J.J. Cale / 5 (US, Shelter Records / MCA Records, SR-3163) <August 1979>

J.J. Cale / 5 (US, Shelter Records / MCA Records, SR-3163) <August 1979>
(Side 1) MCA1828CRS-3 XSY153373-3L
(Side 2) MCA1829CRS-3 XSY153374-3L

As the title suggests, 5 was Cale’s fifth album with Audie Ashworth producing and was recorded in various studios in Nashville, where Cale was living at the time. Most of the tracks were recorded and mixed at The Lakehouse, Old Hickory, Tennessee. As William Ruhlmann observes in his AllMusic review of the album, “As Cale's influence on others expanded, he just continued to turn out the occasional album of bluesy, minor-key tunes. This one was even sparer than usual, with the artist handling bass as well as guitar on many tracks. Listened to today, it sounds so much like a Dire Straits album, it's scary.” However, Cale developed this intimate sound and refined it throughout the decade, a swampy mix of country, folk, R&B, jazz, and rock ‘n’ roll played in a restrained manner. Unlike on his previous album Troubadour, the guitar sound on 5 was very clean, with Cale ignoring the new disco and punk music genres trending at the time.

Thematically, the songs on 5 are dominated by lust, typified by tracks like “Boilin’ Pot,” “I’ll Make Love to You Anytime” (recorded by Eric Clapton for his 1978 album Backless), and “Too Much for Me” (“She tickled my toe and she kissed my ear, told me not to worry, told me not to fear…”). “Mona” and the cautionary “Sensitive Kind” are tenderer in tone, while “Friday” and “Let’s Go to Tahiti” speak to the desire of escaping the monotony of working life. “Fate of a Fool” and the druggy “Thirteen Days” tell of the high and lows of being a touring musician.

“Katy Kool Lady," was co-written by Cale and Christine Lakeland, and it was released as a single with the non-album track "Jaurez Blues" as the b-side. "Sensitive Kind" was covered by Santana on their 1981 LP Zebop! "Don't Cry Sister" was re-recorded in a rockier way by Cale and Clapton on their 2006 collaborative (studio) album The Road to Escondido. A live version of the song also appeared in 2016 on the album Live in San Diego.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAi8-BS_6dE

Don't take her for granted, she has a hard time
Don't misunderstand her or play with her mind
Treat her so gently, it will pay you in time
You've got to know she's the sensitive kind

Tell her you love her, each and every night
And you will discover she will treat you right
If you believe, I know you will find
There ain't nothing like the sensitive kind

She gets lonely waiting for you
You are the only thing to help her through
Don't take her for granted, she has a hard time
You've got to know she's the sensitive kind