AL STEWART. " MODERN TIMES " CBS UK 1975 LP. ORIG.
Al Stewart – Modern Times Label: CBS – CBS 80477 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo Country: UK Released: 1975 Genre: Rock Style: Pop Rock Tracklist A1Carol4:21 A2Sirens Of Titan2:46 A3What's Going On?3:32 A4Not The One4:33 A5Next Time4:17 B1Apple Cider Re-Constitution Arranged By [Strings] – Alan Parsons 5:16 B2The Dark And The Rolling Sea5:05 B3Modern Times Arranged By [Orchestral] – Andrew Powell Written-By – Dave Mudge 8:38 Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Records Published By – Gwyneth Music Ltd. Published By – Dick James Music Copyright (c) – CBS Records Pressed By – CBS Pressing Plant, Aston Clinton Credits Acoustic Guitar – Al Stewart, Dave Ellis (7), Simon Nicol Backing Vocals – Brian Bennett (3), Chas Mills, Neil Lancaster Bass – George Ford Bass, Electric Bass [Fuzz Bass] – Peter Moss (2) Design [Sleeve], Photography By – Hipgnosis (2) Dobro – Stuart Cowell Drums – Barry De Souza, Gerry Conway Electric Guitar – Stuart Cowell, Tim Renwick Engineer – Peter James Guitar [Additional] – Isaac Guillory Harmonica – Graham Smith (7) Keyboards – Peter Wingfield* Keyboards, Accordion – Peter Woods* Percussion – Tony Carr Producer, Engineer – Alan Parsons Written-By – Al Stewart Notes Issued on orange CBS labels; includes a printed lyrics insert.
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine 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.