John Stewart's' music and literary styles

[ELizabeth]

Rez,
Have you ever noticed that some of John's music seems to come out of a literary genre or oeuvre if you prefer? For example, 'Summer Child' feels an awful lot like Faulkner or may be a bit like Flannery O'Connor to me. Very Southern. I have no idea where he (JS) was born (CA?) but many of his songs have the flavor of a John Steinbeck story. The guy (JS) is a very literate songwriter as far as style is concerned. I just bought "Blonde' and so far I don't like it. Too much Hansen and not enough JS.

[This message has been edited by ELizabeth (edited March 02, 2005).]

[closetcanadian]

Elizabeth,

I agree completely that John Stewart's songs have a literary feel to them. The songs on the "California Bloodlines" album evoke powerful images of Steinbeck Country - Central California, San Joaquin Valley, Monterey Peninsula. I would not be surprised to learn Stewart is an admirer of Steinbeck. And John Stewart was born in California, in Pomona if memory serves me right. Truly an underappreciated songwriter. His talents merited greater recognition.

[ELizabeth]

Closetecanadian,
I agree that John Stewart and Gordon Lightfoot to an exent are both underappreciated. I think maybe it's becuse they both came out of the folkie tradition which was abandoned long ago. But these two musicians have moved out of the folk movement and into their own kind of music, which deals with nature and places they know and love. Not to mention women!

Ahhhh, I knew he was born in California, but born in Pomona somehow explains a lot more. At the time he was born it would have been mostly agricultural. It wasn't really considered an L.A. suburb back then the way it seems to be now. I remember driving up old highway 1 years ago humming California Bloodlines Wonder if they every put up some highway markers. There were miles there were I wasn't sure I was still on it.
http://www.sbc-rides.com/StreetRides...hwy1_leg2.html

[The Rez]

Yes, Pomona is John's birthtown (I agree, I don't think it was hardly a city yet then.)

And the Steinbeck influence is very present. John is amazingly well read. His references are so oblique as to be invisible to the mortal man. But, then you hear the story (even Daydream Believer, beieve it or don't) and it suddenly makes perfect sense.

He's also been influenced much by Western painters. He himself has a pretty fair hand.

Also, the proverbial "road." Especially the Mother Road - Route 66, which a few yrs ago he explored from beginning to end, coming away w/ yet another unsung treasure trove of songs. Fortunate for folks like me, he plays S. CA often (in 2 wks at The Coffee Gallery in Pasadena (I think.) It seats on 49 people, including the Lonesome Picker.

Tomorrow a couple dozen of us who follow John's music as well as Gord's are gathering from around the State just to pass the guitar and Moose Drool (I'll be having my Peppermint Tea.)

Do you know if any folks from here gather and pass the guitar in similar fashion (except probably Moulsen's - although Gord would be having Peppermint Tea, like me.)

Bed Time for this one,

The Rez

------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[The Rez]

PS:

To me, John's album "Blondes" is worth the having just for the song "The Eyes of Sweet Virginia."

It's really something to hear him sing it now, 25 more yrs down the "road."

Blessings,

The Rez

[charlene]

I wouldn't know John Stewart if he knocked on my door...never heard of him!
ack!

unless it's John Stewart from the Daily Show...and I don't think he's a folk singer...

[Janice]

Char, you're probably more familiar with John Stewart (or at least his work) than you think. He was one of the Kingston Trio for a while way back when and he has written many songs recorded by others, such as Daydream Believer made popular by the Monkees. Ed is a huge fan and no doubt you've heard him do some of John's songs and just didn't realize who wrote them.

Rez, yes we do have Lighthead gatherings during which many players have "jam sessions" - we have some very talented performers among us (many of whom do not post here, but at the News Group instead). Unfortunately, I'm not one of them, but I do enjoy listening. Some have even formed a couple of versions of a Lightfoot Tribute Band and performed fund raisers at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY. One configuration of the Tribute Band also did a songwriter's tribute at Caffe Lena, as well.

If you're able to make it to Toronto for the Massey concerts, bring your guitar as there will be a fair number of players on hand having many jam sessions/song circles.

Oh - The Coffee Gallery is in Altadena. It's owned by Bob Stane, a friend of my concert series partner. He has a lot of good music moving thru that venu.

