View Full Version : John Stewart!
I know I posted about John Stewart a few months ago, but I want to expand my collection a bit and was wondering if any of you can offer suggestions about which albums of John's are good.
I already have Bombs Away Dream Babies and Wires From the Bunker. I also have Havana. I was a little surprised how much John's voice has changed! Not to be rude - but it is not that great anymore. So I'm mostly looking for early albums of his.
And anything that Lindsey appears on would be great!
Thanks!
Hi Ali,
You might want to check out Blondes and The Last Campaign. Both have contributions from Lindsey, but aside from that, both are really good. Blondes came out in ... 82, I think. I can't remember exactly. Early 80s anyway. And The Last Campaign came out in 85. Lindsey's contribution to the latter is minor, but it's a great album too.
jeffles
04-12-2004, 01:47 PM
Blondes is a very good album. That one came out in '82. Its long out of print, but can be purchased through one of John's websites. (www.chillywinds) Around the same time, John (and LB) did a record with Nick Reynolds, who was also in the Kingston Trio with John. That album, Revenge of the Budgie, is also very good. Try Dream Babies Go Hollywood (1980) the followup to his hit record the previous yr. This album wasn't as successful, but still features some very good songs.
His best album of the 1980's is Punch the Big Guy (1987). Every song on that record is a winner.
As far as his earlier records, pick up California Bloodlines and Willard (both were reissued on one CD I believe), and Phoenix Concert
my favorites: California Bloodlines/Willard, The Last Campaign, Chilly Winds, Bombs Away Dream Babies. Got a couple of old Kingston Trio records too, they're wonderful.
sodascouts
04-12-2004, 05:46 PM
I adore The Last Campaign - here is an MP3 of my favorite song off of it, and Lindsey is very prominent. http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~nkerns/MP3/spiritsurvivors.mp3
David
04-12-2004, 05:48 PM
Did you guys know that John wrote "Blonde Star in the Texas Sky" about Stevie? There's even a story that the two of them dated during the tour they did together. I saw Stevie play with John at the Palomino after the Tusk Tour. John also used to play the Palms a lot up in Davis (in Central California), a university town.
Did you guys know that John wrote "Blonde Star in the Texas Sky" about Stevie? There's even a story that the two of them dated during the tour they did together. I saw Stevie play with John at the Palomino after the Tusk Tour. John also used to play the Palms a lot up in Davis (in Central California), a university town.
Which album does that appear on? Wow, I never knew Stevie and John toured together. I got the impression that they didn't know each other very well from a quote from Stevie about singing "Gold" with John and about how it wasn't planned. Apparently she was only supposed to sing on "Midnight Wind." In the quote she couldn't even remember the name of the song. lol. Anyway, if that is true, Stevie sure didn't leave any stones unturned if you know what I mean! :lol: I thought he had been married to some lady named "Buffy" or something for a long time??
I'm just curious, if John was Lindsey's friend and it was through Lindsey's admiration of John (and vice versa) how did Stevie get in the picture? From the impression I get of Stevie's and Lindsey's relationship back then, you would think that Lindsey wouldn't even bother asking Stevie to help out. Unless it was John who wanted Stevie on there???
Anyway, thank you all for your suggestions! I will definitely check them all out - though I know that some of them are out of print (Revenge of the Budgie, Dream Babies Go Hollywood in particular) And Nancy, thanks for the link - I loved the song!
Ali :)
"Blonde Star" is on Blondes, nicely enough. :)
They didn't do a whole tour together. John opened for a few of Stevie's Bella Donna tour dates -- including the Dallas show, I think, which would seem to be part of the inspiration and setting for "Blonde Star". I don't know if they were ever involved. I think the song kind of fueled those rumors. The song is probably open to a few interpretations.
Blonde Star
Sisterhood in the heartland
Little scenes in the rain
You sold your life for a rock and roll band
You sold your heart as the price of fame
In the heartland
Another man's gone in the heartland
Gone with his heart in his hand
Another man's gone and he can't understand
Don't you know that another can?
In the heartland
Did the ghost of Dallas make you cry?
Blonde star in the Texas sky
In the heartland
Sisterhood in the heartland
Little scenes in the rain
You sold your life for a rock and roll band
You sold your heart as the price of fame
In the heartland
Did the ghost of Dallas make you cry?
Blonde star in the Texas sky
In the heartland
Blonde star in the Texas sky
Blonde star in the Texas sky
Blonde star in the Texas sky
In the heartland
John has been married to Buffy for years and years, but I understand they did have a strained relationship at one point in the early 80s and separated for a bit. John continued to work with Lindsey off and on throughout the 80s, but he and Stevie didn't work together again. I don't know if any of those things are related to each other or if is all unrelated and just happened that way.
