California Bloodlines/Razorback Woman/She Believes In Me/Omaha Rainbow/The Pirates Of Stone County Road/Shackles & Chains/Mother Country/Lonesome Picker/You Can’t Look Back/Missouri Bids/July You’re A Woman/Never Goin’ Back
Debut album from John Stewart, a former member of the American traditional folk group The Kingston Trio. Despite the popularity of that group, and good reviews, California Bloodlines struggled on the album chart. (US:193)
“From first note to last, this album is a perfectly realized vision, filled with classic songs about America from one of its most astute observers of national life. These are timeless songs, as touching now as when they were released.”
“The album is not country as in the current understanding of the term. It is more like 'Americana' before that term was known. The playing is inspired and the songs are terrific evocations of American life.”
“Truly a work of genius by a singer-songwriter at the glorious height of his creativity. Each song is a timeless picture of the breadth and depth of the American spirit. One after another each frame exists outside of time, and can never be truly dated. John Stewart had a long career before and after this album, but no other album of his embodies the multiple facets of who we are with such a ferocity of insight, pain and tenderness - of the truths that unite us as social and sentient beings.”
“Nothing like this has ever been produced again - the rich lyrics, the melodies, the voice, the Nashville production values. A huge display of creativity after he left The Kingston Trio. Maybe this was 'alternative-country' thirty years ahead of its time. In the final analysis, this opus defies categorization.”
“If you must own only one John Stewart album, make it California Bloodlines. The production is great, the songs are beautiful melodically and strange lyrically."
“Stewart's best album, and perhaps the best Americana-style album ever recorded. It's like a collection of short stories, each told with the perfect choice of words and musical backing - a lively steel guitar here, a softly picked acoustic guitar there, a lyrical piano intro, a languorous dobro, graceful group backing vocals, and accent notes by the best Nashville session men in the business.”
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