Sparks of Ancient Light

Last updated

Sparks of Ancient Light
Al Stewart Sparks of Ancient Light cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released15 September 2008
Genre Folk
Label Appleseed (US), EMI (UK)
Producer Laurence Juber
Al Stewart chronology
A Beach Full of Shells
(2005)
Sparks of Ancient Light
(2008)
Uncorked
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Sparks of Ancient Light is the sixteenth studio album by Al Stewart, released on 15 September 2008. [2] Like many of Stewart's works, the album's songs deal with historical figures, including British prime minister Lord Salisbury, deposed Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to Stewart, the songs all deal with the themes of "certainty and uncertainty." [3] A music video for "Elvis at the Wheel," shot in Arizona, was released in December 2013. [4]

Contents

Critical reception

Allmusic reviewer Richie Unterberger praised the production on the album. He wrote: "Stewart's principal strengths – pleasant haunting melodies, mellifluous vocals, accomplished folk guitar work, and literate, historical-minded lyrics – stand at the forefront, undiminished by extraneous arrangements." [5]

Track listing

  1. "Lord Salisbury" - 3:26
  2. "(A Child's View Of) The Eisenhower Years" - 3:11
  3. "The Ear of the Night" - 3:06
  4. "Hanno the Navigator" - 4:17
  5. "Shah of Shahs" - 5:03
  6. "Angry Bird" - 2:42
  7. "The Loneliest Place on the Map" - 3:31
  8. "Sleepwalking" - 4:31
  9. "Football Hero" - 5:38
  10. "Elvis at the Wheel" - 3:10
  11. "Silver Kettle" - 3:56
  12. "Like William McKinley" - 4:15 [2]

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Allusions and historical references

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References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sparks of Ancient Light", amazon.com (release date, track listing, and commentary)
  3. 1 2 'Like going home', Courier Post Online, August 8, 2008
  4. Video on YouTube
  5. "Sparks of Ancient Light - Review by Richie Unterberger". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  6. allmusic.com, Sparks of Ancient Light, Credits