Al Stewart’s 1973 album Past, Present & Future will be reissued as a 50th anniversary 3CD+blu-ray box set in June.
Although it wasn’t a massive commercial hit like Year of the Cat or Time Passages, Stewart’s fifth album was his breakthrough record with its historical themed songs (such as ‘Old Admirals’, ‘Warren Harding’, ‘The Last Day of June 1934’, ‘Roads to Moscow’ and ‘Nostradamus’) and guest musicians including Rick Wakeman, Tim Renwick, Bruce Thomas, Dave Swarbrick, Francis Monkman and Queen’s Roger Taylor.
Stephen W Tayler has gone back to the multi-track tapes and created brand new 96/24 5.1 and new stereo mixes. These both feature on the included blu-ray, alongside a new 2024 remaster.
Two of the three CDs feature the new remix and the remaster – with some bonus tracks – while the third offers a full concert recorded at The Howff in Hampstead, London in 1974. This too has been newly remixed from the original multi track tapes (by Stephen W Tayler, again). The gig includes a guest appearance by Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash.
This limited edition box set also features an illustrated 68-page book with a new essay by Al Stewart aficionado Neville Judd along with a facsimile promotional poster and a set of four postcards.
Past, Present & Future will be reissued by Cherry Red on 28 June 2024.
CD 1: Past, Present & Future (remaster)
2024 Re-master
Old Admirals
Warren Harding
Soho (Needless to Say)
The Last Day of June 1934
Post World War Two Blues
Roads to Moscow
Terminal Eyes
Nostradamus
Bonus tracks
Terminal Eyes (single version)
Swallow Wind
Nostradamus (single version)
CD 2: Live at The Howff, Hampstead, 5th July 1974
2024 Stephen W Tayler remix
Soho (Needless to Say)
Old Admirals
Terminal Eyes
Post World War Two Blues
Clifton in the Rain / Small Fruit Song
Roads to Moscow
Nostradamus
All Along the Watchtower
Amsterdam
CD 3: Past, Present & Future New stereo mix
2024 mix by Stephen W Tayler
Old Admirals
Warren Harding
Soho (Needless to Say)
The Last Day of June 1934
Post World War Two Blues
Roads to Moscow
Terminal Eyes
Nostradamus
Bonus track
Swallow Wind
Blu-ray
96 kHz / 24-bit new 5.1 Surround Sound & stereo mixes by Stephen W Tayler and the remastered original stereo mix
Old Admirals
Warren Harding
Soho (Needless to Say)
The Last Day of June 1934
Post World War Two Blues
Roads to Moscow
Terminal Eyes
Nostradamus
Bonus track
Swallow Wind
I got out my Bigg-Assed Al Stewart box released in 2022 to compare. All the tunes are there. The Live show is not...so there's that and of course the 5.1 mix, booklet & trinkets. Amazon wants $68 ImportCD wants $54.
Of course I'll be ordering it......
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