I often focus on LPs in my reviews, that being – ahem – a superior format, but I’m not prejudiced (usually) and will make an exception for music of special merit. I can think of few more worthy albums than this as an example of such.
John Stewart (1939–2008) was a true giant of Americana music. He had a long career as both an artist and a prolific song writer, including several years as a member of the Kingston Trio, which along with other groups/artists had hits with songs he wrote. (An example: He wrote “Daydream Believer” for the Monkees.) When the Trio called it quits in 1967 he began a solo career that spanned over 40 years and 60+ albums. His greatest commercial solo success was the album Bombs Away Dream Babies (1979), made with friends Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, which included three songs that charted in the Top 40.
Airdream Believer (subtitled A Retrospective - CD only, Shanachie, 1995) began with the concept of revisiting some of Stewart’s favorite songs of his own plus a few others he really liked, but it became something significantly more. No mere retrospective this, it grew into a superb re-imagining of the songs and a rock-pop tour-de-force, including a few great new songs and older songs that are notably superior to their original versions.
Although there are a couple slightly below par cuts here, there are no bad cuts of the 14 on this album, a claim that I would make for perhaps only 5 or 6 other albums I know of. Among the many gems here are “Lost Her in the Sun” about lost love, “Get Rhythm,” (a Johnny Cash song on which Cash himself shares vocals), “People in the Mirror,” is (dare I say it) a reflection on how alike people are, and Stewart’s biggest hit single, the rocker “Gold.” “Dreamers on the Rise” is a gorgeous song about wishes and dreams. “I Remember America” closes the album, a haunting and thought-provoking look back at an America quite different than what it has evolved into today.
Supporting musicians here and there include Nanci Griffith, Roseanne Cash, his ex-Kingston Trio mates, and, as mentioned, Johnny Cash.
Stewart is my favorite contemporary male artist (well, after Pete Townshend). I have most of his albums, but this one is never far from my CD deck. It has my highest possible recommendation, and is desert-island stuff. Someday some discerning record company will reissue this in LP format, and when it does I will definitely be waiting in line.