He recorded his debut album, Naturally, in 1971, which included a slower version of "After Midnight" and the minor hit single "Crazy Mama", which rose to number 22.

Cale's second album further developed the "Tulsa sound" that he became known for: a swampy mix of folk, jazz, shuffling country blues, and rock ‘n’ roll.

Although his songs have a relaxed, casual feel, Cale, who often used drum machines and layered his vocals, carefully crafted his albums, explaining to Lydia Hutchinson in 2013, "I was an engineer, and I loved manipulating the sound.

"[5] Cale was very proud that bluegrass musicians Uncle Josh Graves and Vassar Clements played on Really, later recalling to Derek Halsey of Swampland.com in 2004, "That was one of the highlights of my life, man.

AllMusic: "...for some, his approach will be too casual; there are many times, when the band is percolating along and Cale is muttering into the microphone, that the music seems to be all background and no foreground.