We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
When his fourth album, “Orange” did not do well in 1972, Al Stewart decided a change was in order. He would start writing songs based on his love of history on his next record “Past, Present & Future” and would be on his way.
That’s not to say that this record is bad. It’s just that there are only so many ways you can write about failed relationships and make it interesting.
The music is very good…ringing acoustic guitars and new electric guitar man Tim Renwick becoming part of the Stewart package. He is excellent and would be with Al through the rest of the decade. You even get some nice piano from Rick Wakeman, who despite becoming a star with Yes, kept up his studio work on this record. The band also features noted British guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Bruce Thomas who would go on to play bass for Elvis Costello
Some of the songs stand out…”Songs Out Of Clay” and “The News From Spain” work for me as does the instrumental “Once an Orange…”.
He also pays tribute to the guy who turned him into a folk singer. Stewart has said he was in a string of bad rock & roll bands before he heard Bob Dylan and decided that’s what he wanted to do. He covers “I Dont Believe You” here and it sounds good.
I dug into Stewart’s early work after I discovered ‘Past, Present & Future”. The early stuff is raw but shows his love of words and with the addition of Renwick and later Peter White, the music would become a strength as well.
I’m going to get to see Al tomorrow night as he and his band are playing a small theater in Wautoma doing the Year of The Cat album in its entirety plus other stuff from his vast repertoire although it’s doubtful we’ll here anything from this
Enjoy an artist in transition….
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