Personnel includes: J.J. Cale (vocals, guitar, bass); Ray Edenton, Harold Bradley, Jimmy Capps, Tommy Tedesco, Reggie Young, Johnny Christopher (guitar); Weldon Myrick (steel guitar); Terry McMillan, Ed Colis (harmonica); Norm Ray (baritone saxophone); George Tidwell, Don Sheffield, Dennis Good, Terry Williams (horns); Jerry Whitehurst (piano, organ); Tony Migliori, Bob Wilson, David Briggs (piano); Spooner Oldham, Bobby Emmons (organ); Beegie Cruzer (keyboards); Bobby Moore, Tim Drummond, Carl Radle, Norbert Putnam, David Hood, Carol Kaye (bass); Ken Buttrey, Buddy Harmon, Karl Himmel, Bill Boatman, Russ Kunkel, Jim Keltner, Kenny Malone, Roger Hawkins (drums); Farrell Morris, Jim Karstein (percussion).

Engineers include: Audie Ashworth, Ronnie Light, Joe Mills.

1984's SPECIAL EDITION was largely superseded by the more comprehensive two-disc anthology ANYWAY THE WIND BLOWS, and the wider-ranging 20-track compilation THE VERY BEST OF J.J. CALE. However, in its brevity--11 tracks in 39 minutes--and its complete focus on J.J Cale's '70s and early '80s material, SPECIAL EDITION has charms all its own. (The fact that it's usually heavily discounted as a midline CD makes it especially attractive for the complete Cale novice worried about springing for the two-disc set.)

Naturally, it contains Cale's two most famous songs, "After Midnight" and "Cocaine," both made famous by Eric Clapton. Listening to this set, it becomes clear what Clapton was trying to accomplish in the '70s; but Cale's unique economy of mood, phrasing, and instrumentation makes him inimitable.