A while ago someone asked about John Cale and I don't think anyone has given any information about him yet. He started out with Lou Reed so he's been around for a long time. I just found out about him several months ago when the song Hallelujah at the end of the video "Basquiat" grabbed me so completely I actually watched the teeny tiny music credits carefully, found out it was John Cale singing, and went to the store the next day for some of his music. So, at this point I don't know much of his history but can wholeheartedly recommend his live cd, "Fragments of a Rainy Season". It's him singing mostly his songs in his rich and imperfect and very emotional voice, accompanying himself on piano and sometimes guitar. For me, the last two songs are worth the price of the cd, (I keep a) Close Watch (on this heart of mine), which he wrote, and Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
All the talk on the list about Hallelujah, and how wonderful Jeff Buckley's version is finally got me to the store to get something by him, so I've been listening to "Grace" for the past week. His Hallelujah is so different from Cale's version it hardly seems like the same song. It's like a spiritual experience compared to Cale's emotionally tortured one. I love his delicate guitar playing. That and his sweet voice sound so intimate. I don't think this is the version used on the tv ads for Third Watch. It's not Cale's version either. Great song, though, whoever's doing it. Debra Shea NP: Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah" from Grace
