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Havana
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Havana features fourteen memorable Stewart originals that ponder modern life and materialism (“Davey on the Internet,” “Who Stole the Soul of Johnny Dreams”), mortality and existentialism (“Dogs in the Bed,” “Starman”), personal and public heroes (“I Want to Be Elvis,” “Turn of the Century [Diana],” about the late Princess of Wales), love (“Miracle Girl,” about wife and singing partner Buffy Ford Stewart, “Cowboy in the Distance”), and the mysteries of existence (“Star in the Black Sky Shining,” “Rally Down the Night”). John tackles these emotions with unquenched wonder and hard-won experience, a wry cynicism forged by reality but tempered with optimism based on faith in the individual. The one non-original composition on the CD is John’s interpretation of the standard “Lucky Old Sun,” a hit in 1949 for Frankie Laine that has since been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Pat Boone, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson and many more.Havana (the title refers to the CD’s last song, “Waiting for Castro to Die,” expressing John’s fascination for forbidden Cuba) was produced and mixed by John, who also plays most of the instruments (guitars, banjo, bass, harmonica, keyboards, percussion). His accompanists include Buffy Stewart Ford on harmonies and percussion (her backing vocals on “Turn of the Century” make the ear hunger for the song’s chorus) and longtime sideman John Hoke on drums and percussion. Rich, bright layers of ringing guitars, propulsive rhythms (check out the rollicking “Davey on the Internet,” for example), dollops of banjo, lyrics ranging from thoughtful to playful, and John’s wise, seasoned vocals add up to another great CD from a frequently overlooked but major musical talent. Only $11.98 - Click here to buy now! |