Customer Reviews

California Bloodlines

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

"California Bloodlines/Willard-Minus 2" captures the singular talent of John Stewart, one of America's greatest singer-songwriters, at the beginning of his long and prolific solo career. The former Kingston Trio member forged his legend with the 1969 release of "California Bloodlines," a gripping debut featuring such slice-of-America classics as "Mother Country," the often covered "July You're A Woman" and "Pirates of Stone County Road." The album was rated Number 36 in an English writers poll of the Top 200 Rock Albums of All-Time in 1979. "California Bloodlines," recorded in a "live" studio context with top Nashville backing musicians, originates Stewart's unique combination of folk, country, and rock that would follow in his ensuing 37 albums through mid 1998. "Willard," his 1970 follow-up album, is featured here minus its final two cuts because of space limitations. While more diverse and less theme-oriented than "Bloodlines," it contains some classic songs, such as the title cut, "Friend of Jesus," "Big Joe" "Earth Rider" and "Oldest Living Son." This CD is the starting place for those wishing to get acquainted with the unique sound and songwriting of one of the country's greatest, if often under-publicized, musicians. To those who are already Stewart aficionados, "California Bloodlines/Willard" constitutes the highly revered starting point of his richly evocative songwriting and performing career.

This is a compilation of two very different LPs. "California Bloodlines" is regarded by most of his fans as among John Stewart's best, while many regard "Willard Minus 2" as a failure. I concur in these opinions. Even without the last twelve tracks, however, this CD merits five stars. "Mother Country" shows Stewart's love for and pride in America, things that not a lot of us were showing back in 1969, when it was recorded. "July, You're a Woman" sounds as if the music was inspired by John Hartford's "Gentle On My Mind", with which Glen Campbell had recently had a huge hit - and that's no bad thing, particularly with lyrics that are definitely Stewart's own - nobody else writes in that simultaneously lyrical and confessional vein.

"Lonesome Picker" is my favorite song about music, although it's about a whole lot more, as well. In the final line, Stewart writes that "I hope that some lonesome picker will find some healing in this song." I've found a lot of healing in "Lonesome Picker" and many of the other tunes here for a lot of years. I hope that you will, too.

I was in college from 1969 to 1973, and I am absolutely stunned that I didn't know about this record. Fortunately, Stewart was wrong -- You Can Look Back. I am so glad I found this terrific music. Stewart was the Saint of San Joaquin and was indeed Some Lonesome Picker. I hope he's now somewhere over the Omaha Rainbow.

California Bloodlines is a unique creation from the godfather of the modern folk era. Many artists- from Ronstadt, Buffett, Joni Mitchell and others cite John's influence, and this album in particular. A real story tellers treat. John is still performing new and vital material today.

Wow. I was thinking about getting this for some time, as I heard years ago Lonesome Picker by Glenn Yarbrough and was profoundly moved.
Then I discovered on here about the original version; heard a clip elsewhere and, must've been broke, 'cause I forgot about it.
I stumbled across it today luckily at Streetlight.

I haven't found many albums so instantly seductive as this one.
It's not really country (although Omaha Rainbow, Shackles and Chains, You Can't Look Back and Never Goin' Back certainly have that sound); not really folk, not rock....it's impossible to properly catagorize. GOOD!

It IS worth it all for Some Lonesome Picker, one of the most beautiful songs I've EVER heard, and I can't imagine any version by anyone topping this one. Stewart's voice is so beautifully soothing. This song is for all those who are so lonely, they live in their own worlds sometimes. "Angels that have no place" (hey, it's Bruce's birthday! I can use that line -- it's for the same people.) (The opening line about talking to the wind reminds me of Jackson C. Frank's Yellow Walls, and the words of advice to Lily McLean echo the sentiment found in P.F. Sloan's From A Distance).

TREMENDOUS. Worth the price of this CD alone.

and then there's also She Believes In Me (another song for the down-on-their-luck; this album has compassion. It's no wonder Stewart went on to contribute music to Bobby Kennedy's campaign, who surely would have been the best president we ever had....sad.) (and Mother Country, further proof that John Stewart was a true patriot...)

You Can't Look Back is another brilliant song, with the common-sense advice many of us forget -- you can't go forward in life if you're always looking back. John Stewart's music here seems to be about throwing away your heartbreaks and stop trying to correct the past mistakes --you CAN'T.

Most every song on here is great; anyone with the slightest taste that is open-minded,i.e. not just rock and roll, not just country, whatever, will surely love, love, LOVE this album.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

It instantly became of my top favorites, in one listen, and I haven't stopped; it's addictive, ballads like Missouri Birds, the beauty of Razorback Woman, beyond words.

and Some Lonesome Picker most of all. It's flat-out HEALING.

MAGNIFICENT.

Anyone wanting to hear "Americana" before the term was coined to describe country music that isn't Nashville, folk music with a beat, or great songwriting on American themes, should order this CD. I have had the vinyl since 1970, and believe Stewart's California Bloodlines to be one of the ten best albums ever recorded. Having said that, Williard naturally has a tall order to fill, but if you like Stewart at all, you will also enjoy Willard. God bless John Stewart, I am glad to have been along with him for the ride since 1963.

ONE OF THE MOST FANTASTIC ALBUMS OF ALL TIME !!!..how wonderful to have one of my favorite old albums on CD, ...thank you amazon