AMG Review of 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of J.J. Cale

Heather Phares
All Music Guide

J.J. Cale's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection gathers a dozen of his best-known songs, including "Magnolia," "Crazy Mama," and "Call Me the Breeze," as well as "Cocaine" and "After Midnight." The collection focuses on his '70s work, featuring not only singles, but album tracks from Naturally, Really, 5, and Okie, among others. Though it's not as extensive a collection as Anyway the Wind Blows: The Anthology or The Very Best of J.J. Cale, this compilation does provide a good, concise primer on Cale's influential mix of earthy blues-rock and finely crafted songwriting.