The Jukebox Rebel

The album includes three covers within the first four tracks; “Sweet America” (Greenfield, 1971), “Wynken, Blynken And Nod” (David Gude, 1961) and “Free The Lady” (Greenfield, 1973), rendering the first half a very disappointing one, all very middle of the road. Things do improve once these are out of the way, and side two delivers some decent mid-70s form. Opening side two, “I Don’t Need No City Life” a lightly rocking rural blues number which celebrating the simple pleasures of the countryside, leading perfectly into the sweet country lilt of “Sweet January”, which comes complete with mouth harp and pedal steel guitar. Elsewhere, it's great to hear Buffy introduce those wonderful Indian whoops and hollers to the set via “Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan”, a paean to where her heart truly belongs, and the intoxicating “I Been Down”, a little helper if ever I heard one. Just a pity the session men can't get tribal with her. “Starwalker” is another strong highlight, celebrating her friends imagined as Starwalker, Wolf Rider, Holy Light & Lightning Woman. Buffy would later describe this as one of her own favourites. I'll leave the last words on this review to the inspirational lady herself: “it’s about the incredible energy of our contemporary Indian people. Because of what our ancestors went through for us. I sing it for all our generations past, and all our generations yet to come”.

The Jukebox Rebel
22–Aug–2018

A1	[03:04] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Sweet America (Barry Greenfield) Pop
A2	[03:08] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Wynken, Blynken And Nod (Eugene Field, Beverly Sainte-Marie) Folk
A3	[02:52] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Where Poets Go (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop Ballad
A4	[03:22] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Free The Lady (Barry Greenfield) Pop
A5	[02:32] Buffy Sainte-Marie - America My Home (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Songwriter
A6	[02:12] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Look At The Facts (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop
B1	[03:10] Buffy Sainte-Marie - I Don’t Need No City Life (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2	[02:49] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Sweet January (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Country
B3	[03:19] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop
B4	[03:15] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Honey Can You Hang Around (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B5	[02:03] Buffy Sainte-Marie - I Been Down (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B6	[02:32] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Starwalker (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B7	[01:00] Buffy Sainte-Marie - Ain’t No Time For The Worrying Blues (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Folk

ratings by TJR