I was listening to INTERSTELLAR SPACE this morning and this post came to mind.
I think you're right on, Jazzbo.
I can hear the pain, he must have been experiencing, in his music.
I also wonder if he knew his time was short, and he was trying to get as much in as possible.
I just sense a huge amount of FEELING in his music. Not feeling, as in a groove, but FEELING as in JC putting his essence into the music.