Old Forgotten Altars: The 1960s Demos (Demo)

John Stewart

Pubblicato il 08/05/20 su Omnivore Recordings
Artisti principali: John Stewart
Genere: Pop

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John Stewart's name often gets left out of discussions about L.A.'s singer/songwriter era, despite the fact that he may be its most prolific progenitor. Born in San Diego in 1936, he was a contemporary of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Subsequent to his death in 2008 after nearly a five-decade career, Stewart left a cache of more than 600 songs and 40 albums. During high school he led a Buddy Holly-obsessed garage band before forming the folk group the Cumberland Three. He wrote for the Kingston Trio, and in 1961 replaced banjoist Dave Guard and remained their chief songwriter until their split in 1967, the same year the Monkees scored an international smash with Stewart's best-known song "Daydream Believer." His three-album solo run for Capitol -- 1968's Signals Through the Glass (co-billed to singer and future wife Buffy Ford), 1969's classic California Bloodlines, and 1970's Willard -- are strikingly rendered singer/songwriter prototypes framed in various combinations of folk, roots rock, country, and pop. Old Forgotten Altars comprises 19 unheard demos compiled by producer Ron Furmanek and overseen by Buffy Ford Stewart.
The finished versions of four tunes here wound up on the Kingston Trio's 1966 release Children of the Morning, including its title cut. Another, "Spinnin’ of the World" was revived for 1979's hit album Bombs Away Dream Babies, produced by Lindsey Buckingham. There are also three duets with Ford long before the pair were married. Of these, "July, You're a Woman" is particularly notable. It would initially appear on his folk-psych debut Signals Through the Glass. "Big Sur" was also recorded for inclusion but inexplicably left off despite its quality. The topical "Draft Age Today" appeared as "Draft Age." There are finished takes of five songs that appeared on 1970's California Bloodlines (recorded in the same Nashville studio during the same week as Dylan's Nashville Skyline with most of the same players). Among them is the earliest version of Stewart's beloved "The Pirates of Stone County Road" and "She Believes in Me" (both with Ford), "Shackles & Chains," and "Mother Country," the latter with an extra verse that was wisely left off the finished version. The song appeared on astronaut Buzz Aldrin's cassette playlist for Apollo 11's flight. "Rambler Get on Board" (arranged for cello, martial snare, bass, guitar, and chimes) and "Down the Highway You Go" are both fine examples of the traveling songs Stewart was known for. The final selection here, "Hey Sarrey," is a home-recorded mountain song from 1959, with Stewart's hyper-strummed banjo wailing. These demos sound wonderful for the most part, especially considering their aged sources. The set includes a fine historical liner essay by blogger and L.A. radio host Jim Moran. For Stewart's global cadre of fans, Old Forgotten Altars is essential: It adds considerable depth and heft to the Stewart's legend, as well as the longstanding argument for his not- always-acknowledged influence on succeeding generations of songwriters.

© Thom Jurek /TiVo

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Old Forgotten Altars: The 1960s Demos (Demo)

John Stewart

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