Punch the Big Guy

John Stewart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B000000DU0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #87 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Soft Rock

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out Of The Dark, October 10, 2002

By 

John S. Erickson (Fairfax, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punch the Big Guy (Audio CD)

I have virtually every album and CD that John Stewart has ever made, including The Kingston Trio albums he performed on in the sixties.

When I first saw this album, yes an album not a CD, in 1987 I was not sure of what to expect since Mr. Stewart had been making albums that were rather divergent in subject,"Bombs Away Dream Babies" to "Fire In The Wind", over the past ten years or so.

This album was like a shot out of the dark and a very pleasant surprise. With this CD Mr. Stewart seemed to be returning to his roots but as a mature man who seemed to have been doing some very deep thinking.

I feel that the eighties was the period of time when John Stewart's voice was perhaps at its' best and he used this talent to its' best on this CD, I also have the CD.

Personally I feel that "Punch The Big Guy" is, if not the best, one of his best CDs rivaling "Cannons In The Rain".

I found "Night Of A Distant Star" and "Runaway Train" to be exceptional songs on an exceptional CD.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lonesome Picker Rides High, January 27, 2002

By 

S. H. Dick "jazhound" (Greensboro, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Punch the Big Guy (Audio CD)

Its easy to understand how this disc gets lost. It was originally released on the Cypress label, which quickly vanished, and its reissues have been on small, limited distribution labels. Although its history may be obscure, this is one of Stewart's finest discs, and his best recording in the last twenty years.

Those familiar with Stewart's work are familiar with his strong social conscience. This aspect of his work is brilliantly displayed in "Botswana", a troubled, uneasy contemplation on the tormented comforts of the Western world, and the profound suffering of our less fortunate third-world brothers. There is nothing glib, simple, or superficial about the profound dis-ease expressed by this superbly crafted contemplation, which contains the haunting refrain "I wonder if God cries / When he sees the pictures taken at Botswana/ The pictures of the children / With the flies in their eyes." "Angels With Guns" comments elipticly on the Central American entanglements of the early '80s.

The disc also offers telling commentaries on the human condition including the ode to a relationship in crisis, "Runaway Train". "Ticket to the Stars" is a perfectly crafted observation on the desire for transcendance, the wear and tear of the mundane, and the ever present longing for a free lunch. "Strange Rivers" is a moody contemplation of free-will, fate, and the obscure sense of destiny that haunts the corners of our minds and edges of our lives. Stewart's long and troubled love affair with America writ large is reflected in selections like "Midnight of the World" and "Children of the New Frontier."

The arrangements are well crafted to serve the tone and texture of the tunes. Stewart's bosso profondo vocals, though an acquired taste, are evocative and effective.

This is a brilliant showcase for one of the most outstanding signer/songwriters to have emerged from the folk scene. Don't let this one slip by you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars America's best kept musical secret, September 2, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (California Bloodliner) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punch the Big Guy (Audio CD)

John Stewart is one of America's best kept musical secrets, and 'Punch the Big Guy' is one of his best works. For almost 40 years, from his stint with the Kingston Trio thru his 'solo' career, John has refused to play the record company's games. He is living proof that the people that run radio just don't get it. From the screaming optimism of 'Ticket to the Stars' to the harsh reality of 'Botswanna', John has put together an amazing work of art. Do yourself a favor and add this to your collection.