John Stewart

John Stewart - Cannons In The Rain - 1973 - RCA

After recording a pair of records each for Capitol and Warner Bros., John Stewart moved over to RCA, where he remained a bit longer. Issued in 1973, Cannons was released just about the time the outlaw movement was cracking it in Austin with Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, and the rest. Stewart's music could not have sounded more out of place with the Texans. This was California country music that had been drenched in Stewart's folk influences and his love of West Coast production. To that end, Nick Venet, who had produced his records at Capitol, returned to Stewart's side. He enlisted some of old friends such as banjo boss Bobby Thompson, drummer Russ Kunkel, harmonicat Charlie McCoy, pianist Hargus "Pig" Robbins, and backing vocalist Buffy Ford. Some of the newer faces are what make the difference, however, and these include Pete Drake on pedal steel and dobro, the Nashville Edition on backing vocals, and guitarists Waddy Wachtel and Kelso Herston. The laid-back feel of the disc is a Venet trademark, but Stewart's in fine voice and lyrical form. The loopy melody of "Easy Money" that straddles the line between soft rock and honky tonk is an example as is the forlorn folky country of "Chilly Winds." "Road Away" is Southern California country at its finest. The title cut with its tender chorus and gentle melody line is gorgeous here but would have been better served if cut by Marty Robbins or even Conway Twitty. This is like Jimmy Webb without the acid. "Lady and the Outlaw" is a nod to what was happening in Austin despite its high-on-weed spoken word intro. But here it is, Stewart rolling out a tune that could have been written by Jerry Jeff and sung by either Steve Young or Waylon. It's a hell of a way to close an album and makes the listener long for an entire record of tunes like this -- which came with Wingless Angels the very next year. © Thom Jurek © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/cannons-in-the-rain-r97137/review

Even if you are not a fan of "country" or folk music, this album is worth listening to for the songwriting quality of the late San Diegan singer/songwriter John Stewart. Listen to his "California Bloodlines" and "Bombs Away Dream Babies" albums

TRACKS

1."Durango" – 2:51
2."Chilly Winds" – 3:35
3."Easy Money" – 3:23
4."Anna On A Memory" – 3:02
5."All Time Woman" – 3:15
6."Road Away" – 3:10
7."Armstrong" – 2:35
8."Spirit" – 3:54
9."Wind Dies Down" – 3:31
10."Cannons In The Rain" – 3:20
11."Lady And The Outlaw" – 3:29

All songs composed by John Stewart except "Chilly Winds" by John Stewart, & John Phillips

MUSICIANS

John Stewart - (Guitar), (Vocals)
John "Bucky" Wilkin, Chip Young - (Guitar), (Background Vocals)
Waddy Wachtel, Kelso Herston - (Guitar)
Fred Carter, Jr.- (Dobro), (Guitar)
Pete Drake - (Dobro), (Steel Guitar)
Arnie Moore - (Bass), (Guitar), (Vocals)
Chris Darrow - (Dobro), (Mandolin), (Violin)
Bobby Thompson - (Banjo)
Hargus "Pig" Robbins - (Organ), (Piano)
Buddy Herman - (Drums)
Farrell Morris - (Percussion), (Conga), (Marimba), (Vibraphone)
Charlie McCoy - (Harmonica), (Marimba), (Background Vocals)
Bergen White - (Vocals), (Background Vocals)
Buffy Ford, Linda Hargrove, The Nashville Edition - (Background Vocals)
Marvin D Snyder - Shotgun

BIO

John Stewart first gained recognition as a songwriter when his songs were recorded by the Kingston Trio. In 1960, he formed the Cumberland Three, which recorded three albums for Roulette. The following year, he joined the Kingston Trio, replacing Dave Guard, and stayed with them until 1967. His song "Daydream Believer" was a number one hit for the Monkees at the end of that year. Stewart traveled with Senator Robert Kennedy on his 1968 presidential campaign, an experience that affected him deeply. In 1969, he released his classic album California Bloodlines, the first of seven solo albums to reach the charts through 1980. Stewart found his biggest commercial success with the Top Ten album Bombs Away Dream Babies and its single "Gold" in 1979. He released several of his albums and albums by others on his own Homecoming label starting in the 1980s. Airdream Believer appeared on Shanachie in 1995, followed by The American Folk Song Anthology on Delta in 1996. Rough Sketches and the live Bandera were released in 1997 and 1998, respectively, by Folk Era. Stewart signed with Appleseed Recordings in 2000, and his next three albums, Wires from the Bunker (2000), Havana (2003), and The Day the River Sang (2006), all appeared on the Appleseed imprint. Following Stewart's death on January 19, 2008, in San Diego, CA, Folk Era released a previously unheard live set (recorded at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ, on November 30, 1973) as Bite My Foot in 2009. © William Ruhlmann, © 2010 Answers Corporation http://www.answers.com/topic/john-stewart