J.J. Cale was an unknown songwriter before Clapton recorded this; after, not so much.
Kronomyth 1.1: At midnight, in the month of June, I stand beneath the mystic moon.
The single from the new Eric Clapton album had all the energy of a revival meeting. And, in a sense, it was a miracle Clapton ever recorded it. John Cale was an unknown songwriter from Oklahoma, introduced to Delaney Bramlett through Leon Russell, who in turn played some of Cale’s songs for Clapton including “After Midnight.” Cale didn’t even realize that Clapton had recorded his song until he heard Clapton’s version playing on his car radio. Cale would go on to score another hit for Clapton, “Cocaine,” a few years later.
The B side is one of the better tracks on Eric Clapton, a Beatlesque pop song with some pervy lyrics (“Don’t let my love flow out of you, Please remember that I want you to come too”). In retrospect, it was probably for the best that Clapton didn’t write more original songs, or “Willie and the Hand Jive” might have turned out very differently.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. After Midnight (John J. Cale) (3:15)*
B1. Easy Now (Eric Clapton) (2:55)
* Actually, the song runs 2:52.
Venezuelan 7-inch single version
A1. After Midnight (Despues de Media Noche) (John J. Cale)
B1. Bottle of Red Wine (Botella de Vino Rojo) (Bonnie Bramlett/Eric Clapton)
Back-to-back hits 7-inch single reissue (Golden Greats)
A1. After Midnight
B1. Layla
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single on October 9, 1970 in the the UK, (Polydor, 2001-096), the US (Atco, 45-6784) and in 1971 in Brazil (Polydor, 2160.012), Japan (Polydor, DP 1759) and Venezuela (Polydor, 335); reached #18 on the US charts (charted on October 17, 1970 for 12 weeks). Regional versions feature picture sleeve. Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1970 in the US (Atco, 45-6784) feat. A stereo and mono versions.
- Re-packaged with “Layla” on back-to-back hits 7-inch single in 1976 in Germany (RSO Golden Greats, 2135 104)
