Sensational '70's Tune for Thursday, Feb. 26th, '09

One of the best-remembered hits from the late-'70s, "Gold" provided veteran singer/songwriter John Stewart with a well-deserved Top Ten hit. In a way, the song recollects the original allure of California rock & roll from it's original incarnation of the Beach Boys and Mamas & Papas days and is reflective of a working musician in the year 2000. The geographical references, particularly in the lines, "Drivin' over Kanan/singin' to my soul/people out there turnin' music into gold" speak volumes of what Los Angeles was like during the period. The song incorporates a smooth funk/ pop groove which was paramount during the day. Much of this has to do with the contributions of Fleetwood Mac members Stevie Nicks and especially co-producer Lindsay Buckingham, who was a die-hard Stewart fanatic, dating back to his days in the Kingston Trio days.