Al Stewart's 'Modern Times'

This may be a silly question, but does anyone know who plays the tasteful lead guitar on 'Modern Times'? I checked the liner notes but there are a number of names listed under 'guitar' and I can't quite figure out who does what... Tim Renwick seems to be the obvious pick here but somehow I associate him with a 'heavier' style of playing, not the Knopfler-esque tone and sweet lines I hear weaving all through these songs. Simon Nicol is the only other name I recognize (from his tenure with Fairport Convention) but again, it doesn't sound like him either.
I go on an Al Stewart kick at least once a year and am in constant awe of the quality of musicianship found within these songs. It may be pop music, but to me it is so much more (not that there's anything wrong with pop music!)...
Thanks everyone!

 

I always thought it was Tim Renwick but I guess it could also be Stewart Cowell given the info from here: Tentative Review by The Christopher Currie: Al Stewart - Modern Times »

Personnel:

• Al Stewart: vocals, acoustic guitar
• Brian Bennett: backing vocals
• Tony Carr: percussion
• Gerry Conway: drums
• Stuart Cowell: electric guitar, dobro
• Dave Ellis: acoustic guitar
• George Ford: bass
• Isaac Guillory: additional guitar
• Neil Lancaster: backing vocals
• Chas Mills: backing vocals
• Peter Moss: bass, fuzz bass
• Simon Nicol: acoustic guitar
• Alan Parsons: production, string arrangement on "Apple CiderRe-Constitution"
• Andrew Powell: orchestral arrangement on "Modern Times"
• Tim Renwick: electric guitar
• Graham Smith: harmonica
• Barry De Souza: drums
• Peter Wingfield: keyboards
• Peter Wood: keyboards, accordion

 

One of my favorite albums of all time and I have an autographed copy!

 

It's Renwick. 100%.
I saw him play with Stewart many times.

 

He has played with Pink Floyd and many others... one of the most popular English session guys. Renwick was in the Sutherland Brothers Band before joining Al Stewart. His discography is incredible:

Tim Renwick Discography »

 

When I saw Al Stewart live back on February 11, 1977 at Avery Fisher Hall
in New York, NY. Renwick played the lead on Modern Times for sure.

 

Cool; I met Al back in 1985 at The Spectrum in Toronto (no longer there) and got a picture taken with him and an autograph on a ticket stub.
We were drinking backstage with him for awhile (free beer!); he was cool but a bit drunk (we all were!)
A fun night.

I love this album; may be my favourite of his overall as well.

I have the version on CD (now out of print) that was issued on BGO in 2001 with 3 bonus tracks:
The News From Spain
Elvaston Place
Swallow Wind

(I see it's listed on Amazon for no less than $65.00 (!!) )

Question: does anyone know about the 2 songs "Elvaston Place" and "Swallow Wind"?
I'd never heard of these 2 tracks before (they're good!); were they recorded around the same sessions?

 

Can't answer your question (think others did above) but just wanted to chime in to say I think this is a fantastic album and Al's best. An absolute masterpiece. I don't consider it "pop" music though, to me it is a great singer-songwriter rock album.

 

Growing up 1 hr from Phila, this album was as big for me as Brain Salad Surgery, Lamb Lies Down or Born to Run. I adore every second of it and prefer it to Past Present and even to Yr of the Cat. What's Going On has a great groove that won't quit (love how the Rhino extends the fade) and Next Time is one of Al's most Haunting songs. I was really wtf when I heard Al say Dark and Rolling Sea is not about a ship, but about a relationship.

 

Swallow Wind - 1974 single release
Elvaston Place - 1970 release
The News From Spain - 1970 release


All 3 of these tracks are on the new Esoteric CD's.

 

Fantastic recording. The Alan Parsons trilogy is so perfect. In fact, all of Stewart's catalog is rewarding.

 

Found a Year of the Cat, MOFI, last year...10 bucks. I said the guy the at the counter that this had me curious, but the scratch on the record made me $5 curious, not $10 curious.
He gave it to me for five. The scratch was surface only. It was superb. Takes the bit of overbright stuff and smooths it out nicely, the MOFI does.
Modern Times, Time Passages...all wonderful!

 

Not The One is the one for me.

 

Love Modern Times and the whole Al Stewart discography (listening to him now). Is there any other Al Stewart on MFSL? I'd dearly love to have a Past Present And Future, and Between The Wars on MFSL.

 

Great album, and I love the title track...epic tune, brilliant stuff.

 

Does anyone know who did the remastering on the 1992 reissues of 'Past, Present and Future' and 'Modern Times' on Rhino? I'm assuming it was the Rhino 'house' guys, Dan Hersch and Bill Ingot, but it's not credited anywhere in the booklets or inserts. Beautiful work in any case.

 

Love Modern Times.

I've got 4 copies.

Side 2 especially is a masterpiece.

 

Tim for sure he confirmed it to me many years ago.

 

Yes they were Elvaston Place was the B side to "The News from Spain" and Swallow Wind was an A side single.

 

I've always thought t was Tim Renwick, but I haven't looked @ the sleeve notes for a long time.


(Just as an aside, I have more versions of this album than I really need, but my original copy, bought new, went a long time ago. I'm still hoping for a definitive vinyl reissue. I really believe this album in particular would merit an audiophile edition).

 

Super album. Not as ingrained as Orange, but it's a good listen. Might put it on now myself.

 

I have the Friday Music PPF on vinyl. It sounds good, iirc -- only played it once.

 

He takes you to that bookshop.