Modern Times (Al Stewart album)

Modern Times
Studio album by Al Stewart
Released	January 1975 (UK), March 1975 (US)
Recorded	October 1974
Studio	Abbey Road Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	38:45
Label	UK: CBS US: Janus
Producer	Alan Parsons
Al Stewart chronology
Past, Present and Future (1973) Modern Times (1975) Year of the Cat (1976)
Alternative cover
U.S. cover

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

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

1. "Carol" – 4:24
2. "Sirens of Titan" – 2:50
3. "What's Going On?" – 3:34
4. "Not the One" – 4:34
5. "Next Time" – 4:19

Side 2

1. "Apple Cider Re-Constitution" – 5:19
2. "The Dark and the Rolling Sea" – 5:21
3. "Modern Times" (Dave Mudge, Stewart) – 8:21

2000 Beat Goes On edition bonus tracks

1. "News from Spain" - 6:03
2. "Elvaston Place" - 2:53
3. "Swallow Wind" - 3:21

2007 Collector's Choice Music edition bonus tracks

1. "Swallow Wind" - 3:23
2. "A Sense of Deja Vu" - 4:50
3. "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)	Peak position
US Billboard 200 [2]	30

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 In Britain this cover photo was superseded in 1977 by a portrait photo of Al Stewart, presumably in order to capitalise on his enhanced popularity as a result of the Year of the Cat album.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. ^[3]

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Modern Times at AllMusic
2. "Al Stewart Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
3. "An Interview with Al Stewart". www.independent.com. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. I liked Marvel Comics, but I didn't have any particular affinity for Doctor Strange.