Omaha Rainbow : Issue 12

O'BSESSIONS WITH JOHN STEWART - by Peter O'Brien 

Here's the news we've all been waiting for.  On Monday 14 February 1977 John went into the A&M Studios in Hollywood to begin work on his new album.  The producer is the one I alluded to in the last O'Bsessions, Henry Lewy.  That may strike a chord with many of you, as he worked on the first two Burrito's albums, is Joni Mitchell's producer, and also produced the Stephen Bishop album from which the single, 'Save It For a Rainy Day', is currently placed in the American Top 30.  Maybe he will be the "hot" producer Dan Dugmore said John needed to do justice to his songs.  It has been a long time since "Wingless Angels", so it will come as no surprise that John went into the studios with a total of seventeen songs he intends to choose from. Who is playing on the album?  When will it be released?  Good questions, but not ones we are able to answer, unfortunately. Still, the important thing must be that John is back in the arena again and, apart from the prospect of the new album, I'm optimistic that we might get him over to the UK before the year is out.

All this information was gathered from Barry Ballard, who spoke to John while he was in Los Angeles.  Barry then went up to San Francisco and, as luck would have it, his stay there coincided with John playing at Chuck's Cellar in Los Altos.  Barry's card, sent the day after, read, "Thanks to Greyhound and our legs we went down to see him.  We could only stay for the first show (10-10.45) due to the bus schedules.  The second show would have started at 11.15, or so.  He did eleven songs, including a medley of 'Oldest Living Son'/ 'Razor Back Woman'/'Survivors' and included five new ones, including 'Hands' written by former manager, Cort Casady.  The second show is usually more rock 'n' roll than the first, according to Chris Whaelan, the bass player, who I spoke to in the bar for about half an hour.  He declined to be formally interviewed, saying his mouth had gotten him in trouble in the past, and he was enjoying playing with John too much to risk it."

Chris then went on to tell Barry a series of outrageously funny stories which you are not going to see reprinted in Omaha Rainbow.  Barry also spoke briefly with Pete Thomas who a) is still as thin as a rake b) has not acquired even the faintest trace of an American accent c) asked to be remembered to all his friends from the Chilli Willi days and d) proved to Barry's satisfaction that he is a bitch of a drummer.  Let's hope he is one person who will be playing on the album.

Barry also observed that, "Chuck's Cellar holds about 200 and is a superb gig.  Just the right atmosphere."  Dan Dugmore had also talked about Chuck's Cellar.  "The people that own that place are super John Stewart fans and have been for a long time. It's a very small club, maybe 200 people, and they have excellent food upstairs and drinks downstairs and a little showcase for a band.  I don't think he makes very much money, but they treat you like kings there.  All the food is free, all the booze as well. Arnie always had his birthday party there and always got smashed."

Barry had hoped to talk with Arnie Moore while he was in Los Angeles, but unfortunately he didn't manage to contact him. We'll keep trying!

Jon Woodhead, who left John's band to become lead guitarist with Ace, was in London at the beginning of the year with the rest of the band, promoting their new album, ''No Strings" (Anchor ANCL 2020).  A listen will confirm all the complimentary things John has said about his playing.  I should have got to see them and talk to Jon, but circumstances conspired against me and I missed out.  They may be coming back soon for a proper tour, so I'll try to make up for lost time then.

Back in OR8, Billy Swan told me that during the recording of "California Bloodlines" John had cut 'Long Black Veil' with Marijohn Wilkin, who wrote it, Bucky Wilkin, Kris Kristofferson and a bunch of other people, and this had subsequently been released under the name of The Nashville Street singers.  Never having heard of this, I asked you readers for any information and Bob Westfall of Fairport, New York, has just written to me as follows :

I did get a review from 'Billboard' of The Nashville Street Singers' single !! Here it is:

Nashville Street Singers (Capitol 5017) "Long Black Veil" (2.27) (Cedarwood BMI Wilkin).  The N.S.S. are a new pop-folk group somewhat along the lines of the New Christy Minstrels.  The crew, which utilizes traditional guitar and banjo techniques has a rousing, high-powered approach which is aptly showcased on this fine reading of the standard.  "Bottom of the Glass" (2.47) (Cedarwood BMI Wilkin).  On this end the gang displays a first rate understanding of the bluegrass idiom as they wail about the evils of drink.

Here's the kicker.....this was reviewed August17, 1963!!  John was with The Trio then and, in fact, they did 'Long BlackVeil' themselves about that time.  This shoots to hell Swan's statement that it was done at the "Bloodlines" sessions.  Of course, it could still be Billy and John, but I have my doubts about Kristofferson being around the music business in '63.

Thanks a lot, Bob, for this piece of detective work.  I think it worth telling you that Bob recently saw Rick Nelson and the Stone canyon Band and....."they were absolutely fantastic''!  One of the best country rock bands working except, maybe, for Emmylou's.  His steel player, Tom Brumley, is just unbelievable.  Nelson has a new LP coming out on Epic and it should be great judging by the new stuff he did."

Now back to Billy Swan, who has just had "Billy Swan Four" released in America on Monument PZ 34473.  A new departure for Billy this one, as it was recorded in Muscle Shoals.  We'll hope for a rapid UK release, if CBS here will oblige.

As O'Bsessions appears to be segueing into the OMAHA KNOX COLUMN, I would like to say a big thank you to Thor Martinsen in Norway, who read the Mike Smith interview in OR11 and proceeded to send me a copy of the "Juarez" album Mike had released in 1970.  Juarez, in fact, was the name of a group comprising of Mike, his wife Barbara, and Ron Kickasola, and the album is on American Decca DL 75189.  Among the musicians are Joe Osborn, HalBlaine, Larry Knechtel, James Burton and Moose Midwood.  'The Dutchman' is the only song with which I was already familiar, and I'd describe the album as interesting rather than essential.  Even so, I'm delighted to have it, and would be equally delighted to lay my hands on Mike and Barbara's Bell album, which is proving very elusive.  Any offers?

In case you were wondering, our cover illustration of David Lindley really is a self-portrait which he drew for me at the conclusion of our long interview.  This really was a case of icing the cake, because he had already proved himself to be the most aware and articulate of musicians.  Don't miss the interview when it appears in ZigZag.

Final thought.  Last night, when I should have been doing this column, I sat in front of the television watching one of my favourite films, Kirk Douglas in "Lonely Are the Brave''.  Not for the first time it struck me that if John Stewart was making films, that would be the sort we could expect from him.

That's all.  We'll be back in June.  Stay with us.

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