There's a lot of pretty cool information in the BLA that I pilfered from a couple of the old Omaha Rainbow magazines that discusses some of how Lindsey and Stevie were involved in Bombs Away Dream Babies :
http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.php?page=index_v2&id=37&c=9
http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.php?page=index_v2&id=36&c=9
chiliD
04-14-2004, 11:16 AM
Well, as the Tusk remaster shows...Tom DeLisle actually was close in calling "That's Enough For Me" by its original name "Down The Road" (actually was called "Out On The Road").
wondergirl9847
04-14-2004, 11:27 AM
[Chris Whelan, bassist for John Stewart, speaking about the financial
difficulties John encountered while making "Bombs Away Dream Babies," and
how Lindsey helped - ]
"It got to the point right before ‘Bombs Away’ was finished, he was way
over budget, he had no more money, and the album was not finished...like,
on 'Living in the Heart of a Dream,' there was still a lot of things he
wanted to do with that tune, but there was no more money....he actually
had let the band go right before ‘Bombs Away’ was finished. Lindsey put
in about 20 grand of his own money to finish the album."
That just kicks butt! Lindsey putting in his cash to help his friend out!
Thanks for the links, Les!
Reading those, I was getting so mad (and sad), because the fate of most music is in the hands of MORONS! :mad: Al telling John that those songs, Gold and Midnight Wind weren't hits?!??! Just think of all the music not released because the head honchos don't like it. PPFFFTTT!!!
Well, as the Tusk remaster shows...Tom DeLisle actually was close in calling "That's Enough For Me" by its original name "Down The Road" (actually was called "Out On The Road").
Yeah, I think I posted that stuff for the BLA about 6 years ago sans remaster info. I should probably change that a bit now, eh? ;)
Omaha Rainbow [/I] magazines that discusses some of how Lindsey and Stevie were involved in Bombs Away Dream Babies :
http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.php?page=index_v2&id=37&c=9
http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.php?page=index_v2&id=36&c=9
Thanks for the links! Wow, I guess I was wrong about John and Stevie's relationship. If anything - they seemed to be great friends. That's so cool reading about how much John liked Tusk and how "That's Enough For Me" inspired "Coming Out of Nowhere." And the whole "making music into Gold" lyric.
Cammie
04-14-2004, 07:38 PM
:wavey: Nancy...Thanks sooo much for that gorgeous J & L harmony
on both Guitars and Vocals! John & Lindsey ROCK!:]Bye,Sky
:wavey: Hi Les...Thanks for the heads-up about John=wife Buffy
and Stevie=Lindsey connection! The S&L two-some sang on
many songs with JS on records! His wife is a good songwriter
and sang tunes with Stevie also! Anyone remember?:rolleyes:Sky:)
( Seven Wonders??? :shrug: Perhaps???)
Johnny Stew
04-14-2004, 08:10 PM
The S&L two-some sang on
many songs with JS on records! His wife is a good songwriter
and sang tunes with Stevie also! Anyone remember?:rolleyes:Sky:)
( Seven Wonders??? :shrug: Perhaps???)Actually, Cammie, John Stewart and Sandy Stewart (who has written and recorded with Stevie) weren't married, and aren't related in any other way.
Neither of them are related to Rod Stewart either. ;) :laugh:
So today I got a copy of "Chilly Winds." It has "Revenge of the Budgie" on it and another album of Johns (not sure which). So does anyone know which songs from Revenge of the Budgie Lindsey is on??
The reason I ask is I was listening to the song "Hiding in the Shadows" and it has the same exact guitar part as "That's How We Do It in L.A.!" I wonder if Lindsey played on that song and just used the same part? Or if John played it and used Lindsey's guitar part?? Or maybe John was the one who came up with that part originally and Lindsey used it??
Anyway I was really proud of myself since I'm not that musically oriented when it comes to recognizing the same chords (riffs, melodies etc - don't really even know what to call them :p ) So does anyone know anything about this?
sodascouts
04-19-2004, 06:08 PM
So today I got a copy of "Chilly Winds." It has "Revenge of the Budgie" on it and another album of Johns (not sure which). So does anyone know which songs from Revenge of the Budgie Lindsey is on??
The reason I ask is I was listening to the song "Hiding in the Shadows" and it has the same exact guitar part as "That's How We Do It in L.A.!" I wonder if Lindsey played on that song and just used the same part? Or if John played it and used Lindsey's guitar part?? Or maybe John was the one who came up with that part originally and Lindsey used it??
