Past, Present and Future

Al Stewart

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032V0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,599 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who would have thought, March 17, 2006

By	Leonard Fleisig "Len" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

that an album like Al Stewart's Past Present and Future could ever have been produced? I can imagine the look on the face of Al Stewart's record producer when he told him about his idea for a "concept album". Perhaps something like "Ill start with a song about retired British navy officers, follow it up with a song about President Warren G. Harding, Then, after a song about Soho in London, one about a night of Nazi terror followed by a British take-off of Don MacLean's "American Pie". Oh, and did I tell you I also have one about a Red Army soldier's experience in World War II and a song about the supposed prophet of the future, Nostradamus." Somehow I cannot see a record like this being made today. But, this was England in 1973 and, fortunately, some producer said something like "uh, sure Al, go ahead mate". When I first heard this album, in England in 1973/1974 I probably said something like "Nostradamus? Wow man" and played the album over and over again. I have listened to this CD quite a bit recently and am happy to note that my current reaction is not much different from my college age response.

Past, Present and Future is a memorable album in many respects. Stewart is an accomplished songwriter and every one of these tracks is well written, some are, and remain, brilliant. His voice works well for the music and he put together a set of studio musicians that provided excellent backing and a strong rhythm section.

Stewart is at his best in Roads to Moscow. He sings it as a ballad with an excellent orchestral arrangement that creates a very Russian mood. As he sings the tale of a Red Army solider from the 1st days of the Germany invasion through the triumphant entry into Berlin he provides an extraordinary of the war itself. The fact that the soldier soon finds himself on a train to the Gulag creates a powerful end point for the song. In the liner notes that accompany this CD Stewart indicated that he was a student of Russian history. Stewart's knowledge shows quite clearly without its being intrusive. His Post World War II Blues is also particularly good even if one can see quite clearly its American Pie influence. The only song that has not stood up to the test of time is the closing track, Nostradamus. The lyrics are still fun but seem quite dated in retrospect. I guess know that my younger days are long past I don't have too many of those "far out, man" moments any more.

Ultimately, this album is well worth a listen. Stewart is not as well known or remembered as he should be perhaps and Past Present and Future finds him at his best.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Riding the Wind Like a Bell" - 30 Years later! PP &F, June 27, 2004

By	Michael Ziegler (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first heard this album on the Janus Label back in 1974. This was a time when it was considered "progressive rock" and was music for "people in the know". His music could not be played on traditional stations due to their length and frankly, the rest of the world had just not matured enough to hear it. It is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Artisticly pure right down to the cover. Whether Janus, Arista, Rhino or an old Eight Track it is still artistically viable. Now, thirty years later it is still going strong and validates everything anyone has ever said about it. "Roads to Moscow" is legend. The other works are interesting and memorable. I strongly recommend this album for anyone uninitiated to any of Al Stewart's work. Most will respond "Year of the Cat" but this and "Modern Times" best implies the genius of the artist.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al (Needless to Say), June 16, 2000

By	John Harwell (Grove City, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first album that I heard by Al Stewart. I was working on the air at an FM station when it was released. The program manager asked me to listen to the album and report what I thought. My assessment went something like this:

This album is GREAT. "Roads to Moscow" may be the best guitar work since Santana's "Abraxas". His lyrics make sense, too. I've never felt like I was a part of a song before. When I listened to "Terminal Eyes" under the headphones I picked up some very intense but subtle mixing. "Nostradamus" makes me want to re-read "The Centuries" again. "Soho" is strong and gritty. I feel like going downtown and hanging out in some smokie clubs just for the atmosphere. The whole album is worth playing.

Since we still played "In-a-gadda-da-vida", he listened to me and put the whole album on the play list regardless of how long the songs were. All the jocks picked favorites and played them. Our listeners started requesting Al Stewart. This is truly an album that is still fresh, meaningful, and enjoyable in a new millenium.