Al Stewart - Time Passages (1978)

This continued the Stewart-Parsons partnership, proven so profitable by Year of the Cat's success, and to good effect: It hit the Billboard Top 10 and produced two hit singles, the mellow, reflective title track and the undeniably catchy "Song on the Radio." As is obvious from its title, the album's theme covers time, be it time running out ("Man for All Seasons", "End of the Day"), the discovery that it's time to take action ("Almost Lucy") or reconstruct oneself (the breezy "Valentina Way"), or recalling a time gone by ("The Palace of Versailles," "Timeless Skies").

Musically, we see (hear) the return of Stewart's old-school posse (Tim Renwick, Peter Wood, Andrew Powell), appearances by notables like drummer Jeff Porcaro and steel guitarist Al Perkins, and the nucleus of what will become Shot in the Dark, Stewart's early 1980s backing band: Peter White, vocalist Krysia Kocjan (now using the surname Kristianne) and bassist Robin Lamble. ~ Blogcritics Magazine


Year of the Cat brought Al Stewart a genuine worldwide smash with its title track, and for its successor, he did make a few concessions. These, however, were slight -- just a slight increase of soft rock productions, an enhancement of the lushness that marked not only Year of the Cat but also Modern Times. These happened to be welcome adjustments to Stewart's sound, since they increased the dreamy continental elegance at the core of his work. And that's why Time Passages is the equal of Year of the Cat -- it may be more streamlined, but the adjustments to his sound and the concessions to the mainstream just increase the soft grace of his eloquent historical pop epics. It's possible to view this as too precious, because it is pitched at an audience who believes the common-day concerns of pop are piffle, but this is exceptionally well-crafted, from Stewart's songs, where even three-minute songs seem like epics, to Alan Parsons' cinematic arrangements and productions. This added concentration on the texture of the recording, ensuring that it was clean, spacious, and gentle, with a welcoming surface. Of course, this means that Time Passages can work very well as background music, but it also reveals much upon concentrated listening -- enough to make it stand proudly next to Modern Times and Year of the Cat as one of Al Stewart's very best albums. ~ Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine @ All Music Guide


Interesting factoid:

Al Stewart didn't like this song (Time Passages). Here's what he said in an interview with acousticstorm.com: I'll tell you a funny story. I have never really cared for that song I know it was a big hit and all that. It was just one of those things where the record company asked me to write something that sounded like "Year Of The Cat" and we ended up doing that. But I didn't realize truly how bad a song it was until one day I was in an elevator and I was listening to what I thought was Muzak. About 30 seconds went by, and I finally began to recognize it and said to myself, 'This sounds pretty horrible.' Then, horror of horrors, I heard my voice come on, it actually was the record. So I'm thinking, 'Oh my God what have I done, this is terrible!' Hopefully in the last 25 years I've redeemed myself with other things, but "Time Passages" has just never thrilled me. ~ Songfacts.com


Tracklisting:
1. Time Passages (6:42)
2. Valentina Way (4:04)
3. Life in Dark Water (5:47)
4. A Man for All Seasons (5:46)
5. Almost Lucy (3:43)
6. The Palace of Versailles (5:23)
7. Timeless Skies (3:34)
8. Song on the Radio (6:24)
9. End of the Day (3:08)

Total Time: 44:31

Line-Up:
- Al Stewart / Guitar, vocal
- Tim Renwick / Guitar
- Peter White / Guitar, keyboards, accordian
- Mark Goldenberg / Guitar
- Peter Wood / Keyboards
- Peter Robinson / Keyboards
- Pete Solley / Keyboards
- Phil Kenzie / Alto sax
- Robin Lamble / Bass
- Stuart Elliot / Drums
- Jeff Porcaro / Drums
- Al Perkins / Steel guitar
- Krysia Kristianne / Backing vocals
- David Pack / Backing vocals
- Joe Puerta / Backing vocals
- James Robert West / Backing vocals
- Brian Huddy / Backing vocals
- Jeff Borgenson / Backing vocals
- Arthur Tripp III / Percussion
- Andrew Powell / String arrangements
- Lindsey Elliot / Congas