Words from Jon.

John Stewart (1939-2008). Another comrade falls. The true LEADER of the Lost Patrol. Johnny Stew.

I am deeply saddened by the recent passing of John Stewart. One of the greatest American songwriters of all time. Right in there with Woody, Townes, Newbury, Dylan, Case, Springsteen, Waits, Hank, Hag, and Hancock.


Stewart's influence over my own songwriting is enormous. I wouldn't have written the Sugar Ditch (which, incidentally, was dedicated to John) without having heard Stewart's Rough Sketches lp. John Train's latest record, Mesopotamia Blues, contains a cover of John's Vietnam era song, Draft Age, to which I wrote an "answer" song of sorts: Mulloy 2006.


Most folks know John Stewart -- if they know him at all -- for having played in the Kingston Trio, for having written "Daydream Believer", or for his own 1979 hit record, Gold. But the truth is that John Stewart wrote hundreds of great songs. He released 45 solo records which contain so many masterful ballads and rockers that it is hard to know where to begin. I could easily reel off a hundred Stewart songs for your perusal. But let's start with ten. I urge you to track these down (especially if you are a songwriter!):


1. She Believes in Me: From Stewart's first solo record, "California Bloodlines," which was allegedly cut across the street from the recording of Nashville Skyline. There is nothing on the latter lp which even comes close to the beauty of She Believes in Me. And that means a lot coming from a Dylan fanatic like me!


2. Durango: From one of Stewart's best 70s records, "Cannons in the Rain." This song tells the tale of Stewart being passed over in favor of Dylan for the role of Alias in Peckinpah's Billy the Kid movie. John Train did a one-off performance of this song at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville. We opened up for the Wild Bunch, so to speak.


3. Lilly and Joe: One of Stewart's many stunning ballads. This one -- written in the 70s -- was recovered (in the 90s) by his fans (who treat John as a Messiah of sorts) and appeared on an album called "Teresa and the Lost Songs." Key Line: "I believed she believed that we'd all live forever // both of us together // Lilly and Joe."


4. Heavy Fire: Stewart wrote some great hypnotic rockers. My rock'n'roll combo, The Donuts, close out most of our performances with this one. Invariably, someone asks me "Who wrote that?" I always want to say "me" but, alas, use the opportunity to talk up John Stewart. His version appears on "Wires from the Bunker" yet another album of "lost" songs recovered by fans.


5. The American Way: There is a driving version of this song on "Wires." It features Lindsey Buckingham who is a huge Stewart fan and who produced John's top selling record, "Bombs Away Dream Babies." However, I prefer the ballad version which appears on "Trancas," one of many independently released albums that John put out in the 80s. Key line: "When your loves goes, it's the American Way." Right!


6. Girl Down the River: This comes from Stewart's early 80s power pop masterpiece, "Blondes," which, if I had to choose, is my all-time favorite JS release.


7. The Eyes of Sweet Virginia: Another masterful ballad, also from "Blondes." Key line: "I don't want much // I just want it all." Stewart was funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Just like Hank.


8. Strange Rivers: Stewart put out one of his best records in the mid-80s: "Punch the Big Guy." Yes, it has some dated sounds but the songs are some of his finest. Stewart sings about "the rivers that you cannot see" which, in my own experience, are some of the most dangerous and which have nearly swept me away. Key line: "He could have been a builder but then he bought the gun." There are alot of references to guns on this record.


9. Botswanna: Again from "Punch the Big Guy." Not many folks living in Malibu were writing protest songs in the 80s. Leave it Stewart. Key Line: "I am worried of our numbers // I am worried of our ranks."


10. Jasmine: From Stewart's last record, "The Day the River Sang" (available on Appleseed Recordings who have issued many of John's albums). John wrote great songs until the end. He was a true HEAVYWEIGHT.


Johnny Stew: RIP. Jesus loves you. Rock'n'roll.


--Jon Houlon, January 2008


For more information on John Stewart visit: www.clackscellar.com or www.chillywinds.com

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Humorous, but sincere article from Crawdaddy! The Magazine of Rock.