Time Passages is the eighth studio album by Al Stewart, released in September 1978. It is the follow-up to his 1976 album Year of the Cat. Like "Year of the Cat" and 1975's Modern Times, it was produced by Alan Parsons. The album's title track (which, when edited, reached number 7 on the Billboard charts) and "End of the Day" were both co-written by Peter White. The title track occupied number 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts for 10 weeks.
A digitally remastered version of the album was released in 2004.
Artwork The album's front and back cover were designed by Hipgnosis. As Storm Thorgerson stated in For the Love of Vinyl: The Album Art of Hipgnosis, "For Al's Time Passages we showed a radio being tuned on the shelf of a kitchen window but at the same time "tuning" the view of the landscape outside the window". The front cover photograph was taken at Indian Route 42, Monument Valley, Arizona.
Track listing Songs written by Al Stewart unless otherwise noted.
Historical references "A Man For All Seasons" refers to Sir Thomas More, statesman under Henry VIII of England (misidentified by Stewart as "Henry Plantagenet") and a Catholic martyr. "The Palace of Versailles", refers to the actual Palace of Versailles, the former residence of the French Kings and a key site in early days of the French Revolution. The lyrics contain specific allusions to many events and figures of the revolution. "Life in Dark Water" – references the Mary Celeste, questioning the usage of the inaccurate term "Marie Celeste". (Also see J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement)
Personnel Al Stewart - guitars, keyboards, vocals Peter White - guitars, lead guitar (tracks 1, 2 and 9), keyboards, accordion J. Peter Robinson - grand piano, organ on "Valentina Way" Peter Solley - synthesizer on "Palace of Versailles" Peter Wood - keyboards, organ, piano Tim Renwick - electric guitar, lead guitar (tracks 3, 4, 5 and 6) Robin Lamble - bass guitar Mark Goldenberg - rhythm guitar on "Valentina Way" Phil Kenzie - alto saxophone on tracks 1 and 8 Stuart Elliott - drums (except track 2) Jeff Porcaro - drums on "Valentina Way" Al Perkins - pedal steel guitar Bill Linnane - guitar Art Tripp lll, Lindsay Elliott - percussion Brian Huddy, Joe Puerta, David Pack, James R. West, Krysia Kristianne, Jeff Borgeson - backing vocals Andrew Powell - string arrangements
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1978) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 15
Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position Chart (1979) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 20
Certifications and sales
References