[ELizabeth]

Does anyone know if the 'Judy' in 'Julie, Judy, Angel Rain' is/was Judy Collins? The only name I know ia Angel Rain his wife Buffy.

[charlene]

I dont' think I've heard Ed do a John Stewart song. Never was a fan of the Kingston Trio - don't know their stuff either...sorry!

[The Rez]

Yes, Judy Collins
and, yes, Buffy.

I spoke w/ a 22yr old guitarist last week who genuinely feels that the world begins and ends w/ Ozzie Ozborne.

I told the folks we were with, "In April, I'm gonna see Gordon Lightfoot!" (obvious awe on my part, of course.) The young mand said, "Never heard of him!" (obvious, cockyness on his part, of course.)

I asked him, "You ever hear of Eric Clapton? He knows well who GL is and JS, too. Further, I asked, "Do you dig Cream?" (He did, of course)and I asked him if he knew Robert Johnson or Willie Dixon were. (He didn't, of course) I just looked him in the eye and said "Crossroads" and "Spoonful" - check your CD.

So it is w/ this folk music stuff. There would have been no Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Flying Burrito Bros, Mamas & Papas, etc. - no Folk Rock, w/o Woody Guthrie, Pete Seger, Bob Dylan, PPM, and yes Gord and John Stewart. All the folks in those above-revered groups know very well who GL and JS are.

It's just lineage. The "begats." And it's OK not to know the whole family tree, but the music may be even more enjoyed when a person does.

The Spotlight that found John Denver (worthy also, of course) eluded GL and, much more so, JS.

It's not a stretch at all you put these wonderful "folkies" on equal footing as fathers to even (dare I say it?) Ozzie Ozborne. Lineage.

And they all (Ozzie" uh . . .) owe their musical lives to Stephen Foster.

Sometimes it takes some digging to find the bones, but it's worth the archeology. Then you stand back and say, " . . .

And they all know one another - personally or be song.

W/ Thanksgiving for 'em each/all,
The Rez



------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[ELizabeth]

The idea that these folkies owe their music to Stephen Foster is very interesting. I know Lightfoot has acknowledged his musical debt to SF, particularly in 'Your Love's Return'. I guess I hear it a bit in some of JS songs -'Pomona''Let the Big Horse Run' but I also hear some bars straight from Paul Simon. For example, in one of his songs (can't recall which one right now)at the end I hear chords from the chorus of Simon's 'Homeward Bound'.I read somewhere that JS either loved or hated Simon's music - can't remember which. I'd better get my mind together - it's Monday morning not Sunday.

[This message has been edited by ELizabeth (edited March 07, 2005).]

[The Rez]

John loves Paul Simon's work - Stephen Foster, too.

I figure Stephen Foster did two things for those who were to follow:

1. Wrote fine, fine stuff in a variety of styles and emotions, and

2. Was the first songwriter to really build a career on it and make good use of those new fangled Copyright Laws. He lost it all later, but that doesn't undercut the business precedent he set.

There's an album out this last year of Steven Foster songs done by some of today's best performers. The songs stand, and stand tall today. Find the collection.

John & Gord will be discovered and rediscovered by young musicians who choose to seek. Same-same Stephen Foster.

Quite a legacy and tradition they've handed us to pass on to the next wave.

The Rez



------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[ELizabeth]

Rez,

I have changed my mind about 'Blondes'. It is really a good album for the most part. I do like "Eyes of Sweet Virginia' but I also like 'Jenny, Dream Girl'. Thanks for making me give 'Blondes' another careful listen.

[The Rez]

Your welcome, ma'am.

It took me a few listenings, too (except "Eyes of Sweet Virginia".) But I find that to be true of Gord's albums, too.
Repeated listening brings growing understanding and insight, and appreciation.

A short epiphany (for me):

I just received an Amazon CD two-fer of the album projects done in 67,68. between Jimmy Webb and Richard Harris (MacArthur Park and The Yard Went On Forever)

Between the bombast sections of each arrangement lies a sweet, melodic, lyric song. The lyrics of Jimmy Webb and the lyrics of John Stewart are cut from the same cloth. Different styles, but each paints word-pictures so vivid you find yourself standing in The Yard as it Went On Forever (childhood) and in the rain w/ the cake - (anguish of love lost w/ hope of love to come, but knowing what was, was like no other)

Very similar, those two writers. It only took my 40yrs to get it.

