Love Chronicles

Al Stewart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B000MR9ENK
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,193 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Comes of Age on Love Chronicles, November 25, 2007

By 

Peter Walenta "flying parsons" (Long Island, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Chronicles (Audio CD)

Surprising that no one has reviewed this nifty reissue of what is perhaps Al Stewart's most consistent and substantial album from his early years. "Love Chronicles", released in the UK in 1969 and in the US in 1970 was a bit risque for the time as it was reputedly the first album on which a singer sang the F-word in a serious folk song...that being in the 18 minute title track "Love Chronicles". "Love Chronicles" is an epic tune in which Stewart documents his growth from boy to man and from the crushes of puppy love to the resolution and satisfaction of mature adult love. "Love Chronicles" also includes the folk-rock social commentary, "The Ballad of Mary Foster" that deftly interweaves wry and detailed commentary and first person observation of middle class 20th Century British life in the great tradition of The Kinks and Donovan. A star studded cast including Richard Thompson and an un-Ledded acoustic Jimmy Page add excellent guitar work on this classic late-60's Britsh folk rock album. Producer Roy Guest really brought out Al's budding knack for spinning epic tales and Al's singing is much stronger than on "Bedsitter Images". No doubt, Stewart was becoming more comfortable in the recording studio and the six songs from the original album plus the enlightening liner notes bear this out. Three bonus tracks are from late 70's and late 80's studio outtakes and demos that blend in quite nicely with the sounds and themes of the earlier material. Not for nothing did Melody Maker name "Love Chronicles" the Folk Album of the Year in 1970. This is Al Stewart singing and playing at his most self assured and he pulls it off sounding cool even when dealing with arguably with some rather...er sticky and delicate subjects. A true classic and highly recommended to anyone interested in British folk-rock. Forget Nick Drake, Al Stewart recorded more sprightly and melodic tunes that captured the spirit of the times...recklessly heady, exuberantly wild, and unabashedly romantic. Even Ryan Adams could learn a thing or two from this record!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al's Best album, April 21, 2008

By 

Chewster "K.P." (milwaukee, wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Chronicles (Audio CD)

This review will be short and sweet.An outstanding lp!How can it not be?Not only do you have Jimi Page in the Fold,you basically have Fairport Convention as a backing band.They appeared under pseudonyms because of their record contract.

Mervyn Prestwick" (Richard Thompson):guitar
"Simon Breckenridge" (Simon Nicol):guitar
Ashley Hutchings: bass
Martyn Francis" (Martin Lamble): drums

Also important to note,when this came out in 1969,it was voted "Folk Album of the Year" by the UK music weekly "Melody Maker". No easy feat since the legendary folk album,Liege snd Lief,was also released the same year.
You can not go wrong with this album.He had other albums that have had great songs on it,but this album is solid from beginning to end.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I could show you New York with a walk between Fourth Street and Nine, December 14, 2007

By 

Bob "Bob" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Chronicles (Audio CD)

"I could show you New York with a walk between Fourth Street and Nine"

I chuckle every time I hear that. The girl is saying that the Village is the only part of New York City worth seeing. Then Al goes back to Brooklyn with her and they have sex. He doesn't seem concerned that she seems a little loony.

I think this is the greatest folk rock album ever made. I used to think that Al's more polished later music (like Year of the Cat) was better, but now I like early Al the best.

There's not a bad song here, and the title song, Love Chronicles, is just that, a complete chronicle of the singer's love life, including his first elementary school crush, and a problem he had with impotence. Is it autobiographical? And yes, this is the song where he used the F-word. But the first song, In Brooklyn, is my favorite.