John Stewart California Bloodlines/Willard CD - Import

Q (May 2002, p.136) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...Stands proud as one of coutry-rock's crowning glories--a hugely romantic, irony-free celebration of America's topography and people..."

Such a genuine record, recorded with little pomp, and yet every track is special. It is a very even list of sitting on a porch with guitar songs. Pop with folk and country overtones with the beautiful voice of Stewart in effortless command. This, after all, is the man who wrote "Daydream Believer" for the Monkees and nearly a quarter of a century later was in the pop charts duetting with Stevie Nicks on "Gold." In between he released a number of gentle country rock albums of which this is the star turn. The See For Miles reissue of CALIFORNIA BLOODLINES has bonus tracks. Underrated both as a songwriter and as a fine singer.

2 LPs on 1 CD.

Digitally remastered two-fer reissue.

Recorded at Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville, Tennessee; Crystal Sound, Hollywood, California. Includes liner notes by Peter O'Brien.

CALIFORNIA BLOODLINES:

Personnel includes: John Stewart (vocals, guitar); Fred Carter, Kelso Herston (guitar); Lloyd Green (steel guitar); Charlie McCoy (harmonica); Hargus Robbins, Jerry Smith, Beegie Cruser (piano); Norbert Putman (bass); Buddy Harman, Kenneth Buttrey (drums).

WILLARD (MINUS 2):

Personnel: John Stewart (vocals, acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, autoharp); James Taylor (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Mike Stewart, Danny Kooch (guitar); Bobby Thompson (banjo); Doug Kershaw (fiddle, background vocals); Chris Darrow (fiddle); Charlie McCoy (harmonica); Ralph Shuckett (piano, harmonium); Carole King (piano); Peter Asher (bass, tambourine, background vocals); Bryan Garofalo (bass, background vocals); Norbert Putnam (bass); Joel Bishop O'Brien (drums, congas); Russ Kunkel, Kenneth Buttrey (drums); Bill Mummy (cowbell); Buffy Ford, Abigale Haness (background vocals).

Reissue producers: Richard Weize, Peter O'Brien.

2 LPs on 1 CD: CALIFORNIA BLOODLINES (1969)/WILLARD (1970).Rolling Stone (9/17/70, p.46) - "The music and lyrics of John Stewart are a part and parcel of rural Americana....[CALIFORNIA BLOODLINES] is a noteworthy legacy to his well-travelled and spatially spectral imagination..."
Uncut (p.108) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]hese are rough-edged, live-to-tape, country-tinged songs that hit the right balance of reflection, sentiment and heartache..."