. And when I sat down to write a song,… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
My performing and my singing leave much to be desired, but having other people record my songs is the most flattering thing that can… — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
There are entertainers and there are musicians, and I never was an entertainer. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
What my whole object was is not to really sell records. I was trying to sell songs. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
I'm always doing something that ain't happening, and I'm always happening when there ain't nothing going on. — J. J. Cale Copy Share Image
