Omaha Rainbow : Issue 4
Where to begin? Well, the postcard I received from Barry out there
in Los Angeles only this morning will be as good a place as any. I
quote, "Just returned from the studio at Burbank where John is working
on 'Wingless Angel'. They were working on 'Rodeo Mary' and 'Josie'.
Met Nik Venet also. Met up with Arnie earlier in the week.
Saw manager. John's been playing with Tom Waits, who he thinks
is amazing. Dan Dugmore has quit."
The first thing you will gather from that is the prospect of a new album from our hero. John has been working on it for the best part of this month (October) and, hopefully, it will be released in December. If it is, then all your Christmas present problems (giving or receiving ) are solved. Pete Stone at Virgin Imports told me that for several weeks 'Phoenix Concerts' was their best selling album. Hopefully, R.C.A. over here will get a simultaneous release of 'Wingless Angel', and save us all a lot of time and money.
Apart from the two tracks mentioned by Barry, other titles due for inclusion include 'Let the Big Horse Run', 'Mazatlan' and, possibly, 'The Survivors Song', 'Hung up on the Heart of a Man' and 'Louisianne'. I'm really not too sure about those latter three, though I certainly hope 'The Survivors Song' will be there....for reasons I may tell you about next time. We can be sure, though, that the whole thing is being produced by the excellent Nik Venet and, with 'Bloodlines' and 'Concerts' behind them, we all know what that combination of Stewart and Venet are capable of.
I hope you will all have enjoyed the interview with Arnie 'Wide1oad' Moore. He's a great guy, in every sense of the word, and has kept in touch with me since returning to the States after the legendary Roundhouse in April. I know he would be interested in any reaction to the interview, be it comments or questions, so if you want to write to him go ahead. If you send them to me at the 'Omaha Rainbow' address on page 2, I will make sure that they are all forwarded to him.
It was Arnie who confirmed for us the news that John had got himself a new manager and a new booking agency. A quick aside here to offer public thanks to John's previous manager, Peter Rachtman, who was enormously helpful to both Pete Frame and myself in all matters relating to John's activities. Anyway, the new deals seem to have got off to a good start. To quote Arnie, "It's working out quite well. So well, in fact, that John can now carry the whole band (Dan Dugmore on steel, Jon Douglas on piano, Gene Garfin on drums and me on bass), and a roadie for the equipment. The gigs are getting better and everything is looking up."
Well, events have overtaken that news and, as Barry tells us, Dan Dugmore has left. I'm sure John will be sorry to have lost him, as he spoke very highly of his ability on steel and lead electric guitar. The addition of Gene Garfin on drums means nothing more to me than a name. I hope Barry will be able to fill us in with some background details when he returns from the States at the end of the month.
Barry's mention of Tom Waits is really intriguing. His album, 'Closing Time' on Elektra had got an ''incredible''comment from John when I interviewed him. I immediately borrowed John Tobler's copy (What do you mean? Of course he had it!), and was not disappolnted. Seek it out, and also look out for his follow-up album which is recently available on import, and is recommended by Frame.
I recently completed a lengthy, two-session interview with Paul Gambaccini. Amongst a wealth of fascinating stuff, he suddenly came up with the observation that 'California Bloodlines' was the perfect album. Now I'm not going to disagree with that. Anyway, if there should happen to be a couple of you out there who have still not got a copy, here's good news. Capitol are rereleasing it over here "in response to public demand.'' I wish I could give you full info on number, price and so forth, but I don't have it yet, though if I get hold of it before we go to print I'll shove it in somewhere. Anyway, it should be in the shops by the time you are reading this.
Capitol in America are also releasing "product from John Stewart" in November. This may be 'Bloodlines', of course, or it could be 'Signals Through the Glass' (which sells for dollars a copy in the States, that is, if you can find a copy) or the 'Earth Rider' album which John produced himself following 'Bloodlines', but which was not released. Clarence White was of the session musicians on that one! That would be too much to hope for. We shall see.
It was a strange move on the part of R.C.A. here to release 'July, You're a Woman' from 'Concerts' as a single. Still, it did give Noel Edmonds the opportunity to have it as Single of the Week'. It even rated a kind mention in the Melody Maker singles reviews. While on the subject of the music weeklies, thank you to Mike Flood Page for his half-page feature on John in Sounds. He even gave 'Omaha Rainbow' a mention in the first paragraph. Oh, yes, and a plague on Charles Shaar Murray! That's from me, not Mike F.P.
Back to people I like, and endless thanks to Maureen Grimwade in San Francisco for an endless supply of news, photos and cuttings on John. Also to Ethel Hopley in Sherman Oaks in California for some beautiful photographs and fact-filled letters. It's people like them who help extend this column to two pages.
Apologies to those of you who were hoping for details of how to get copies of 'The Phoenix Concerts Songbook'. I haven't got it all sorted out yet. It doesn't look as if it is going to be available over here through the usual outlets, but I am trying to get something arranged with the American publishers. Have patience.
Apologies, also, to those who wrote too late for a signed front cover of OR 1. I did send out a dozen, the lucky ones being :- Tom Sheehan, Stuart Smith, Michael Magenis, Paul Gardner, K.D.Wand, A.Williams, G.D.Voyce, Stephen Mainwaring, Viv Gee, Jim R.Wilson, Bill Seaton and D.J.Carvey. All you unlucky ones can cover-up your disappointment with an 'Omaha Rainbow' Tee Shirt. Isn't Chloe's advery fantastic? A reminder to you all that she will be doing bigger sizes, so if you want a 38'', 40" or 42", go ahead and order them. Another good Christmas present idea.
Three lines left. Despite all the extra space, I bet I forgot something!