Seems there's another "Painter Passing Through," as I recall, whose canvas is as much a wonder as wonder can be.

Noel signs off sometimes saying, "from Love bigger than our lives."

The Rez

------------------
It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive

[This message has been edited by The Rez (edited March 31, 2005).]

[ELizabeth]

Rez,

Listening to a couple of JS cds this weekend it struck me that he might make a fine actor. He is able to modulate his voice almost like an athlete and to express an incredibly wide range of emotions with it. I am thinking of Mother Country, Summer Child, Anna on a Memory and The Lady and the Outlaw (the beginning). He has a real talent for recitation - that's not the exact word I want but close enough. Maybe it's closer to story telling. What say you?

[The Rez]

Elizabeth,

Oh yes, I agree completely. And recitation is a fine word for it: Johnny Cash & John Stewart both.

Did you ever hear The Reverend Mr. Black or Desert Pete from The Kingston Trio. The first, John reciting to a shiver. The second, to a hallelujah.

He had his eyes on acting in the early 70s, but it didn't materialize. His song "Durango" tells about being up for the role of Billy the Kid in the Sam Peckinpaugh film - only to see it go to his good friend Kris Kristofferson.

Even now, that range is very present. He's quite ill these days w/ a very nasty flu. But, like Gord, he soldiers on.

The Rez

[ELizabeth]

I hope JS is not seriously ill. Keep us informed if you hear anything. Thanks. Yes I remember when he was up for that part. It might have been a blessing in disguise (life is full of them) that he didn't get it - the movie was a dog and cost 'Rita's man' several roles he wanted. He ended up playing opposite Babs (Streisand)in a remake of "A Star is Born" and as far as I know tha was it for KK.

[ April 05, 2005, 12:02: Message edited by: ELizabeth ]

[The Rez]

Elizabeth,

John is almost recovered and touring in Maine. Thankfully he wasn't seriously ill. However, he'd suffered two concussions and resulting vertigo that hung on. Gone now. I agree, perhaps Rita's man got blessed a bit there.

Also re: John

On the other side of the topic fence, WishingWellGhost asked suggestions for a custom CD of Gord's songs for his use.

I replied, "Those priceless slow ballads of love - lived/lost/dreamed/recalled.

I could, would, and do say the same for John. Different from Gord, as it should be, but equally chilling and warming.

Blessings,

The Rez

[ELizabeth]

Rez,
What a great idea. We should come up with some categories- love songs (Anna,Canons,Lost her in the Sun, j,j, Angel Rain) , sexy songs (Summer Child, July, Midnight Wind, Fire in the Wind) to name few. Spiritual (poor choice of words)Mother Country, Hand your Heart to the Wind, etc. You probably have several ideas for categories of your own. Do you think JS knows about this thread? I would like to think he does.

[The Rez]

Elizabeth,

Yes, he does know. With humility.

I'll ponder some topics, too. Like Gord, there's a lot to ponder.

The Rez

[ELizabeth]

Rez,

I am so glad he knows. Did you tell him? What did he say? I am still struggling with categories for both GL and JS. Did you know that JS wrote a song in reply to Lindsay Buckingham's 'Johnny Stew" called 'Liddy Buck'. Have you ever heard it? How about you Closetcanadian? Ever heard it

[closetcanadian]

Elizabeth,

Sorry, but no, I have never heard the song "Liddy Buck." Interesting nicknames. Could have been much worse, JS could have called him "The Buckmeister."

[The Rez]

Howdy Y'all . . .

Thought I'd bring this topic forward just to let it be known that more of John Stewart's literary influences are on display in his new CD:

The Day the River Sang.

The title tune,
Jasmine
Sister Mercy
and more . . .

So good to see, hear, and know that folks like Gord, John, Tom Paxton, Tom Rush, and others are just as vital today as in their youth.

The Day the River Sang is as much a "need" for me
as "Harmony."

Tis a wonderment . . .

Here's to Heart's Passion and Them What Tell It

The Rez