John Stewart - Cannons in the Rain/Wingless Angels

Johnny on a Memory

Cannons in the Rain has been rolling around in my head for 35 years. Few artists can instigate a 35 year relationship with a single album. O, I love his other work, but Cannons in the Rain grabbed me and enveloped me. I had heard all his priors - except Signals Through the Glass - but this was different. John and his producer Nik Venet incorporated a wall of sound in this recording. I likened it, at the time, to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass in that there is no "white space" within any track - only sound and not only sound, but excellent picking and struming by Nashville's best. Being a member of the musically uninformed, I had never hear of Phil Specter and the Wall of Sound. I just knew what I liked. I loved (love) Cannons.
The music and lyrics are a part of life's experiences - even in today's world. The title cut is worth the price of admission and appears nowhere else in John's enormous offering of albums.

Wingless Angels is not of the same caliber, but it must be observed that John recorded it while under the pressure of available studio time and the pressure of serious dental problems. The songs are wonderful, however. Listen to Survivors. It was written in 1974, but could have been written yesterday.

All in all a CD worth listening to time and again. June 19, 2008

Music to be remembered and replayed

First heard John Stewart in the 70s. "Cannons in the Rain" is my all-time favorite. Bought it first as an album, then a cassette and now a CD. How's that for standing the test of time! Thirty plus years and I'm still listening to it. When I want to drift back to a memorable time and place, I let John Stewart's songs take me there. June 21, 2006

A Classic

Cannons in the Rain is pure John Stewart.

This is one of his early albums recorded after his time with The Kingston Trio and I feel that this is a definitive John Stewart classic.

"Anna on a Memory" is almost without equal as a example of the man and his experiences.

You listen to this music and you get the feeling that this is a man who has done a lot of living. Not only has he done a lot of living but he has translated life into music that is earthy and straight forward.

This is not what you would call "commercial music". This is music is more of the reflective thinking type of music that Stewart does so very well.

This CD was first recorded as a album in the late sixties and time has not taken anything away from it. December 25, 2001

Let the Big Horse Run

"Wingless Angels" sometimes gets less-than-stellar reviews (Stewart himself points out that it is not his best), sub-par engineering most often cited as the culprit. Owing to ears not as discerning, for my money it is as good as anything he's done (except maybe "California Bloodlines"). It has a great amount of diversity in its offering with "Let the Big Horse Run" being a rouser that's well worth the price all by itself. "Cannons in the Rain" makes a nice match as there is some fine music played by some very good musicians. November 13, 2001

John Stewart - An artist�s artist

John Stewart is an artist's artist. His work is recognized by tunesmiths such as Rosanne Cash and Nanci Griffith, but he has never broken into the mainstream of popular music. The subjects addressed in Cannons In The Rain (1973) and Wingless Angels (1974) are as scarce in popular music today as they were in the early 1970's. Patriotism and love of country are the themes of `Armstrong/Spirit' and `Survivors.' The women in John's songs are always viewed with gentleness and reverence (Anna On A Memory, All Time Women, Josie). These aren't ladies that you'd see shopping at the MegaMall with cellphones in their hands and an SUV parked outside. John's romantic interests are from small dusty towns far off the interstate.

Cannons In The Rain was recorded in Nashville and has an overall country luster. The original pressing of Wingless Angels was marred by substandard production. The CD version shows a marked improvement, but is still flawed. Perhaps John Stewart's world is too idealistic for mass acceptance, but that's OK by me. When I want realism, I'll turn on the 10 o'clock news. Don't miss John Stewart's enticing lyrics and admirable musicianship. March 27, 2000

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