In a career spanning more than four decades, John Stewart swiftly progressed, from his beginnings in a Southern California garage band, through folk groups the Cumberland Three and the Kingston Trio, to a successful solo career. He contributed well over 40 albums and more than 600 songs to our musical universe. His song catalog is not only staggering in volume, but it’s also loaded with classic compositions.

Most will know Stewart’s songwriting from “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees (and Anne Murray) or his own Lindsey Buckingham -produced “Gold,” a #5 hit in 1979. But just as impressive are “Runaway Train” from Rosanne Cash’s 1987 King’s Record Shop album, “Sweet Dreams Will Come” on Nanci Griffith’s Little Love Affairs, and “Mother Country” from Stewart’s own 1969 California Bloodlines album, which was used to usher the Apollo 11 spacecraft safely back to Earth after its historic journey.

Omnivore Recordings will release a first-ever compilation of early, unreleased work for Stewart’s on May 8th. Titled Old Forgotten Altars: The 1960s Demos, the collection was produced and compiled by Grammy-nominated producer Ron Furmanek and overseen by Buffy Ford Stewart.

Four tunes found on the collection wound up on the Kingston Trio’s 1966 release Children of the Morning, with one of them, “The Spinnin’ of the World,” getting a second airing on 1979’s hit album Bombs Away Dream Babies. That LP also yielded the aforementioned charting single “Gold,” with two other songs, “Midnight Wind” and “Lost Her in the Sun,” also making the Top 40.

Three duets with Buffy Ford Stewart foreshadow the Signals Through the Glass album, which the singing partners, and later husband-and-wife team, would release on Capitol Records in 1968. Old Forgotten Altars also features five tracks that would form nearly half of Stewart’s classic California Bloodlines album, released in 1969.

Of particular note, “July, You’re A Woman” makes its first recorded appearance here alongside demos for “Mother Country” and “The Pirates of Stone County Road.”

Big Takeover is deeply pleased to host the premiere of this first known recording of “July You’re A Woman.” This demo version is more spare than the fleshed out studio album classic, but it’s more direct and heartfelt, with just Stewart’s voice and his guitar-playing in the spotlight.

This demo features Stewart briskly picking his guitar as he sings his lyrics with longing, sometimes at a quicker pace than the studio version, and sometimes more hushed, but always with a gently wistful tone.

Pre-Order CD at Omnivore Recordings Digital format will be available May 8th.

Trailer for Old Forgotten Altars:

In 2001, Stewart was honored by the World Folk Music Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award and continued to perform live until nearly 2008; he died in January of that year. Stewart’s life’s work and legacy is honored with this peek behind the curtain into his songwriting process while he was making his way from the Kingston Trio to his solo career.

Track Listing:
1. Livin’ That Way
2. When You’ve Been Away for a Long Time
3. Down the Highway You Go
4. Lock All the Windows
5. Rambler Get on Board
6. Shackles & Chains
7. One More Chapter is Gone
8. Being Born Again
9. Long Life
10. Children of the Morning
11. The Spinnin’ of the World
12. Draft Age Today
13. The Pirates of Stone County Road (with Buffy Ford Stewart)
14. One Tiny Grain of Sand 4:14
15. July, You’re a Woman
16. Big Sur (with Buffy Ford Stewart)
17. Mother Country
18. She Believes in Me (with Buffy Ford Stewart)

BONUS 1959 DEMO:
19. Hey Sarrey

Omnivore Recordings Website