West Coast honkytonker Wynn Stewart (1934-1985) truly rocks my world... but why did he always look so damned uncomfortable in all his publicity photos? One of the early stars of the West Coast/Bakersfield scene that would later include Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, Stewart flirted with rockabilly in the late 1950s, but settled into a solid hard country sound when he signed with Capitol. His records from the mid-'60s are some of the best hard country music of that era, though he gradually edged into a softer, mildly countrypolitan style. Wynn was notable as a patron of several West Coast country starts, including as an early duets partner for Jan Howard. Here's a quick look at his work...

Wynn Stewart "California Country: The Best Of The Challenge Masters" (AVI Records, 1995)
Wow. It's hard to believe this CD -- on a reissue label that no longer exists -- was for years the only Wynn Stewart album in circulation. It's still the only one domestically produced in the United States... what's up with that? This is some killer West Coast country from the late 'Fifties and early 'Sixties, with a pinch of rockabilly spunk thrown in on top. Wynn had a HUGE influence on Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and all them other Bakersfield Sound folks... and here you can find out why.

Wynn Stewart "The Very Best Of Wynn Stewart: 1958-1962" (Varese Sarabande, 2001)
This basically replicates the California Country collection reviewed above, and is now much easier to find. Either one of these CDs would do the trick, though! Great stuff.

Wynn Stewart "Wishful Thinking" (Bear Family Records, 2000)
A typically humongous Bear Family box set with 10 CDs worth of pretty much everything Wynn ever recorded. I have not yet been privileged to hear this collection, but once I win the lottery, it'll be one of the first things I run out and buy. Meanwhile, I'll just point all you rich folks in its general direction, with a wistful sigh that says, "Hey, now! That's gotta be pretty awesome!"

Wynn Stewart & Jan Howard "The Very Best Of" (Varese Sarabande, 2004)
This much-welcome reissue gathers several smokin' 1958-61 singles, originally out on the Challenge and Jackpot labels. Although it overlaps a few tracks on other recent Wynn Stewart retrospectives, its crowning glory is a look at the formative work of Jan Howard, an artist whose core work -- her late-'60s sides on the Decca label -- remains out of print, despite several big hits in the '60s and early '70s. Howard was generally a mid-tempo ballad singer, so these rollicking early recordings may come as a real eye-opener for fans of classic country and the Nashville Sound... She had some real fire in her! Too bad they couldn't also sandwich in some stuff from her brief stint on Capitol (around '63), but I think fans will be grateful nonetheless to hear these great old tunes in fine, bright, digital sound. Recommended!

Wynn Stewart "Come On (Shake This Shack Tonight)" (Bear Family Records, 2011)
A great collection that focusses on Wynn's early work, including a bunch of rare singles on indie micro-labels like Intro and Jackpot, as well as uptempo twang on Challenge and Capitol. Early on he flirted with rockabilly in the late 1950s, but settled into a solid hard country sound when he signed with Capitol; this zippy collection concentrates on his early work, opening with his blistering 'billy single "Come On," and also includes work with rocker Eddie Cochran, as well as a bunch of pure, true twang. Great stuff! If you've already checked out the best-ofs above, you might want to check this disc out, 'cuz it's got a lot of "new" material that's a lot of fun. Highly recommended!

Don Deal "Tribute To Wynn Stewart" (Don Jim Records, ??) (cassette)

• Wikipedia: Wynn Stewart

• Wynn's family has posted an official Wynn Stewart website which has more information than you can shake a rattlesnake at (including information on upcoming reissue efforts!) True believers, take heed!

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