Mazatlan

Written by John Stewart

‘Mazatlan’ is only on the “Wingless Angels” album, RCA 1975, re-released on CD together with “Cannons in the Rain (RCA, 1973) by Bear Family Records in 1990 (“Cannons in the Rain/Wingless Angels”).

A little while ago, Tom De Lisle argued that ‘Mazatlan’ is one of the great underrated and overlooked Stewart songs. Charlie immediately worked out the chords, I added a little something here and there and Art had a close look and said not bad. (We also recorded the song, but that is another story). I almost always write the intros, and I do enjoy it. Still, when you know that Lordfrench just possibly might write an intro for your “weekly column”, then – you´d better ask him. And he did.

Thank you, Tom.

Here we go: “In the astonishing run of John's many hundreds, and hundreds, of songs (plus hundreds more) there are categories piled on categories -- classic studio recordings; classic live performances; under-rated songs; classics unreleased; classics lost; classics left on a long-forgotten home cassette; songs that get one airing, or a tour or two of play, and are never heard again; songs that grow in the re-performance of them. Mazatlan, which debuted on the Wingless Angels album of 1975 (and quote me if I'm wrong but I believe that's, like, 30 years ago or something, a startling fact) falls into at least two of those categories for me. It is both under-rated AND a song that grew in re-performance. Now, and here comes the cheeky and awful part of this, I'd venture that it was under-rated simply because it did NOT rise to the exalted level of John's many classic studio cuts. This is arguable and completely subjective of course, and just because I'm right doesn't mean I'm right.

Trying to classify John's work is a matter of sorting good, better, best. It's a daunting task considering his prolific and sublime output of material and recordings, like trying to identify the best 8 seconds of a Paris Hilton video. Mazatlan, to me, is a great song that was merely a good recording on Wingless. Proof of that, to me, evidenced itself in the live performances of it. Yes, I liked it on WA in 1975. Very interesting. I loved it as it expanded and grew in 1975's live shows. And I was electrified in 1976 -- actually so was the song -- as it evolved into a classic and a lifetime favourite when John and The World's Loudest Folk Band finalized its passage from an intriguing folk song of international flavour and flare into a kick-ass rock-folk anthem. John and Joey Harris exchanging stinging and extended lead licks brought a whole new sensibility to it -- I could visualize the narrator riding like the wind on a hot night in September, daring to steal this great dark-eyed girl from the arms of his own brother. A classic Stewart story song. His own BROTHER. Heavy stuff. Dangerous too, if your brother is, say, actor Robert Blake.

The mariachi band on WA was a nice touch, yes. Along with the cool throwback to the Trio's "Adelita" heritage. But when I wanna hear John Stewart go into high gear, clear the decks. Get those guys with the big hats and over-sized acoustics out of the studio. Gracias, fellas, there's food in the lobby, but we have electrified guitar work to do here, especially since the album cut featured the enigmatic Dan Dugmore on the pedal steel. And that boy could make it zing. And sing. (Oh, by the way, Catherine, "gracias" does mean thanks, right? I get so easily confused).

As always thanks to Jan and Art the Landman and Charlie Woodward and all who provide translations of these great songs (whom of your back-roomers did I forget Jan?) for those of us ham-and- eggers who are still whacking three basic chords on our Sears Silvertone guitars. (Chords provided by the Sing a Sing with The Kingston Trio gatefold album I got for Christmas in 1963. I strummed my first E chord that day and could HEAR Rueben James jump out of that $20 beauty with the strings a full half inch from the neck. Whoa. Music.)

Anyway, herewith Mazatlan, courtesy of the Boys in the Back Room and courtesy of the one, the only, the guy whose work is SO good that we have trouble grasping and grounding and gripping it -- you can situate mere mortals, even the good ones, and pin down their work -- kind of like that weird feeling you get on a clear early evening after an overwhelming sunset when you gaze at the first and brightest evening star and can't quite put into words the bittersweet lonely and lovely feeling it gives you in the pit of your stomach except it's unlike anything else you know or ever have known in the run of your life, or lives.”

Thank you very much, Tom!!

Now, pickers and players, don´t you feel COMPELLED to learn and play the song? You do? Good.

(Am – simultaneously A [on G-string] and C [on B-string],

G-A-B, A-B-C [on G], B-C-D, B-C-B [on B]

B-A-B, A-G-A, A-G [on G] to Am) (Bass run A-A-A-E-G-A-

A-G-A-A-G-E A-A-A-E-G-A-A-G-A-E-G-E)

Oh, Man(G)uel, I (F)must go (C)riding,

(Am) I must (G)go down to (F)Mazat(C)lan. (Bass C-B to…)

(Am)See, Man(G)uel, the (F)sparrow's (C)flying, (Bass C-B to…)

(Am)Shadows on the (G)ground over (F)Mazat(E7)lan.

(high string run from D- to high E-strings

E-G#-B-E E-G#-B-E)

(Am)Oh Man(G)uel, she (F)loves a(C)nother, (Bass C-B to…)

(Am) Mi cora(G)zon lost in (F)Mazat(C)lan. (Bass C-B to…)

I'll (Am)take her from the (G)arms

Of (F)my own (C)brother, (Bass C-B to…)

(Am) Tonight I (G)ride down to (F)Mazat(E7)lan.

(high string run from D- to high E-strings

E-G#-B-E E-G#-B-E)

Mazat(F)lan, Mazat(G)lan, Ma(C)ria, (Bass C-B to…) (Am)

Mazat(F)lan, Mazat(G)lan, my (C)song.

Mazat(F)lan, Mazat(E)lan, Ma(Am)ria, my (F)song.

(Am)Dark-eyed (G)girl Ma(F)ria is (C)waiting, (Bass C-B to…)

(Am)Dark-eyed (G)girl Ma(F)ria is (C)waiting.

(Bass run: D-E, E-F-E-D-E-D [on D-string], G-A,

G-A-B [on G-string], A-B-C [on G], B-C-D, B-C-B [on B]

B-A-B, A-G-A, A-G [on G] to...) (Am) (Bass run A-A-A-E-G-A-

A-G-A-A) [continue bass run, similar to intro, for next section]

And I will ride like the wind

Coming up from the canyon

On a hot summer night in September.

Oh Manuel, I will pray

To the great god speed

That Maria remember.

Mazat(F)lan, Mazat(G)lan, Ma(C)ria, (Bass C-B to…) (Am)

Mazat(F)lan, Mazat(G)lan, my (C)song.

Mazat(F)lan, Mazat(E)lan, Ma(Am)ria, my (F)song.

(Am)Dark-eyed (G)girl Ma(F)ria is (C)waiting,

(Am)Dark-eyed (G)girl Ma(F)ria is (C)waiting.