John Stewart (1939-2008) transitioned from '60s folkie to '70s singer-songwriter, spending most of the 'Sixties as a member of the popular Kingston Trio before going solo and exploring more a introspective writing style. Both a chart star and a cult favorite, Stewart was one of several artists who set the pace for the singer-songwriter movement... Here's a quick look at his work...
John Stewart "Airdream Believer: A Retrospective" (Shanachie Records, 1995)
John Stewart "Turning Music Into Gold - The Best Of John Stewart" (Polydor Records, 1995)
John Stewart "Gold" (World Artists, 1999)
John Stewart "A Neon Dreams Sampler" (Neon Dreams, 2003)
John Stewart "Earth Rider" (Raven Records, 2003)
John Stewart "Willard/California Bloodlines" (BGO Records, 2001)
John Stewart "Cannons In The Rain/Wingless Angels" (Bear Family Records, 1995)
The Kingston Trio "The Stewart Years" (Bear Family Records, 2000)
A 10-CD set, covering the Kingston Trio's 1961-67 era, when John Stewart took over from the departed Dave Guard...
The Cumberland Three "Folk Scene USA" (Roulette Records, 1960)
The Cumberland Three "Civil War Almanac, v.1: Yankees" (Roulette Records, 1960) (LP)
The Cumberland Three "Civil War Almanac, v.2: Rebels" (Roulette Records, 1960) (LP)
John Stewart & Buffy Ford "Signals Through The Glass" (Capitol Records, 1968)
(Produced by Voyle Gilmore)
Yeesh. Honestly? I thought this was pretty dreadful... Here, Stewart's teamed up with a shrill folkie warbler roughly in the Judy Collins/Joan Baez mold, singing a set of far-too serious folk tunes, with forced profundity galore. Although the production is surprisingly restrained, the poppish influences of the time are there, with light string arrangements and just enough of a sunshine-y feel to give them a Mamas & Papas sound when they harmonize. Although most of the material didn't age well (and probably wasn't that much fun at the time, either...) there are a few gems on here, notably his version of "July, You're A Woman," a perky song that became a '70s bluegrass standard, and the topically-oriented "Mucky Truckee River," which starts off with an interesting verse about what a bummer the politics of the era had become. (Less successful is the equally topical but far more bombastic "Draft Age," which closes out the album...) Also included is "Santa Barbara," one of Stewart's best early songs, even though Ford's vocals make it kind of grating. I suppose if you're a hardcore John Stewart fan, you'd want to check this out, and I'm sure there are aficinados of 'Sixties folk who will dig it, too, but I mostly found this to be pretty eye-roll worthy. Different strokes, right?
John Stewart "California Bloodlines" (Capitol Records, 1969)
John Stewart "Willard" (Capitol Records, 1970)
John Stewart "The Lonesome Picker Rides Again" (Warner Brothers, 1971)
John Stewart "Sunstorm" (Warner Brothers, 1972)
John Stewart "Cannons In The Rain" (RCA Victor, 1973)
John Stewart "The Phoenix Concerts" (RCA Victor, 1974)
John Stewart "Wingless Angels" (RCA Victor, 1975)
John Stewart "Fire In The Wind" (RSO Records, 1977) (LP)
John Stewart "Bombs Away Dream Babies" (1979)
John Stewart "In Concert" (RCA Victor, 1980) (LP)
John Stewart "Forgotten Songs Of Some Old Yesterday" (1980)
John Stewart "Dream Babies Go Hollywood" (RSO Records, 1980)
John Stewart & Chuck McDermott "Blondes" (Allegiance Records, 1982) (LP)
A collaboration with indiebilly singer Chuck McDermott, an East Coaster who led the late 'Seventies country-rock band Wheatstraw before moving out West to become part of the California scene.
John Stewart & Nick Reynolds "Revenge Of The Budgie" (Takoma Records, 1983) (LP)
John Stewart "Trancas" (Affordable Dreams Records, 1984)
John Stewart "Centennial" (Homecoming Records, 1984)
John Stewart "The Last Campaign" (Homecoming Records, 1985)
John Stewart "Punch The Big Guy" (Shanachie Records, 1987)
John Stewart "Deep In The Neon: Live At McCabes" (Homecoming Records, 1991)
John Stewart "American Sketches" (Delta Records, 1991)
John Stewart "Neon Beach" (Homecoming Records, 1991)
John Stewart "Bullets In The Hour Glass" (Shanachie Records, 1992)
John Stewart "American Originals" (Capitol Records, 1992)
John Stewart "Chilly Winds" (Folk Era Records, 1993)
John Stewart "Bandera" (Folk Era Records, 1995)
John Stewart "American Journey" (1996)
John Stewart & Buffy Ford "Live At The Turf Inn, Scotland" (Folk Era Records, 1996)
John Stewart "Rough Sketches From Route 66" (Folk Era Records, 1997)
John Stewart "Teresa And The Lost Songs" (Homecoming Records, 1998)
John Stewart "One Night In Denver" (1998)
John Stewart "John Stewart And Darwin's Army" (Appleseed Records, 1999)
John Stewart "Rocket Roy In The Real World" (1999)
John Stewart "Wires From The Bunker" (Appleseed Records, 2000)
John Stewart "Front Row Music: Before The War" (Neon Dreams Records, 2001)
John Stewart "Secret Tapes" (Neon Dreams Records, 2002)
John Stewart "Havana" (Appleseed Records, 2003)
John Stewart "The Complete Blondes" (Neon Dreams Records, 2003)
John Stewart "The Day The River Sang" (Appleseed Records, 2006)
John Stewart "Bite My Foot" (Folk Era Records, 2009)
John Stewart "The Amazing ZigZag Concert" (Road Goes On Forever, 2010)
John Stewart "Summer's Child: Ebbet's Field, 1975" (2012)
