Past, Present and Future (Al Stewart album)

Past, Present and Future
File:Pastpresetfuture.gif
Studio album by Al Stewart
Released	October 1973 (UK), May 1974 (US)
Recorded	April 1973 Trident Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	42:47
Label	UK: CBS US: Janus (original release) Arista (1992 reissue)
Producer	John Anthony
Al Stewart chronology
Orange (1972)Orange1972 Past, Present and Future (1973) Modern Times (1975)Modern Times1975

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Past, Present and Future is Al Stewart's fifth studio album, released in October 1973 in the UK and in May 1974 in the US. This album is considered Stewart's first "major album" and it reached #133 on the Billboard Rock Album chart in 1974. He had taken on a different approach from his previous, folkier work, an approach that would stay with him for most of his career. All songs on this record have historical themes, each song representing a decade of the 20th century. The final song, "Nostradamus," is about the famous supposed prophet and his prophecies.

In the programme for the U.K. concert tour that promoted the album, Stewart is quoted as saying "My first four albums have been, for me, an apprenticeship. The new album.....is my thesis". It states that the album "is set for release on CBS in early October. 'Terminal Eyes' is released as a single on September 28th."

The album was performed in its entirety live at the Royal Albert Hall in London, GB on 16 May 2015 as part of Al Stewart's UK tour; the performance at the Royal Albert Hall will also feature the live performance of the album "Year of the Cat".

Track listing (album)

Side one

All tracks composed by Al Stewart

1. "Old Admirals" – 5:54
2. "Warren Harding" – 2:39
3. "Soho (Needless to Say)" – 3:55
4. "The Last Day of June 1934" – 4:45
5. "Post World War Two Blues" – 4:17

Side two

1. "Roads to Moscow" – 8:00
2. "Terminal Eyes" – 3:22
3. "Nostradamus" – 9:43

Track listing (CD)

All tracks composed by Al Stewart

1. "Old Admirals" – 5:54
2. "Warren Harding" – 2:39
3. "Soho (Needless to Say)" – 3:55
4. "The Last Day of June 1934" – 4:45
5. "Post World War Two Blues" – 4:17
6. "Roads to Moscow" – 8:00
7. "Terminal Eyes" – 3:22
8. "Nostradamus" – 9:43

Charts

Album – Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1974	Albums	133

Personnel

• Al Stewart: Guitar, Vocal
• Tim Renwick: Guitar
• Peter Berryman: Guitar
• Isaac Guillory: Guitar
• B.J. Cole: Steel Guitar
• Bruce Thomas: Bass
• Brian Odgers: Bass
• John Wilson: Drums
• Peter Wood: Keyboards, Piano accordion
• Rick Wakeman: Keyboards
• Tim Hinkley: Keyboards
• Bob Andrews: Keyboards
• Bob Sargeant: Keyboards
• Alistair Anderson: English concertina
• Haim Romano: Mandolin
• Dave Swarbrick: Mandolin
• Luciano Bravo: Steel band
• Lennox James: Steel band
• Michael Oliver: Steel band
• Frank Ricotti: Percussion
• Roger Taylor: Percussion
• Francis Monkman: Moog synthesizer
• Krysia Kocjan: Backing vocal
• John Donelly: Backing vocal
• Mick Welton: Backing vocal
• Kevin Powers: Backing vocal
• Richard Hewson: String arrangements
• Mike "Clay" Stone - Engineer

Cover Art

The U.K. cover (CBS) is a gatefold affair, with a simple photo of Stewart leaning on a mantelpiece. The photo was taken by photographer and film director Mario Grattarola at the Geffreye Museum in London. The U.S. album cover (Janus Records), by Hipgnosis and George Hardie, is a photography-like rendition of the Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange using his Cloak of Levitation to travel through a hole created in the air into an alternative universe.