Reissue of 1975 album for the folk/rock singer/songwriter. Includes fully updated sleevenotes from Colin Irwin. Musicians include, Simon Nicol, Tim Renwick, Peter Wingfield and Gerry Conway. Produced by Alan Parsons. Inclu... more »des three rare bons tracks, 'News From Spain', 'Elvaston Place' and 'Swallow Wind'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.« less
Reissue of 1975 album for the folk/rock singer/songwriter. Includes fully updated sleevenotes from Colin Irwin. Musicians include, Simon Nicol, Tim Renwick, Peter Wingfield and Gerry Conway. Produced by Alan Parsons. Includes three rare bons tracks, 'News From Spain', 'Elvaston Place' and 'Swallow Wind'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.
"This is im my mind the best album Al Stewart recorded. My favorite, as I wore it out on the album was "What's Going On", but the whole album is great and it flows. Whoever decided on which tracks should go together was a mixdown genious. When I fist heard this album I was working as a DJ in the American Forces Radio And Television Service. This fit in nicely with jazz, soft rock or AOR (Album Oriented Rock) which was the Rock format of the time. Righteous CD. Glad they re-released it! Can't believe "What's Going On" was never released on a Best Of CD. But then again this was early in Al's career!"
A Fine Album
Robert Miller | Eastern USA | 06/16/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I still have a review of Stewart by a critic from Rutgers University where the reviewer said Modern Times is his best album. All of his albums with the possible exception of the Indian Summer studio tracks are fine albums. Still, Modern Times is one of the best. Carol is such a great intro about a burned out party girl (just give a listen to the dual lead guitars). What's going on? is excellent too - about an oversized ego in a 2nd tier rock musician. Not the one is a great song about a love affair that didn't work out. Every song on this album has a great story. Add Tim Renwick's amazing guitar solos (a solo on every song!), Peter Wood's fabulous keyboards - perhaps my only complaint is the Alan Parsons overproduction - too much orchestra on Modern Times and Apple Cider Reconstitution. Al always surrounded himself with the finest musicians. This is a quality album and no one will go wrong buying it. I intend to buy this copy just for the bonus tracks. I'm glad too that this cd uses the European cover photos rather than the ridiculous American LP cover which didn't seem to have anything to do with Al Stewart or the album."
Modern Times- Maybe Al's Best
David A. Magnusson | Hialeah, Florida United States | 06/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Modern Times is an album that sounds just as good in 2004 as it did when I first got it in 1975. Every song tells an indepth story that seems so familiar to me (and probably most people). Who hasn't experienced the sadness of "Not the One"? Can you look back to your teenage/young adult years and not be touch by "Modern Times"? Don't we all know a "Carol" from somewhere?Modern Times, looking at it historically, was the major battle just before the pinnacle (Year of the Cat and Time Passages). it is the album that every thought was Al's best up to the moment. But no one at that time ever foresaw the popularity right around the corner with his next two albums.I guess I was a victim of circumstance (as are we all) when I bought the LP. All my friends and relatives have gotten the LP/Cassette/or CD as a gift from one time or other. They too sing the praises of this most wonderful album."
A classic
www.MoisBenarroch.com | Israel | 02/25/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard Stewart on a trip to Spain in 1975, two years before his year of the cat made him famous. I can well remember the incredible beautiful spanish cover of this record, a car, a woman, a man, a mansion on a sunset (or sundown). Pity they didnt use that marvelous cover for this cd. Still, Stewart is at his best here and his songs grow well, like wine, they even sound more timeless today than ever. Great guitar playing and a more rocking cd than those that preceeded this one, a step before the more MOR Year of the cat. Still folk, but rather folk rock. The 3 extra tracks have two interresting tracks, but you can well understand that they are inferior to those on the cd and why they didnt make it to the original releases. I find hard to understand why the song "News from Spain" from Orange is here. It's almost the same version than the one in Orange, just 40 seconds shorter. I guess that if you buy this cd and not not Orange, you'll have this great song too. The linner notes are informative, but they dont give a hint about the bonus tracks and their history."
If you are and Al fan, buy it now
Kilgore | Canada | 12/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Do yourself a favour Al Stewart fans, if you don't have this album buy it now. This is a superb album from Al, possibly his best (though I also love Past, Present and Future and Orange). The writing, production and musicianship is great, every song is good. This one is for Stewart fans who fall into the category of thinking everything Al did prior to Year of the Cat was great and everything after sucked because he went from serious songwriter to going for the bubblegum, meaningless pop hit(yes I am in that category)."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
