Artist: Various Artists
Album: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music
Label: Horton Records
Release Date: 08.28.20
Good Vibes, musicians thrive on them. I know firsthand how they can effect and add to a performance, be it live or when the studio red light comes on.
In early 2020, before the feces really hit the fan, 20 very talented Tulsa musicians went into the historic Paradise at Grand Lake studio, the flagship of Leon Russell’s three Oklahoma studios that was the cornerstone of his Shelter Records label., Paradise had been silent since 1978, but these artists sure brought it to life. There they cut 17 tracks in a few days, paying tribute to the songs written and recorded by Okie musicians including Russell, Hoyt Axton, Steve Ripley, The Gap Band, JJ Cale and more. In its time during Leon Russell’s stewardship, iconic artists that cut projects at Paradise included George Harrison, Freddie King, Bob Seeger, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton.
One quick listen could convince the biggest Doubting Thomas that the vibes of the music recorded there decades before was still resonating during these sessions. Probably the strongest seem to come from the most reclusive personality that left his brand on what is known as the Tulsa red dirt sound—that would be JJ Cale. Much of this album sounds and feels like Naturally, Cale’s first album, regardless if they are doing a Cale song or not. And that’s certainly not a bad thing.
There are a few variations from the Cale grooves. The late Steve Ripley who led the country boogie group Tractors, owned Russell’s downtown Tulsa studio known as The Church, for many years. It seems appropriate that his gospel tune “Crossing Over” is one of the few variations here. Others like “Blind Man,” “I Yike It,” “I’m On Fire” and “Rock & Roll Gypsies” also work nicely, thanks to the artistry of all who contributed.
—Ken Spooner
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