Search - Al Stewart :: Between the Wars

A Great Reissue, Really Grows On You

Todd and In Charge | Miami, FL | 10/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I saw they were finally re-issuing this little-noted album from the latter part of Al's catalog, I was very excited. But after the cd arrived, I quickly concluded that this was not in the league of Past, Present, and Future, and put it aside for a while.



But a few weeks ago I decided to give it another chance. I had misjudged it. Sure, there are no "Roads to Moscow" or "Nostradamus" epics on this record, but that's because its aim is much smaller. This is a series of intricate, acoustic-guitar based songs that are heavily dependent on the delicate, remarkable interplay between Al and Lawrence Juber (formerly of Wings, circa Back to the Egg).



The two of them sketch beautiful tone poems that touch on the era between the two world wars, but are much smaller in scale and feel. For example, the song about Stalin, "Joe the Georgian," is not the epic you might expect, but a much more intimate, waltz-like song that still manages to articulate the mass of fear and menace that surrounded that dictator.



Other songs evoke particular events or locations, like the wonderfully witty, gorgeous "Sampan." I felt like I was re-watching Steve McQueen in The Sand Pebbles as I was listening to that one. "Always the Cause," about the Spanish Civil War, and "A League of Notions," are similarly well-crafted and grow in my estimation with each listen.



This is a must-have record in my opinion, not quite in the league with Modern Times or Past, Present, and Future, but certainly very close."

Al's Historical Folk High Water Mark

J.Espresso | Portland, Oregon | 06/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a pleasure to find this amazing album reissued. For years, it had been out of circulation and only available at extortionate prices.



Al Stewart is known for creating his own genre - that of historical folk. Whether or not he actually created the genre is debatable, but what's indisputable that he does it very well. Between the Wars is not the best known of the Stewart oeuvre, however it does showcase him at his songwriting best.



To put it simply, Between the Wars marks the artistic high point of Al Stewart's career - so far. And I do mean "so far", as after a comparatively weak 1980's period, Al's last few releases have all been very strong efforts. On Between the Wars, Al found a chemistry with former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber. Acoustic sounds dominate, and the songwriting is consistently phenomenal - it's erudite, steeped in history, and successful in evoking moods that conjure the years between WWI and WWII.



The Django Reinhardt inspired Night Train to Munich kicks off this CD, and - never mind bad - there isn't a sub-standard song in the lot. Age of Rhythym evokes Dorothy Parker, the writers of the Algonquin Rountable, and prohibition era speakeasies. Sampan takes us to colonial SE Asia, and Lindy Comes to Town bursts with the optimism that must have accompanied that first transatlantic flight, undoubtedly the moonshot of its day.



It would be easy to write lots about each selection on this gem of a CD, but don't want this to become a book. Other standouts include Joe the Georgian - about demons in hell awaiting Stalin's arrival so they can torture him for eternity; A League of Notions - on the post WWI treaty of Versailles; Marion the Chatelaine, a sad portrayal of Marion Davies, actress, mistress and possession of William Randolph Hearst; and Always the Cause - on the idealistic foreign volunteers who went off to fight in the Spanish Civil War. The original album ended with the sorrowful yet beautifully melodic Laughing into 1939, about a New Year's eve party as the Second World War approaches, and that same war's somber arrival on the dark instrumental The Black Danube.



This reissue has two previously unreleased tracks, the Bear Farmers of Birnam and Merry Monks. I will refrain from reviewing either as my previous issue doesn't have these. Good songs they may be, but unless they have some connection to that period of time between the two world wars, 1919-1932, they really don't belong here. The original album was a very well conceived and executed theme album, and it's instrumental "Black Danube" closing was a perfect and fitting epitaph. The point is that theme albums, especially, are not like an old chest of drawers where you can just throw anything into it. All of the pieces need to fit.



The added tracks aside, Between the Wars is for those who can appreciate the marriage between acoustic folk and intelligent, lyrical poetry and storytelling centered on a unique period in 20th century history. I'm thrilled that it's now affordable and that others may discover an artist who is perhaps the most underrated songwriter and lyricist of his generation - or any other.

"

Outstanding!

N. L. Sampson-Bach | Lake in the Hills, IL United States | 10/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, I'll be the first to admit, I'm a huge Al Stewart fan. But that aside, this CD is terrific. From the jaunty opener, Night Train to Munich, to the last track, the very eerie and poignant Laughing into 1939, this album quintessentially chronicles the era between the wars. And does so in typical Stewart style -- pithy, evocative lyrics, catchy tunes, and the wit we've all come to know and love.



If you're missing this one in your collection, get it. If you don't have a collection yet, you couldn't go wrong starting off with Between the Wars."