Stewart, John


Band members               Related acts

- Denny Brooks - backing vocals
- Jonathan Douglas - keyboards, percussion

- Dan Dugmore - pedal steel guitar, electric guitar
- Buffy Ford - backing vocals

- Jim Gordon - drums

- Arnie Moore - bass
- Loren Newkirk - keyboards

- Mike Settle - backing vocals
- John Stewart - guitars
- Michael Stewart - rhythm guitar

 

- none known

 

 

 


 

Genre: folk-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Phoenix Concerts

Company: RCA Victor

Catalog: CPL2-0265

Year: 1974

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4647

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

 

John Stewart's always been an acquired taste to me which makes kind of a surprise to find this 1974 concert set in my collection.  

 

Recorded during March 1974 concerts at Phoenix's Symphony Hall, "The Phoenix Concerts" finds Stewart working with an extended backing band which has the advantage of filling out and occasional electrifying his sound.  The 16 tracks reflect a cross section of Stewart's catalog and are interspersed with some surprisingly funny narrative interludes.  Doubt that?  Check out the introduction to 'July You're a Woman'.  Spurred on by an enthusiastic crowd, Stewart's in pretty good form, though his craggy and occasionally off skey vocals may not be to everyone's tastes.  Most of this is fairly standard sensitive folkie singer/songwriter fair (his paean to the late Robert Kennedy 'The Last Campaign Trilogy' is interesting), but a couple of the tracks including the lead off 'Wheatfield Lady' and 'Never Goin' Back (To Nashville Anymore)' actually come close to rocking out.


"The Phoenix Concerts" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Wheatfield Lady   (John Stewart) - 2:35

2.) Kansas Rain   (John Stewart) - 2:33

3.) You Can't Look Back   (John Stewart) - 1:55

4.) The Pirates of Stone County Road   (John Stewart) - 5:30

5.) The Runaway Fool of Love   (John Stewart) - 2:18

 

(side 2)
1.) Roll Away the Stone   (John Stewart) - 2:44

2.) July You're a Woman   (John Stewart) - 3:30

3.) The Last Campaign Trilogy   (John Stewart) - 8:15

 

(side 3)
1.) Oldest Living Son   (John Stewart) - 2:50

2.) Little Road and a Stone To Roll   (John Stewart) - 2:15

3.) Kansas   (John Stewart) - 3:35

4.) Cody   (John Stewart) - 3:11

5.) California Bloodlines   (John Stewart) - 4:45

 

(side 4)
1.) Mother Country   (John Stewart) - 5:28

2.) Cops   (John Stewart) - 3:20

3.) Never Goin' Back (To Nashville Anymore)   (John Stewart) - 9:13

 

 

 

 

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