Anyway I was really proud of myself since I'm not that musically oriented when it comes to recognizing the same chords (riffs, melodies etc - don't really even know what to call them :p ) So does anyone know anything about this?
I believe Lindsey appears on "Buddy Won't You Roll," "Hiding in the Shadows," "Living on Easy," and "Same Old Heart."
I believe Lindsey appears on "Buddy Won't You Roll," "Hiding in the Shadows," "Living on Easy," and "Same Old Heart."
Hmm I've been listening to the songs all day on headphones and I definitely hear Lindsey on "Hiding in the Shadows." That song is great BTW! I guess he just decided to use the same guitar part on that song as he did for THWDII L.A. But I don't hear him on the others. I will have to listen more closely I guess. Thanks for the info!
I believe Lindsey appears on "Buddy Won't You Roll," "Hiding in the Shadows," "Living on Easy," and "Same Old Heart."
You got it. He's on slide guitar on "Living on Easy". He's credited with "various guitars" on "Same Old Heart". He did all guitars and percussion on "Hiding in the Shadows". And he's on vocals for "Buddy Won't You Roll".
[He also wrote a nice dedication to John and Nick Reynolds in the liner notes. Marty's got it typed out on the Budgie discography page at the bottom: http://fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/albums/budgie.htm]
I wonder if Lindsey played on that song and just used the same part? Or if John played it and used Lindsey's guitar part?? Or maybe John was the one who came up with that part originally and Lindsey used it??
I can't remember the article now. There was some interview with John or an associates of John that I read where they'd been working on a few songs together and hatched the guitar part you mentioned. Each built his own song around it.
Marty's got it typed out on the Budgie discography page at the bottom:
Oops, that link didn't work. Here's the dedication:
The Kingston Trio, with its unique blend of wit, timing and chemistry, was almost solely responsible for the vast popularity of Folk music in the late 50s and 60s. The group provided its audience with a sound and image that was not only original but was also a reaffirmation of the freshness and spontaneity that rock and roll was beginning to lack. For me, although it may have been Elvis or Buddy Holly who initially sparked my musical imagination, it was the Kingston Trio that brought a far more sustaining influence to my guitar style and sense of arrangement and harmony. Nick Reynolds and John Stewart, both with their vocal blend and their personal rapport, were greatly responsible for the sound and spirit of the two.
When I learned of their plans to reunite for this album and was asked to participate, I was naturally pleased. I was also intrigued because although John and Nick's blend has remained, their musical collaboration has been dormant for 16 years. Yet once the sessions had begun, any initial fears gave way to confidence and a sense of catharsis for all. Every day I was reminded of the importance that personal chemistry plays in the making of good music, and when we were done, I came away feeling privileged to be involved, happy to have been able to give back a small part of that which Nick and John had given me before.
As for the songs, they speak for themselves. They are connected to both new and old. The approach being contemporary, but the vocal blend being familiar. I know you'll enjoy the listening as much as we did the making.
- Lindsey Buckingham
You got it. He's on slide guitar on "Living on Easy". He's credited with "various guitars" on "Same Old Heart". He did all guitars and percussion on "Hiding in the Shadows". And he's on vocals for "Buddy Won't You Roll".
Thanks for the info Les! However, I'm 100% certain he is also on vocals for "Hiding in the Shadows." I can't hear him on "Buddy Won't You Roll" but it could just be that John and Nick are drowning him out.
Thanks for the info Les! However, I'm 100% certain he is also on vocals for "Hiding in the Shadows." I can't hear him on "Buddy Won't You Roll" but it could just be that John and Nick are drowning him out.
I always thought I could hear his voice on Shadows too. Either there's someone else's voice on there that sounds a lot like him, or they just mistakenly left his name off the vocal credits (like with Walter Egan's "Not Shy").
sodascouts
04-20-2004, 02:07 AM
I always thought I could hear his voice on Shadows too. Either there's someone else's voice on there that sounds a lot like him, or they just mistakenly left his name off the vocal credits (like with Walter Egan's "Not Shy").
I could SWEAR he's on "Rockin' as the Night Rolls On" as well, but in the Penguin Q&A Stewart says he's not. :shrug:
Cammie
04-25-2004, 05:39 PM
:confused: :eek: Oh, right Johnny! Buffy Stewart is John's
lovely wife!!! :shocked: We do get confused!Too bad
they are not related to Rod Stewart!!!:rolleyes: Sky ;)
macmar71
04-25-2004, 07:53 PM
I could SWEAR he's on "Rockin' as the Night Rolls On" as well, but in the Penguin Q&A Stewart says he's not. :shrug:
I agree with you Nancy that it sounds so much like Lindsey on this song! :confused:
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