John Stewart - California Bloodlines

Cult artist John Stewart first came too the attention of the public when his folk group The Cumberland Three issued their pair of acclaimed concept albums featuring songs of the American Civil War...shortly afterward, in 1961, he joined their mentors, the Kingston trio, leading them through changes in style and continued hit singles and albums in the volatile period 1961-67....as the British Invasion and rock in general ate into their audience, the Trio slowly ran down operations, as John wrote songs for outside acts; 'Daydream Believer' by The Monkees being a worldwide smash hit in 1967.Wonderfully re-mastered in top Revola syle and with lovely packaging. A must for all fans of acoustic, roots music with a bizarre twist, in that oddball RevOla way. Suffice to say that if you don't know John Stewart, but you loved Vince Martin's album, prepare for a master of the art! If you know John well...well you'll know what a masterpiece this is. Album Description

I can't believe I was hesitant now...

Wow. I was thinking about getting this for some time, as I heard years ago Lonesome Picker by Glenn Yarbrough and was profoundly moved.
Then I discovered on here about the original version; heard a clip elsewhere and, must've been broke, 'cause I forgot about it.
I stumbled across it today luckily at Streetlight.

I haven't found many albums so instantly seductive as this one.
It's not really country (although Omaha Rainbow, Shackles and Chains, You Can't Look Back and Never Goin' Back certainly have that sound); not really folk, not rock....it's impossible to properly catagorize. GOOD!

It IS worth it all for Some Lonesome Picker, one of the most beautiful songs I've EVER heard, and I can't imagine any version by anyone topping this one. Stewart's voice is so beautifully soothing. This song is for all those who are so lonely, they live in their own worlds sometimes. "Angels that have no place" (hey, it's Bruce's birthday! I can use that line -- it's for the same people.) (The opening line about talking to the wind reminds me of Jackson C. Frank's Yellow Walls, and the words of advice to Lily McLean echo the sentiment found in P.F. Sloan's From A Distance).

TREMENDOUS. Worth the price of this CD alone.

and then there's also She Believes In Me (another song for the down-on-their-luck; this album has compassion. It's no wonder Stewart went on to contribute music to Bobby Kennedy's campaign, who surely would have been the best president we ever had....sad.) (and Mother Country, further proof that John Stewart was a true patriot...)

You Can't Look Back is another brilliant song, with the common-sense advice many of us forget -- you can't go forward in life if you're always looking back. John Stewart's music here seems to be about throwing away your heartbreaks and stop trying to correct the past mistakes --you CAN'T.

Most every song on here is great; anyone with the slightest taste that is open-minded,i.e. not just rock and roll, not just country, whatever, will surely love, love, LOVE this album.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

It instantly became of my top favorites, in one listen, and I haven't stopped; it's addictive, ballads like Missouri Birds, the beauty of Razorback Woman, beyond words.

and Some Lonesome Picker most of all. It's flat-out HEALING.

MAGNIFICENT.


September 24, 2008

Geez -- this is good

I was in college from 1969 to 1973, and I am absolutely stunned that I didn't know about this record. Fortunately, Stewart was wrong -- You Can Look Back. I am so glad I found this terrific music. Stewart was the Saint of San Joaquin and was indeed Some Lonesome Picker. I hope he's now somewhere over the Omaha Rainbow. May 20, 2008

Memories of Hippie Daze

This was one of my favorite albums way back then. I ordered it and it is ever so wonderful, evoking memories and stimulating my writing like a weekend with an old, best friend. His writing is some of our nation's best. This is truly a classic album.

Agtek's John Fletcher and Hank Fletcher turned me on to this album.

Johnny Hughes, author of the upcoming novel, Texas Poker Wisdom.Texas Poker Wisdom October 25, 2007

An Americana Classic

Some albums are so iconic that words do not do justice to the work. If The Byrds and Dylan invented folk rock, this album jump started the Americana music genre, and has been a touchstone for generations of acoustic musicians and roots music lovers. From first note to last, this album is a perfectly realized vision, filled with classic songs about America from one of its most astute observers of national life. These are timeless songs, as touching and moving in 2007 as they were 40 years ago. This new CD is a great mix of the album, with clear sound and expansive sound. New instruments can be heard clear as a songbird, giving new depth and enjoyment to listening to an album I have heard hundreds of times. This disc can not be recommended highly enough. October 3, 2007

A Timeless Gem

In college in the early 70s, my roommates and I gave as much listening time to our John Stewart LPs as we did any other music that was more commercially popular at the time. I spent hours figuring out the guitar chords to the songs on California Bloodlines. I lost that LP 25 years ago, but I still know all the words to all the wonderful songs. I just got this CD (why did it take me so long?) and put it on. All the great songs were immediately so familiar, like I never left them. California Bloodlines is a masterpiece of acoustic folk rock music, and it still sounds great, and Willard isn't bad either. This Bear Family CD has the high quality audio that John Stewart deserves. John Stewart is an American treasure. October 25, 2004

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