Billboard Magazine - 22 January 1983 - After
an absence
of over two years, veteran folkie John Stewart returns
with a winning LP about ''the myths and reality of the
legendary California girls.'' The music is tasteful soft
rock, featuring fellow vocalist and guitarist Chuck
McDermott, and benefiting from appearances by Lindsey
Buckingham and Linda Ronstadt.
People Magazine - 21 February 1983 - Brunet Stewart has
long been one of the handsome ushers of pop, but never
the groom. He played with the Kingston Trio for five
years during the early '60s before dropping out because,
in his words, "I was bored." After that he penned
'Daydream Believer,' recorded by the Monkees, 'Never
Goin' Back,' recorded by the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968,
and 'July You're a Woman,' which has become something
of a standard, recorded by such diverse artists as
Robert Goulet and Ed Bruce. This is Stewart's seventh
(sic) solo album, and there's a sunny, Beach Boyish
feeling to it. Most of the songs revolve thematically
around California culture. 'Tall Blondes,' 'Golden
Gate,' 'Angeles (The City of the Angels).' Chiming in to
this paean to the West Coast are such Malibu worshipers
as Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham (who harmonizes
on 'Jenny Was a Dream Girl' and arranged two cuts) and
Linda Ronstadt (who joins in with background vocals on
'The Queen of Hollywood High'). This regional boosterism
begins to wear a little thin, but Stewart rescues it
with able musicianship and dashes of humor. Now 43
Stewart shows he can still tilt at pop windmills and
find his lovely Dulcinea in places like Hollywood High.
Simon Frith - The Sunday Times - 10 April 1983 - ...John
Stewart offers a more complex version of masculinity -
deeper voiced, more detached - and this exploration of
his discreet love of Los Angeles is a return to the cool
form that made him a cult star in the early 1970's...
Three reactions (two American, one English) to John's
album previewed in the last issue of Omaha Rainbow. As
usual, I didn't get the facts all right. When it was
finally released in December 1982 it was with a title
cut down to "Blondes." Still, I had got the record label
correct. Allegiance made "Blondes" its first ever release
with a catalogue number of AV431. Soon after, he was the
subject of their first ever single release with 'The
Queen of HollywoodHigh'/'Judy in G Major' coming out on
Allegiance 3900.
To the best of my knowledge, the first radio airplay in
the UK came on the evening of Friday 21 January, when
Capital Radio's Dave Cash played 'The Queen of Hollywood
High' from the album and commented on "the amazing cover
photo." Incidentally, you may like to know that one of
those ladies in the photograph is John's sister, Marge'.
Anyway, for a while the album got extensive airplay on
Capital, principally through Roger Scott (who else!?).
And yes, Roger, I did catch the kind mention when you
played 'Jenny Was a Dream Girl' on 17 February - thanks!
The irony in all this, of course, is that so far the
album has not secured a British release. Initially, the
only place you could have found it was at Record Corner, |
27 Bedford Hill, Balham, London SW12 9EX. I know
they
have sold a lot of import copies, and if you haven't
secured your copy yet, it can be had for 6-50 (plus 60p
postage if you can't get there in person). If you want
to check beforehand to make sure they are not
temporarily out of stock, call them on 01-673-1066 and
ask for Dave.....and tell him I sent you!
On the Allegiance album you will find the following
tracks: Side One - 'TallBlondes'/'The Queen of
Hollywood High'/'Girl Down the River'/'The Eyes of Sweet
Virginia'/'Judy in G Major.' Side Two - ,You Won't Be
Going Home'/'Jenny Was a Dream Girl'/'Blonde Star'/
'Golden Gate'/'Angeles (The City of the Angels).'
Now then, just to drive you crazy if you are a real John
Stewart fanatic, as if it isn't bad enough that
"Blondes'' is only available as an expensive US import,
there is the Swedish album to contend with as well!!!
And it is far from identical to its American counterpart!!!
To begin with, there are three songs on it that are not
on the American release, which more than makes up for
the fact that 'Angeles' is missing. Also, five of the
nine songs common to both albums are different in one
way or another. A couple of examples. The American 'Judy
in G Major' has additional electric guitar which gives
it a totally different feel. The American 'Golden Gate'
lasts 3m46; the Swedish version goes on for 4m19.
If enough of you ask Dave at Record Corner to bring in
copies of the Swedish album as well, I'm sure he'll
oblige. It is on Polydor 2480 701 and the track 1isting
is: Side 0ne - 'All the Desperate Men'/'Tall Blondes'/
'The Queen of Hollywood High'/'Girl Down the River'/'The
Eyes of Sweet Virginia'/'Judy in G Major.' Side Two -
You Won't Be Going Home'/'Jenny Was a Dream Girl'/'Same
Old Heart"/'When the Night Was Ours'/'Golden Gate'/
'Blonde Star.'
If you want to go all the way, there is a Swedish single
as well: 'All the Desperate Men'/'The Eyes of Sweet
Virginia' is out in a handsome picture sleeve on Polydor
2053 316.
Let me hasten to add that I am not in a position to
secure copies of either the American or Swedish album or
single releases for you. I would love to be in a
position to provide that sort of customer service, but
it really is beyond my scope. With the information I've
given you, either Record Corner or your local import
record dealer should be able to come up with the goods
in the end, even if it is costing you a small fortune!
Obviously, I had hoped to talk to John about "Blondes"
but since its release I haven't managed to catch up with
him. The nearest I've got is talking to the ladies who
run his telephone answering service. The last one was
most interested to know what the weather was like in
London. Don't they have any idea how expensive
transatlantic telephone calls can be'? Perhaps I'll have
more luck before the next issue of Omaha Rainbow. I did
hear that John is already working on his next album..... |
