Modern Times is Al Stewart's sixth studio album, released in 1975. The album was re-released in 2007 with bonus tracks. A further remaster by Paschal Byrne was released on Esoteric Recordings in 2015.
Track listing All tracks composed by Al Stewart except as indicated.
1975 original LP edition Side 1 "Carol" – 4:24 "Sirens of Titan" – 2:50 "What's Going On?" – 3:34 "Not the One" – 4:34 "Next Time" – 4:19
Side 2 "Apple Cider Re-Constitution" – 5:19 "The Dark and the Rolling Sea" – 5:21 "Modern Times" (Dave Mudge, Stewart) – 8:21
2000 Beat Goes On edition bonus tracks "News from Spain" - 6:03 "Elvaston Place" - 2:53 "Swallow Wind" - 3:21
2007 Collector's Choice Music edition bonus tracks "Swallow Wind" - 3:23 "A Sense of Deja Vu" - 4:50 "Willie the King" - 4:01
Personnel Al Stewart - vocals, acoustic guitar Brian Bennett - backing vocals David Ellis - acoustic guitar Isaac Guillory - guitar Simon Nicol - acoustic guitar Tim Renwick - electric guitar Andrew Powell - orchestral arrangement on "Modern Times" Tony Carr - percussion Gerry Conway - drums Stuart Cowell - dobro, electric guitar Barry De Souza - drums George Ford - bass Neil Lancaster - backing vocals Chas Mills - backing vocals Peter Moss - bass, fuzz bass Graham Smith - harmonica Pete Wingfield - keyboards Peter Wood - keyboards, accordion Technical Alan Parsons - engineer, string arrangement on "Apple Cider Re-Constitution" Peter James - engineer Hipgnosis - sleeve design, photography
Charts Chart (1975)Peakposition
Notes
"Sirens of Titan" is based on the novel of the same name by Kurt Vonnegut. The original enigmatic album cover photograph was taken in the grounds of Stone House, Rushlake Green, near Heathfield in Sussex. In Britain this cover photo was superseded in 1977 by a portrait photo of Al Stewart, presumably in order to capitalise on his enhanced popularity as a result of the Year of the Cat album. The blonde woman on the album cover is Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's first wife, Ginger. The Cord automobile Stewart is sitting in belonged to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Centered in the cover, holding a mirror reflecting a bright light toward the viewer, as on Stewart's previous album, Past, Present and Future, the US version of the album features the Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange.
References