California Bloodlines

John Stewart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 1994)
• Label: Bear Family
• ASIN: B000001AW3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,761 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. California Bloodlines

2. Razor-Back Woman

3. She Believes in Me

4. Omaha Rainbow

5. The Pirates of Stone County Road

6. Shackles and Chains

7. Mother Country

8. Some Lonesome Picker

9. You Can't Look Back

10. Missouri Birds

11. July, You're a Woman

12. Never Goin' Back

13. Big Joe

14. Julie, Judy Angel Rain

15. Belly Full of Tennessee

16. Friend of Jesus

17. Clack Clack

18. Hero from the War

19. Back in Pomona

20. Willard

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Cult artist John Stewart first came too the attention of the public when his folk group The Cumberland Three issued their pair of acclaimed concept albums featuring songs of the American Civil War...shortly afterward, in 1961, he joined their mentors, the Kingston trio, leading them through changes in style and continued hit singles and albums in the volatile period 1961-67....as the British Invasion and rock in general ate into their audience, the Trio slowly ran down operations, as John wrote songs for outside acts; 'Daydream Believer' by The Monkees being a worldwide smash hit in 1967.Wonderfully re-mastered in top Revola syle and with lovely packaging. A must for all fans of acoustic, roots music with a bizarre twist, in that oddball RevOla way. Suffice to say that if you don't know John Stewart, but you loved Vince Martin's album, prepare for a master of the art! If you know John well...well you'll know what a masterpiece this is. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Americana Classic, October 3, 2007

By 

Martin W. Ward (Littleton, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Bloodlines (Audio CD)

Some albums are so iconic that words do not do justice to the work. If The Byrds and Dylan invented folk rock, this album jump started the Americana music genre, and has been a touchstone for generations of acoustic musicians and roots music lovers. From first note to last, this album is a perfectly realized vision, filled with classic songs about America from one of its most astute observers of national life. These are timeless songs, as touching and moving in 2007 as they were 40 years ago. This new CD is a great mix of the album, with clear sound and expansive sound. New instruments can be heard clear as a songbird, giving new depth and enjoyment to listening to an album I have heard hundreds of times. This disc can not be recommended highly enough.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums of the rock era, June 14, 2000

By 

Martin W. Ward (Littleton, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Bloodlines (Audio CD)

California Bloodlines was voted by Rolling Stone as one of the best albums of the rock era in a 1980's poll, and this CD is a wonderful remastering of the album. The album was recorded live in the studio in Nashville in 1969, while across the hall Dylan was recording Nashville Skyline. The two albums could be considered similarly inspired by two of the great songwriters of the modern era. However, the album is not "Country" as in the current understanding of the term. It is more like "Americana" before that term was known. The playing is inspired and the songs terrific evocations of American life. Willard, Stewarts next album, is coupled with Bloodlines, but is entirely different. Produced by Peter Asher, who was famous for producing James Taylor and Linda Rondstadt, as well as being part of the 60's pop group Peter and Gordon, the album is much more polished than Bloodlines. However, for John's music, that is not necessarily a good thing. Stewart's songs are about the rough edges of Amercian life, organic in their observations, and the polished and overproduced performances detract rather than add to the songs. Which is why the overall rating of the CD is not 5 stars. However, as an overall disc, any CD with California Bloodlines is worth owning. Bloodlines is a ten.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars California Bloodlines Now a CD!, March 6, 2000

By 

M. Apsey (TAMPA, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: California Bloodlines (Audio CD)

As the definitive John Stewart, California Bloodlines (recorded live), has long been one of my favorite memories of the era. I was thrilled when Capitol released the commemorative vinyl issue of this album many years ago.

I gave up trying to vinyl restore two of my favorite "Bloodlines" cuts, "Mother Country," and "Pirates Of Stone County Road," because of the low-volume passages and decided to buy this import.

I wasn't sorry. If you love what John Stewart vinyl added to the music of the 70s, you need this CD.

Consider the more studio-polished "Willard" cuts to be a bonus, but one of the missing two tracks (Great White Cathedrals) was another of my favorites. If you missed the info, "Willard -2" means it's missing two "Willard" tracks.

Nonetheless, California Bloodlines, lying atop the velvet silence of digital audio is a real treat to these aging ears, and was a CD worth both the money, and the short wait for it to arrive.