Sparks of Ancient Light by Al Stewart - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Though it was released in 2008, Sparks of Ancient Light sounds very much like a '70s Al Stewart record that happens to be lacking the more elaborate features of '70s rock music production. And that's a good thing, allowing what have always been Stewart's principal strengths -- pleasant haunting melodies, mellifluous vocals, accomplished folk guitar work, and literate, historical-minded lyrics -- to stand at the forefront, undiminished by extraneous arrangements. With the passing of years, Stewart's songwriting became increasingly history-focused, and that's quite evident from the songs on this record, which address topics and eras rarely dealt with in pop music. As just a partial sampling, there are looks at the innocence of the Eisenhower years, the fall of the Shah of Iran, and Elvis Presley's vision of Stalin in the clouds (a real-life incident, not a songwriter's fantasy). There's even an ode to early 20th-century U.S. president William McKinley. Several of the songs not sparked by specific historical incidents are imbued with images of wandering, seafaring, and nostalgia (though from a third-person character sketch perspective), though the opening line of "Silver Kettle" ("and in the last days of the world of plastic records") indicates it's actually set in recent times. The production and arrangements by Laurence Juber (who also plays guitar on the album) are straightforward, clear, and tasteful on this quite respectable recording by a veteran singer/songwriter.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo

1. Lord Salisbury

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

2. (A Child's View Of) the Eisenhower Years

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

3. The Ear of the Night

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

4. Hanno The Navigator

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

5. Shah of Shahs

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Assistant: Arron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Personal Assistant: Arron Walk; Production
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production

6. Angry Bird

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

7. The Loneliest Place on the Map

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

8. Sleepwalking

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

9. Football Hero

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

10. Elvis at the Wheel

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

11. Silver Kettle

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

12. Like William McKinley

Bass: Domenic Genova; Performer
Cello: Richard Dodd
Hope Easton; Performer
Drums: John Ferraro; Performer
Guitar: Laurence Juber
Al Stewart; Performer
Harmonica: Mark Macisso; Performer
Arranger: Laurence Juber; Composer
Composer: Al Stewart; Composer
Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Engineer: Greg Townley; Production
Mastering: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mastering Engineer: Joe Gastwirt; Production
Mixing: Greg Townley; Production
Organ: Jim Cox; Performer
Percussion: John Ferraro; Performer
Piano: Jim Cox; Performer
Recorder: Greg Townley; Performer
Strings: The Section Quartet; Performer
Trumpet: Rick Baptist; Performer
Viola: Leah Katz; Performer
Violin: Daphne Chen
Eric Gorfain; Performer
Vocals: Albert Hammond Jr
Al Stewart; Performer
Personal Assistant: Aaron Walk; Production
Recording: Laurence Juber; Production
Primary Artist: Al Stewart; Main Performer
Producer: Laurence Juber; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

12 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

47 minutes and 6 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1410x1410 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

7/12 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Lite Rock

Label

Parlophone UK

Music Distribution Service

WMG Mora

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Sep 14, 2008

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099923487055