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
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