"Old lonesome picker, no one cares what dues you've paid/You've played too many beer halls/And there ain't nobody come."

Pore ol' lonesome picker John Stewart has cranked out another nice-but-not-too-nice album. Since parting from the Kingston Trio back when, he's managed to keep a low-profile solo act going on less than overwhelming talents. Lives a nice life in picturesque Bolinas, California, plays around when he feels moved to and cuts a record now and then.

This album is truly pleasant if you ignore John's demands to be taken seriously as a writer. He has two very apparent talents: he is immensely melodic and the quality of his voice would make a Tide commercial pleasant. On the debit side, he's generally uninspired as a lyricist.

But, leave us not be overly concerned with the lyrics. Put John Stewart on the machine, take a glass of port, or whatever suits you, and let yourself be a little Romanced. For John Stewart is a Romantic with a capital. He harks back to cowboy movies with warbling harmonicas in the background, lonesome dusty boots and rugged individualists with feeling. In other words, a Folk Singer.

There are a few outstanding tracks on this generally even album. "The Road Shines Bright," reminiscent of a few Kingston Trio songs, is a fine cut. It's a nicely balanced production, with a beautiful job on pedal steel by Buddy Emmons. There is a song that John sings with Buffy Ford (with whom he once cut a whole album) called "Bolinas." And here the poetry is pretty nice, with the whole song having a simple quiet Simon & Garfunkle type of accompaniment.

Time in Bolinas is so very small

The clock on the courthouse ain't workin' at all

And the mayor of Bolinas is digging for clams

But folks in Bolinas

They don't give a damn.

The real surprise on the album is "Daydream Believer." That, if you remember your 1967 Top 40, was sung by Davy Jones of the Monkees. Turns out John Stewart wrote it and with his non-irritating voice, it's a real nice song. Real nice until John stretches out the chorus, repeating it and adding things not in the original. "Cheer up sleepy Jean/Ah. what can it mean/To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen" turns to "A surfer drummer and a homecoming queen," then to "a daydream deceiver and an old closet queen." Sounds like things left over from the old Trio act.

As for the album as a whole, John's a real good singer of the smoky campfire ballad, and this is a pleasant record to relax with. If only John weren't afraid of doing some good stuff that other people have written. (RS 98)

ALEC DUBRO