"Time Passages" is a song by British singer-songwriter Al Stewart, released as a single in 1978. It was produced by Alan Parsons and is the title track of Stewart's 1978 album release. The single reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1978,Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 603. and also spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Easy Listening chart, the longest stay at number one on this chart in the 1970s.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 417. Billboard magazine also ranked "Time Passages" as the No. 1 Adult Contemporary single of 1979.
The familiar final line to the chorus is, "Buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight". Less lyrically complex than a typical Al Stewart composition – the singer's previous top ten hit "Year of the Cat" exemplifying his usual style – "Time Passages" was one of two songs on the Time Passages album written by Stewart with the intent of the tracks' having hit single potential, the other being "Song on the Radio" which was the follow-up single and reached No. 29 Billboard and No. 27 Cash Box. The song describes the singer planning a trip home in late December (presumably for Christmas) and his nostalgic memories of the past.
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1978–1979) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)36 Canada RPM Top Singles 10 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary 1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 7 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary1 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 9
Year-end charts Chart (1978)RankU.S. Cash Box 89
Chart (1979)RankCanada 198U.S. Billboard Hot 100 79
See also List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1978
References