The Day the River Sang

by John Stewart

Overview

Singer/songwriter John Stewart's musical career reaches back to the early '60s with the Kingston Trio, and so a new collection of his songs, presented with fairly basic arrangements, must seem like something of a homecoming. Stewart's smoky, weathered vocals (with just a touch of reverb added) brings an authentic style to "Baby, It's You," "Jasmine," and the title cut. He's joined on a number of cuts by bassist Dave Batti, percussionist John Hoke, harp player Henry Diltz, and, in one instance, the background singing of Penny Roberts, Bianca Batti, Kate Wallace, and Cina Batti. With such a simple setup, what really stands out on The Day the River Sang are the singer and the songs, one man's interpretation of his own work. This gives songs like "Sister Mercy" an intimate, revelatory feel. Overall, the work here is fairly mellow, so it's nice when upbeat songs like "Amanda Won't Dance" and "Midnight Train" mix things up a bit. The album closes with the relaxed, bluesy "Slider," complete with some nifty electric guitar riffs by Stewart. For those who appreciate Stewart's gift as a singer/songwriter, The Day the River Sang offers a new chapter in an ongoing musical saga. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2006
Label:	Appleseed Records
UPC:	0611587109323
Rank:	99036

Tracks

1. Baby, It's You
2. Jasmine
3. East of Denver
4. The Day the River Sang
5. Run the Ridges
6. New Orleans
7. Golden Gate Fields
8. Amanda Won't Dance
9. Sister Mercy
10. Broken Roses
11. Naked Angel on a Star-Crossed Train
12. Midnight Train
13. Slider

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Stewart   Primary Artist,Various Instruments,Harmonica,Vocals,Guitar,Banjo,Bass
John Hoke   Various Instruments,Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Keyboards,Percussion,Guitar (12 String),Synthesizer Strings
Kate Wallace   Vocals
Henry Diltz   Harmonica
Dave Batti   Accordion,Bass

Technical Credits

John Hoke   Audio Production,Engineer,Producer
John Stewart   Audio Production,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Photography
Jim Musselman   Liner Notes
Dave Batti   Photography
Buffy Ford Stewart   Photography,Cover Photo,Composer
Dave Glasser   Mastering