Al Stewart - Time Passages

Year of the Cat brought Al Stewart a genuine worldwide smash with its title track, and for its successor, he did make a few concessions. These, however, were slight -- just a slight increase of soft rock productions, an enhancement of the lushness that marked not only Year of the Cat but also Modern Times. These happened to be welcome adjustments to Stewart's sound, since they increased the dreamy continental elegance at the core of his work. And that's why Time Passages is the equal of Year of the Cat -- it may be more streamlined, but the adjustments to his sound and the concessions to the mainstream just increase the soft grace of his eloquent historical pop epics. It's possible to view this as too precious, because it is pitched at an audience who believes the common-day concerns of pop are piffle, but this is exceptionally well-crafted, from Stewart's songs, where even three-minute songs seem like epics, to Alan Parsons' cinematic arrangements and productions. This added concentration on the texture of the recording, ensuring that it was clean, spacious, and gentle, with a welcoming surface. Of course, this means that Time Passages can work very well as background music, but it also reveals much upon concentrated listening -- enough to make it stand proudly next to Modern Times and Year of the Cat as one of Al Stewart's very best albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Perkins Guitar (Steel) Al Stewart Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals Alan Parsons Producer Allen Zentz Mastering Andrew Powell Arranger, String Arrangements, Strings Art Tripp Percussion Arthur III Tripp Percussion Bill Inglot Remastering Brian Huddy Vocals, Vocals (Background) Cheryl Pawelski Project Assistant Chris Blair Engineer, Assistant Engineer Chris Desmond Assistant Engineer, Engineer Dan Hersch Remastering David Pack Vocals (Background), Vocals Emily Cagan Project Assistant Ginger Dettman Project Assistant Hipgnosis [Design Group] Cover Design, Photography, Design Hugh Brown Art Direction James Robert West Vocals (Background) James West Vocals, Vocals (Background) Jeff Borgeson Vocals (Background), Vocals Jeff Porcaro Drums Joe Puerta Vocals (Background), Vocals Julee Stover Project Assistant Krysia Kristianne Vocals, Vocals (Background) Lindsey Elliot Conga Lindsey Elliott Conga Luke O'Reilly Producer, Executive Producer Mark Goldenberg Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar Nancy L. Hopkins Design, Art Direction Pat Stapley Assistant Engineer, Engineer Patrick Milligan Reissue Supervisor Peter Manning Robinson Piano (Grand), Organ, Keyboards Peter Robinson Keyboards, Organ, Keyboards, Piano Peter Solley Synthesizer, Keyboards Peter White Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Guitar, Accordion Peter Wood Keyboards Phil Kenzie Sax (Alto), Saxophone Robin Lamble Vocals, Bass Steve Chapman Project Assistant Steve Woolard Project Assistant Steven Chean Project Assistant Stuart Elliot Drums Stuart Elliott Drums Thane Tierney Liner Notes Tim Renwick Guitar, Guitar (Electric)