Al Stewart Modern Times CD - Import

Originally Released In 1975. Includes Rare Bonus Tracks 'Swallow Wind', 'News From Spain' (The Remix Single Version) & 'Elvaston Place'.

Personnel: Al Stewart (vocals, acoustic guitar); Simon Nicol (acoustic guitar); Stuart Cowell (electric guitar, dobro); Tim Renwick (electric guitar); Isaac Guillory (guitar); Graham Smith (harmonica); Peter Wood (keyboards, accordion); Peter Wingfield (keyboards); George Ford, Peter Moss (bass); Barry DeSouza, Gerry Conway (drums); Tony Carr (percussion); Chas Mills, Brian Bennett, Neil Lancaster (background vocals).
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London. Originally released on Janus (7012). Includes liner notes by Stephen K. Peeples.
Personnel: Al Stewart (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards); Neil Lancaster, Brian Bennett (vocals, background vocals); Charles Mills (vocals); Simon Nicol (guitar, acoustic guitar); Stuart Cowell (guitar, electric guitar, dobro); Tim Renwick (guitar, electric guitar); David Ellis, Isaac Guillory (guitar); Dave Ellis (acoustic guitar); Graham Smith (harmonica); Peter Woods (accordion, keyboards); Pete Wingfield, Peter Wood (keyboards); Barry DeSouza, Gerry Conway (drums); Tony Carr (percussion); Chas Mills (background vocals).
Liner Note Author: Colin Irwin.
Arrangers: Andrew Powell; Alan Parsons.
Surely the title is a bit of an allusion to the Past, Present and Future of its predecessor, but Modern Times also brought Al Stewart into the present, establishing his classic sound of folky narratives and Lennonesque melodies, all wrapped up in a lush, layered production from Alan Parsons. Hearing this production makes it clear that this is what was missing from Past, since it gives epics like the title track a real sense of grandeur that makes their sentiments resonate strongly. But it's not just the improvement in production that makes Modern Times the beginning of Stewart's classic period -- his songwriting has leapt up and met his ambitions, as it retains the historical sweep of his earlier material but melds it to a melodic sensibility that's alternately comforting and haunting. This skill is apparent throughout Modern Times, and is married to a sound that is its equivalent, making this an exquisite pop-prog gem. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Al Stewart's sixth album, Modern Times was also his breakthrough album in America, the wedge that he used to move through the breach in the transatlantic wall opened by Past, Present and Future's "Roads to Moscow" and "Nostradamus" on FM radio. This remastered and expanded edition not only offers incredibly close, crisp sound but 12 and a half minutes of extra music. This was never a favorite album of this reviewer, but hearing the singing and playing (by Stewart, Simon Nicol, Tim Renwick, Gerry Conway, et al.) and the entire production by Alan Parsons, it does have a subtle appeal that had remained elusive in years past, with a rich array of melodies, inventive playing, and an excellent balance between music and lyrics. Even Stewart's voice, with its narrow range, seems warmer here than it ever had in previous incarnations of the album. From the opening number, "Carol," the CD is a finely crafted pop/rock sound tapestry with more than half the songs standing out as compositions as well. And "Apple Cider Re-constitution," with its multi-layered electric rock and string orchestra sound, now seems like it deserved to be a single, resplendent in a string of lyrical and musical hooks. The rest of the record is never more than inches behind that high point. Sadly, the bonus tracks aren't really of a piece -- in terms of content or quality -- with the album to which they've been appended: "News from Spain" is a remixed version of a personal song that just isn't in the same league melodically or as a production with the pieces ahead of it; "Elvaston Place" could have gone on the finished album, though the lead guitar is a lot busier here than it is on songs from the original LP; and "Swallow Wind" is a bitQ (7/93, p.114) - 3 Stars - Good - "...like all Stewart's work [the album] is pretty and civilized...`The Dark And The Rolling Sea' has epic scale, with the somehow cozy exoticism which is Stewart's trademark and a satisfyingly lilting, sea-shantyish tune..."
Dirty Linen (Apr/May 93, p.75) - "...Stewart brought together many of the best elements from the previous albums for 1975's MODERN TIMES...very good..."